PHUKET: Claims that a taxi driver at Phuket's deep sea port was asking $200 for a one-way trip to Patong have been disputed by the taxi drivers' association president.
Narong Kumbaan, President of the local taxi group, said: ''I have never heard of $200 being asked.''
The allegation that $200 was specified as the fare came from a Phuketwan reader who went to meet passengers off a cruise liner on Saturday and was dismayed by what he found.
The reader, who wishes to remain anonymous, sent this account:
''The gate was crowded with taxi drivers holding signs and at the same time asking people where they wanted to go. There was no order and many travellers were confused, especially those not getting a guided tour.
''For example questions like 'how much to the city?' 'How much to Patong?' 'Are the shops open now?' And many confused people re-entered the dock area where the taxi drivers were not allowed to enter.
''Some people asked questions and got no answer at all. They were ignored. One fellow told me that he was told it was too early for the shops so he decided not to go anywhere.
''The answers from the 'mob' were just as confusing, 'where do you want to go?' as if the passengers already knew where to go, but in fact didn't have a clue.
''And one answer as to the cost of going to Patong really floored me. '200 dollars' was quoted. A woman passenger seeing me at the front gate said, 'Are they joking?'''
Khun Narong said that the 160 taxis operating at Phuket's east coast deep sea port all had local drivers.
''When there's a US aircraft carrier in port, as there is now, we will call in other drivers, mostly from Phuket City,'' he said.
There were no standard fares at the Phuket dock so all deals for taxis were by negotiation, he said.
''Normally the fare is 1000 baht to Phuket City, 1500 baht to patong and 1800 baht to Kamala,'' he said.
Phuketwan's own records show the ''normal'' fare to Patong has not risen but the fare to Phuket City has doubled from 500 baht in 2011 to 1000 baht today.
Blockades by taxi drivers in 2011 saw the number of cruise passengers taking cabs rise from 10 percent to 40 percent.
The Phuketwan reader who visited on Saturday agreed that the port needed more controls to sort out the chaos.
''This area needs organising such that people can be given genuine information from legitimate government travel guides and also to arrange in proper order taxis at a reasonable price.
''The taxis should not have direct contact with any passenger prior to them becoming passengers, like the arrangement I have seen at Bangkok airport.''
Phuketwan has called for improvements to be made in the temporary handling facilities at the port and for the building of an enlarged port to be Phuket's prime marine priority - not the proposed ferry from the airport to Patong.
Narong Kumbaan, President of the local taxi group, said: ''I have never heard of $200 being asked.''
The allegation that $200 was specified as the fare came from a Phuketwan reader who went to meet passengers off a cruise liner on Saturday and was dismayed by what he found.
The reader, who wishes to remain anonymous, sent this account:
''The gate was crowded with taxi drivers holding signs and at the same time asking people where they wanted to go. There was no order and many travellers were confused, especially those not getting a guided tour.
''For example questions like 'how much to the city?' 'How much to Patong?' 'Are the shops open now?' And many confused people re-entered the dock area where the taxi drivers were not allowed to enter.
''Some people asked questions and got no answer at all. They were ignored. One fellow told me that he was told it was too early for the shops so he decided not to go anywhere.
''The answers from the 'mob' were just as confusing, 'where do you want to go?' as if the passengers already knew where to go, but in fact didn't have a clue.
''And one answer as to the cost of going to Patong really floored me. '200 dollars' was quoted. A woman passenger seeing me at the front gate said, 'Are they joking?'''
Khun Narong said that the 160 taxis operating at Phuket's east coast deep sea port all had local drivers.
''When there's a US aircraft carrier in port, as there is now, we will call in other drivers, mostly from Phuket City,'' he said.
There were no standard fares at the Phuket dock so all deals for taxis were by negotiation, he said.
''Normally the fare is 1000 baht to Phuket City, 1500 baht to patong and 1800 baht to Kamala,'' he said.
Phuketwan's own records show the ''normal'' fare to Patong has not risen but the fare to Phuket City has doubled from 500 baht in 2011 to 1000 baht today.
Blockades by taxi drivers in 2011 saw the number of cruise passengers taking cabs rise from 10 percent to 40 percent.
The Phuketwan reader who visited on Saturday agreed that the port needed more controls to sort out the chaos.
''This area needs organising such that people can be given genuine information from legitimate government travel guides and also to arrange in proper order taxis at a reasonable price.
''The taxis should not have direct contact with any passenger prior to them becoming passengers, like the arrangement I have seen at Bangkok airport.''
Phuketwan has called for improvements to be made in the temporary handling facilities at the port and for the building of an enlarged port to be Phuket's prime marine priority - not the proposed ferry from the airport to Patong.
Only USD 200- low season prices must be kicking in!
Posted by Mister Ree on May 29, 2013 12:01