PHUKET: Ten tuk-tuk and taxi drivers on Phuket face arrest, say police, after the men intimidated tour counter operators into closing.
The tuk-tuk and taxi drivers, based in Kata-Karon, confronted tour counter operators next door to the landmark Dino Park at 8pm on Monday, said investigating officer Lieutenant Rattapon Dee Tongorn.
''They ordered the people to shut down the operation and allegedly held them against their will,'' the lieutenant said.
Tourism officials say that it's the second vigilante action by the area's tuk-tuk and taxi drivers in the space of two weeks.
Phuket's tuk-tuk and taxi drivers in the Kata-Karon area especially have a worsening reputation for thuggery and for maintaining their jobs through intimidation and threats.
The number of drivers far exceeds Phuket's needs and the excessive fares subsidise hundreds of one or two trip-a-day taxi drivers when what Phuket needs are fewer drivers and metered cabs.
Police are looking for the tuk-tukand taxi drivers involved in Monday's incident and will first try to persuade them to negotiate with the tour staff, who are also Thais.
''If that doesn't work, we will charge them with holdling people against their will and threatening behavior,'' Lt Rattapon said.
Little is known about the earlier case of intimidation.
Another officer based at Karon Police Station, Lieutenant Pachai Nakayah, said that police needed the help of other authorities to deal with the issues raised by the taxi and tuk-tuk drivers.
''These people aren't big enough to be regarded as mafia,'' he said. ''The problem is that as the low season kicks in, there isn't as much money around for everybody from tourists.
''These people are just trying to sustain their income.''
The issue of the number of tuk-tuk and taxi drivers growing without there being a real need and charging extortionate fares is becoming a turn-off for more and more tourists.
Visitors who go to both Bangkok and Phuket find Phuket taxi fares are between six and 10 times higher, and the service is not as good. Complaints to embassies are on the increase.
Meanwhile, the taxi and tuk-tuk driver pursue a strategy of adding more drivers. but rejecting such practical ideas, in use everywhere else, of metered cabs, call centres and fewer drivers working harder at lower fares.
If ever there is a downturn in Phuket's galloping tourist economy, the social consequences could be disastrous.
An illegal cab driver has also been charged this week with abducting a young Chinese tourist and attempting to molest her in his taxi, another case that will further damage Phuket's reputation.
The tuk-tuk and taxi drivers, based in Kata-Karon, confronted tour counter operators next door to the landmark Dino Park at 8pm on Monday, said investigating officer Lieutenant Rattapon Dee Tongorn.
''They ordered the people to shut down the operation and allegedly held them against their will,'' the lieutenant said.
Tourism officials say that it's the second vigilante action by the area's tuk-tuk and taxi drivers in the space of two weeks.
Phuket's tuk-tuk and taxi drivers in the Kata-Karon area especially have a worsening reputation for thuggery and for maintaining their jobs through intimidation and threats.
The number of drivers far exceeds Phuket's needs and the excessive fares subsidise hundreds of one or two trip-a-day taxi drivers when what Phuket needs are fewer drivers and metered cabs.
Police are looking for the tuk-tukand taxi drivers involved in Monday's incident and will first try to persuade them to negotiate with the tour staff, who are also Thais.
''If that doesn't work, we will charge them with holdling people against their will and threatening behavior,'' Lt Rattapon said.
Little is known about the earlier case of intimidation.
Another officer based at Karon Police Station, Lieutenant Pachai Nakayah, said that police needed the help of other authorities to deal with the issues raised by the taxi and tuk-tuk drivers.
''These people aren't big enough to be regarded as mafia,'' he said. ''The problem is that as the low season kicks in, there isn't as much money around for everybody from tourists.
''These people are just trying to sustain their income.''
The issue of the number of tuk-tuk and taxi drivers growing without there being a real need and charging extortionate fares is becoming a turn-off for more and more tourists.
Visitors who go to both Bangkok and Phuket find Phuket taxi fares are between six and 10 times higher, and the service is not as good. Complaints to embassies are on the increase.
Meanwhile, the taxi and tuk-tuk driver pursue a strategy of adding more drivers. but rejecting such practical ideas, in use everywhere else, of metered cabs, call centres and fewer drivers working harder at lower fares.
If ever there is a downturn in Phuket's galloping tourist economy, the social consequences could be disastrous.
An illegal cab driver has also been charged this week with abducting a young Chinese tourist and attempting to molest her in his taxi, another case that will further damage Phuket's reputation.
So Police say that the ten tuk tuk drivers face arrest and also say that they will first try to persuade them to negotiate with the tour staff, who are also Thais...so the facing arrest part fades a bit, later in the article the police excuse the actions of the tuk tuk drivers by saying that "These people are just trying to sustain their income.'' My guess is that the tuk tuk drivers will get away with their intimidation this time and since the police understand them then they will get away with it in the future as well.
Posted by Sailor on May 22, 2013 09:50