PHUKET: A Phuket taxi driver has been fined 1000 baht and suspended for six months after ''kidnapping'' a newly-arrived tourist and trying to sell him package tours before he had even reached his holiday resort.
Phuket Governor Jamleran Tipayapongtada sanctioned the penalties yesterday in meeting with driver Muhummad Arobt Musor and tourism industry authorities after the story of the rip-off broke on Facebook.
Montira Sakom told what happened in a post on the popular social media site.
She and her foreign boyfriend landed at Phuket International Airport on Saturday and caught a cab.
Instead of taking them directly to their resort destination in Patong, the driver went to Thalang where the couple were ushered into the Infinity Tour counter.
Efforts were made to sell package tours to the reluctant foreigner until he left, removed his luggage from Khun Muhummad's vehicle, and found another taxi.
The ''kidnapping'' of arriving tourists is a well-known scam in which taxi drivers try to build on the excessive fares they charge on Phuket by also gaining illicit commissions.
People who say greed is Phuket's biggest problem may have a point.
Santi Pawai, the Phuket Director of Tourism and Sport, told yesterday's meeting that he went to the Infinity Tour office and warned them of sanctions if the scam was repeated.
The taxi driver said he had only been a driver for four months and dropped off at the tour office ''to ask for directions to get to Patong.''
Khun Santi said the taxi driver's version of events sounded a little suspicious.
The quick action by authorities indicates a readiness by Governor Jamleran's new administration to deal with issues that have not been addressed until now.
Phuket Governor Jamleran Tipayapongtada sanctioned the penalties yesterday in meeting with driver Muhummad Arobt Musor and tourism industry authorities after the story of the rip-off broke on Facebook.
Montira Sakom told what happened in a post on the popular social media site.
She and her foreign boyfriend landed at Phuket International Airport on Saturday and caught a cab.
Instead of taking them directly to their resort destination in Patong, the driver went to Thalang where the couple were ushered into the Infinity Tour counter.
Efforts were made to sell package tours to the reluctant foreigner until he left, removed his luggage from Khun Muhummad's vehicle, and found another taxi.
The ''kidnapping'' of arriving tourists is a well-known scam in which taxi drivers try to build on the excessive fares they charge on Phuket by also gaining illicit commissions.
People who say greed is Phuket's biggest problem may have a point.
Santi Pawai, the Phuket Director of Tourism and Sport, told yesterday's meeting that he went to the Infinity Tour office and warned them of sanctions if the scam was repeated.
The taxi driver said he had only been a driver for four months and dropped off at the tour office ''to ask for directions to get to Patong.''
Khun Santi said the taxi driver's version of events sounded a little suspicious.
The quick action by authorities indicates a readiness by Governor Jamleran's new administration to deal with issues that have not been addressed until now.
The taxi driver said he had only been a driver for four months and dropped off at the tour office ''to ask for directions to get to Patong.''
Wait...he said this in front of the Governor with a straight face? 1000 Baht is about one average fare. When are these penalties going to get serious?
Posted by sugarman on November 3, 2015 11:28
Editor Comment:
Six months ban on working as a taxi driver seems serious to us, sugarman.