PHUKET Governor Tri Augkaradacha spelled out his plan for taming the tuk-tuks in an exclusive interview with Phuketwan today, 24 hours after a lively meeting with Phuket's honorary consuls and embassy representatives.
One magic moment came at yesterday's summit in Phuket City when German honorary consul Dirk Naumann told the the gathering that he had prepared for the tuk-tuk debate by going to Phuket International Airport and questioning 100 departing Germans.
''I asked them what their biggest problem was on Phuket,'' Mr Naumann said. ''Fifteen out of the hundred said they would not come to Phuket again because of the tuk-tuks.''
Mr Naumann then debated the issue with Patong Deputy Mayor Chairat Sukban. Mr Naumann demolished Khun Chairat's defence of the tuk-tuks' high fares, and today many in-the-know people on Phuket were still buzzing about the way Mr Naumann had argued the case for lower fares.
Phuket's Governor Tri also had his say, making the point that he would like to have meters like Bangkok but that for the time being, most of the taxis on Phuket were illegal.
Governor Tri's master strategy for the island's taxis is a progressive step-by-step conversion of green plates to yellow plates, to introduce a proper call centre system, and to add meters.
At one point he revealed that the maximum fares imposed for tuk-tuks recently from Patong around Phuket are based on four people as passengers.
In theory, if just one person is travelling, the negotiated fare should be somewhere between the maximum and one quarter of the maximum. In practice, it may not turn out quite like that.
Enforcement of the maximums will come into effect at the end of the month: any driver who charges more than the agreed maximums could then be reported to police and face arrest.
The price around Patong, where the maximum is 200 baht, should be 100 baht or 120 baht for some short trips involving one or two people, he said.
Today with Phuketwan he elaborated on his plan in an exclusive interview at Provincial Hall in Phuket City. Governor Tri said that if the present rules work, he will look at more changes in three months, in time for the next meeting of honorary consuls.
''It's a step by step thing,'' he told Phuketwan. ''These issues have been left unsolved for more than a decade. If we can fix Patong, then we can fix the problems for all of Phuket.''
How long will it take for solving the island's present taxi/tuk-tuk transport issues? ''Three years,'' the governor said.
The taxi call centre in Patong, with a telephone number that will double as a complaints hotline, should be in place within the next three months, he said.
His explanation today followed a fascinating cut-and-thrust yesterday between Mr Naumann and Khun Chairat.
Mr Naumann opened his remarks on the tuk-tuks by saying he was ''happy to have a governor who is finally doing something.''
Then he posed a question or two, beginning with:
''How is it that a trip on Phuket from Patong to the airport costs many times more in an open-air tuk-tuk than it does in Bangkok in an air-conditioned taxi?''
He noted that taxi fares in his home city of Hamburg were comparable with Phuket, but in Hamburg the passengers rode in a fully equipped Mercedes 280 in air-conditioned comfort. On Phuket, the tuk-tuk was open-air, unsafe, and without room for luggage.
''Is this fair for tourists?'' Mr Naumann asked. ''On behalf of all the honorary consuls, I would like to suggest that these fares are too high. Based on my interviews at Phuket airport, the German people will come to Phuket less and less frequently.''
Khun Chairat said that the cost of living in Bangkok was cheaper than the cost of living in Phuket, hence the lower fares.
Mr Naumann said that taxi and tuk-tuk drivers in both places lived in areas where they paid local prices, which were comparable.
Mr Naumann said a Bangkok taxi cost about 450,000-500,000 baht, whereas a Phuket tuk-tuk cost 150,000 baht. The tuk-tuk only used a two-stroke engine.
Khun Chairat said Phuket's hilly terrain meant the tuk-tuks used more fuel, and it was petrol, not gas, as in Bangkok: Mr Naumann responded that all of the terrain in Patong was flat.
On a journey from Patong to Phuket airport, only 800 metres was involved negotiating Patong Hill, and half of that was heading downwards, with no fuel expended.
''Why not have Bangkok-style taxis in Patong, if they are so much cheaper to run?'' said Mr Naumann.
Khun Chairat said the tuk-tuk customers were mostly ''rich'' tourists. He also noted that in Bangkok, taxis could pick up passengers anywhere, but on Phuket they were forced to make the return journey to their base area without a passenger to cover the extra cost . . .
The question was left dangling. Well then, why not have a system where taxis and tuk-tuks can pick up passengers all over Phuket?
The moment passed.
It was a lively debate. Governor Tri believes that feedback on the newly set maximum fares, to be collected from tourists over the next three months, will be positive, and that the next step can then be taken.
''Prices will become lower,'' he promised. Mr Naumann responded: ''We very much appreciate your efforts.''
