Phuketwan UPDATE
THAI stocks fell 1.39 percent yesterday amid reports that red-shirted supporters of disgraced premier Thaksin Shinawatra could rally at Bangkok's international airport next week. Business leaders and analysts say even a peaceful protest at Suvarnabhumi could be ''national suicide.''
Phuketwan News and Analysis
PHUKET'S Provincial Hall faces an invasion of 150 limousine and taxi drivers and their families on Wednesday as the island's transport system descends into chaos.
If Governor Wichai Praisa-ngob or other authorities fail to agree to drivers' demands, the drivers' next step will be to blockade Phuket's airport, a local mayor who is the brother of one senior limousine group leader told Phuketwan tonight.
Talk of a blockade to prevent tourists arriving and departing the island poses the most direct and potentially damaging threat to the tourism industry on Phuket and in Thailand since the 2008 airport blockades.
For years, officials have ignored or been complicit in the scams, the extortion and and the corruption that are the hallmarks of Phuket's tourist transport.
To blockade Provincial Hall and then the airport would be the last straw, making the need for a low-cost and efficient public transport system on Phuket obvious, even to reluctant government officials.
Phuketwan has repeatedly called for national government intervention to sort out Phuket's long-standing public transport woes. If the blockade goes ahead tomorrow, we suspect we will get our wish.
Already Phuket's tuk-tuk monopoly and excessive, extortionate fares are provoking anger among tourists and the island's expat community.
If the airport drivers protest as planned on Wednesday, they will alienate the entire tourist industry - and Thailand's government.
Any kind of blockade of the airport is clearly overstepping the mark. A successful invasion and blockade of Provincial Hall would be a clear indication that the tuk-tuk, taxi and limousine drivers run Phuket, not the island's legitimate administrators.
Wednesday's mass protest at 9am is expected to be mounted by drivers who are disappointed at a decision to add permits for 30 more vehicles at the airport.
The permits will all go to one company, although three companies have concessions at the airport. Protesting drivers say it would have been fairer to add 10 permits for each, rather that 30 for a single company.
The mayor of Mai Khao, Sarawoot Srisakoolkram, is the brother of the president of Limousine Phuket, the company with the largest number of permits.
He said he thought there were already enough permits at the airport. More were unnecessary, he said.
Airport limousines and taxis, legal and illegal, clog the airport carpark and are just one aspect of Phuket's rapidly failing transport system.
At present at the airport there are 68 metered taxis, 80 Mai Khao Sakool saloon cars and 150 Limousine Phuket vehicles.
The new arrangement, approved by Airports and Thailand and the Transport office, would add 30 vehicles to the Mai Khao Sakool fleet.
The invasion and blockade of the Phuket airport for three days in August 2008 was a precursor to the longer and more damaging eight-day sit-in at Suvarnabhumi airport in Bangkok the following November.
Despite the huge losses it imposed on Phuket's tourist industry and Thailand's reputation, no charges were ever laid against the organisers of the Phuket protest.
However, a full-scale practice involving police with riot shields and fire trucks squirting streams of water at mock protesters last year was an indication that authorities will not countenance a second ill-conceived blockade of Phuket airport.
To even suggest the idea should bring the sternest of reactions. The tourism industry will be expecting strong action on the part of the authorities to put to an end any prospect of an airport upheaval.
Tourists will not tolerate it. Nor should Thailand.
Phuketwan hopes that this threat of causing a catastrophe will bring the realisation that a strategy for an efficient, low-cost public transport system on Phuket has to be introduced as fast as possible.
Phuket's Public Transport Chaos
Planet Phuket: Government Action is Needed Now
Planet Phuket In the first of a new weekly column, Phuketwan suggests Government intervention is needed on Phuket to provide a sensible transport strategy so tourists keep on coming.
Planet Phuket: Government Action is Needed Now
Phuket Has Too Many Tuk-Tuks, says Police Chief
Exclusive A tourist who says he was bashed by a tuktuk driver tells his version of events, and Patong's police chief speaks out, saying there are too many tuktuks on Phuket.
Phuket Has Too Many Tuk-Tuks, says Police Chief
Update: Tourist Fined, Then Flies off Phuket
UPDATE A countercharge against a Canadian tourist was heard quickly today to enable him to catch a flight off Phuket. He was fined 1000 baht and his passport was returned.
Update: Tourist Fined, Then Flies off Phuket
Will This Photo Give Phuket Real Public Transport?
Defining Moment The fare was 150 baht for a one minute trip. The tourist objected. The tuk tuk driver would not take 100 baht. He lashed out. But the outcome may be positive: the start of Phuket reform.
Will This Photo Give Phuket Real Public Transport?
Phuket Tuk-Tuks, Jet-Skis, Need Limits: Governor
Latest Jetskis and tuktuks were among the service groups that needed to improve to meet the needs of tourists on Phuket as a popular holiday island, the Phuket Governor said.
Phuket Tuk-Tuks, Jet-Skis, Need Limits: Governor
Well, I am looking forward to this standoff. Let's see who wins. My money isn't on the government doing something to prevent this.
Posted by Tbs on January 19, 2010 21:54