PHUKET: The plan for resolving the tuk-tuk issue on Phuket involves establishing a central call centre or call centres on Phuket's holiday west coast, Phuketwan has learned.
Proposals for reforms are likely to be discussed at the highest level with tuk-tuk drivers' leaders before Thailand's Cabinet meets on Phuket in March.
Tuk-tuks are one of the issues on Phuket for which resolutions will be sought before Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her ministers visit Phuket for two days of intense top-level talks.
The tuk-tuk plan, as Phuketwan understands it, will be to establish a call centre or call centres to clear the main streets of Karon-Kata and Patong of tuk-tuks that now occupy hundreds of premium parking spots.
Patong and Karon-Kata are Phuket's most popular tourist destinations. However, the parked tuk-tuks make some narrow streets even narrower and are a source of constant aggrevation among local residents and tourists who struggle to find parking.
Tuk-tuk drivers at first agreed to explore the establishment of a central call centre in Karon last year but quickly turned their backs on the concept.
Authorities are known to view establishment of a call centre or call centres as a logical step towards a modern, efficient tuk-tuk and taxi system for all of Phuket.
A call centre or centres would also oblige tuk-tuk drivers to abandon the spots they currently occupy at the entrances to many of Phuket's resorts. At times, drivers have used their ability to block entrances to enforce their will.
The new strategy would mean that tuk-tuks would wait at a central parking spot - probably in the case of Karon-Kata the car park alongside the Karon Municipal offices - and proceed to pick up fares as called in on a needs basis by resorts or restaurants.
Drivers on Phuket involved in the new system would have consumer service training and be required to wear uniforms.
Although the authorities are keen to have the issue resolved by negotiation and to include Phuket's present tuk-tuk drivers, radical alternatives are likely to be considered if the drivers do not agree to the move.
Phuketwan has learned that one alternative already being talked about is to bring in 200 new tuk-tuks with 200 new drivers to establish a call centre system that would lock out the present tuk-tuk drivers.
Such a move is only likely in the event of local drivers failing to see the need for modern reforms in standards and service to ensure Phuket's long-term future as a desirable tourist destination.
The present tuk-tuk and ''local taxi'' system has never been challenged.
In effect it is a coastal village system that protects the interests of local drivers at the expense of residents and tourists and it has never shown signs of being adapted to the needs of the 21st century.
Driving a tuk-tuk or a ''local taxi'' on Phuket is appealing because it requires little skill and just one or two fares a day to bring an income to rival that of university graduates.
The dominance of the drivers in maintaining high fares and a ''jobs for the boys'' outlook down the decades has left Phuket without an adequate public transport system.
The result is that residents and tourists are forced to use excessive numbers of motorcycles. This contributes to needless road deaths and injuries, overloaded public hospitals and excessive traffic on congested roads.
Locals are unable to afford to use tuk-tuks because the fares are at least six times those of similar vehicles in Bangkok.
Proposals for reforms are likely to be discussed at the highest level with tuk-tuk drivers' leaders before Thailand's Cabinet meets on Phuket in March.
Tuk-tuks are one of the issues on Phuket for which resolutions will be sought before Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her ministers visit Phuket for two days of intense top-level talks.
The tuk-tuk plan, as Phuketwan understands it, will be to establish a call centre or call centres to clear the main streets of Karon-Kata and Patong of tuk-tuks that now occupy hundreds of premium parking spots.
Patong and Karon-Kata are Phuket's most popular tourist destinations. However, the parked tuk-tuks make some narrow streets even narrower and are a source of constant aggrevation among local residents and tourists who struggle to find parking.
Tuk-tuk drivers at first agreed to explore the establishment of a central call centre in Karon last year but quickly turned their backs on the concept.
Authorities are known to view establishment of a call centre or call centres as a logical step towards a modern, efficient tuk-tuk and taxi system for all of Phuket.
A call centre or centres would also oblige tuk-tuk drivers to abandon the spots they currently occupy at the entrances to many of Phuket's resorts. At times, drivers have used their ability to block entrances to enforce their will.
The new strategy would mean that tuk-tuks would wait at a central parking spot - probably in the case of Karon-Kata the car park alongside the Karon Municipal offices - and proceed to pick up fares as called in on a needs basis by resorts or restaurants.
Drivers on Phuket involved in the new system would have consumer service training and be required to wear uniforms.
Although the authorities are keen to have the issue resolved by negotiation and to include Phuket's present tuk-tuk drivers, radical alternatives are likely to be considered if the drivers do not agree to the move.
Phuketwan has learned that one alternative already being talked about is to bring in 200 new tuk-tuks with 200 new drivers to establish a call centre system that would lock out the present tuk-tuk drivers.
Such a move is only likely in the event of local drivers failing to see the need for modern reforms in standards and service to ensure Phuket's long-term future as a desirable tourist destination.
The present tuk-tuk and ''local taxi'' system has never been challenged.
In effect it is a coastal village system that protects the interests of local drivers at the expense of residents and tourists and it has never shown signs of being adapted to the needs of the 21st century.
Driving a tuk-tuk or a ''local taxi'' on Phuket is appealing because it requires little skill and just one or two fares a day to bring an income to rival that of university graduates.
The dominance of the drivers in maintaining high fares and a ''jobs for the boys'' outlook down the decades has left Phuket without an adequate public transport system.
The result is that residents and tourists are forced to use excessive numbers of motorcycles. This contributes to needless road deaths and injuries, overloaded public hospitals and excessive traffic on congested roads.
Locals are unable to afford to use tuk-tuks because the fares are at least six times those of similar vehicles in Bangkok.
Very true, keep on the good work describing this horrible system.
It is the only way to change things, even I doubt that it ever will happen, which is very strange since the present state make a lot of people suffer.
Question of who is in charge. Isn't it?
Posted by Sherlock on February 14, 2012 12:52