Phuket Yachtie Four 'Slaughtered by Pirates'One magic moment came at yesterday's summit in Phuket City when German honorary consul Dirk Naumann told the the gathering that he had prepared for the tuk-tuk debate by going to Phuket International Airport and questioning 100 departing Germans.
''I asked them what their biggest problem was on Phuket,'' Mr Naumann said. ''Fifteen out of the hundred said they would not come to Phuket again because of the tuk-tuks.''
Mr Naumann then debated the issue with Patong Deputy Mayor Chairat Sukban. Mr Naumann demolished Khun Chairat's defence of the tuk-tuks' high fares, and today many in-the-know people on Phuket were still buzzing about the way Mr Naumann had argued the case for lower fares.
Phuket's Governor Tri also had his say, making the point that he would like to have meters like Bangkok but that for the time being, most of the taxis on Phuket were illegal.
Governor Tri's master strategy for the island's taxis is a progressive step-by-step conversion of green plates to yellow plates, to introduce a proper call centre system, and to add meters.
At one point he revealed that the maximum fares imposed for tuk-tuks recently from Patong around Phuket are based on four people as passengers.
In theory, if just one person is travelling, the negotiated fare should be somewhere between the maximum and one quarter of the maximum. In practice, it may not turn out quite like that.
Enforcement of the maximums will come into effect at the end of the month: any driver who charges more than the agreed maximums could then be reported to police and face arrest.
The price around Patong, where the maximum is 200 baht, should be 100 baht or 120 baht for some short trips involving one or two people, he said.
Today with Phuketwan he elaborated on his plan in an exclusive interview at Provincial Hall in Phuket City. Governor Tri said that if the present rules work, he will look at more changes in three months, in time for the next meeting of honorary consuls.
''It's a step by step thing,'' he told Phuketwan. ''These issues have been left unsolved for more than a decade. If we can fix Patong, then we can fix the problems for all of Phuket.''
How long will it take for solving the island's present taxi/tuk-tuk transport issues? ''Three years,'' the governor said.
The taxi call centre in Patong, with a telephone number that will double as a complaints hotline, should be in place within the next three months, he said.
His explanation today followed a fascinating cut-and-thrust yesterday between Mr Naumann and Khun Chairat.
Mr Naumann opened his remarks on the tuk-tuks by saying he was ''happy to have a governor who is finally doing something.''
Then he posed a question or two, beginning with:
''How is it that a trip on Phuket from Patong to the airport costs many times more in an open-air tuk-tuk than it does in Bangkok in an air-conditioned taxi?''
He noted that taxi fares in his home city of Hamburg were comparable with Phuket, but in Hamburg the passengers rode in a fully equipped Mercedes 280 in air-conditioned comfort. On Phuket, the tuk-tuk was open-air, unsafe, and without room for luggage.
''Is this fair for tourists?'' Mr Naumann asked. ''On behalf of all the honorary consuls, I would like to suggest that these fares are too high. Based on my interviews at Phuket airport, the German people will come to Phuket less and less frequently.''
Khun Chairat said that the cost of living in Bangkok was cheaper than the cost of living in Phuket, hence the lower fares.
Mr Naumann said that taxi and tuk-tuk drivers in both places lived in areas where they paid local prices, which were comparable.
Mr Naumann said a Bangkok taxi cost about 450,000-500,000 baht, whereas a Phuket tuk-tuk cost 150,000 baht. The tuk-tuk only used a two-stroke engine.
Khun Chairat said Phuket's hilly terrain meant the tuk-tuks used more fuel, and it was petrol, not gas, as in Bangkok: Mr Naumann responded that all of the terrain in Patong was flat.
On a journey from Patong to Phuket airport, only 800 metres was involved negotiating Patong Hill, and half of that was heading downwards, with no fuel expended.
''Why not have Bangkok-style taxis in Patong, if they are so much cheaper to run?'' said Mr Naumann.
Khun Chairat said the tuk-tuk customers were mostly ''rich'' tourists. He also noted that in Bangkok, taxis could pick up passengers anywhere, but on Phuket they were forced to make the return journey to their base area without a passenger to cover the extra cost . . .
The question was left dangling. Well then, why not have a system where taxis and tuk-tuks can pick up passengers all over Phuket?
The moment passed.
It was a lively debate. Governor Tri believes that feedback on the newly set maximum fares, to be collected from tourists over the next three months, will be positive, and that the next step can then be taken.
''Prices will become lower,'' he promised. Mr Naumann responded: ''We very much appreciate your efforts.''
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Posted by Chalongian on February 22, 2011 23:06