Phuket taxi drivers are revolting – protesting at Phuket provincial office

[snoop1130]

 

Today, the operators of registered taxis and public transport vehicles in Phuket took to the streets to protest against the operation of unregistered taxis and outside vehicles offering services on the resort island.

 

Over 100 drivers of taxis, passenger vans, and tuk-tuks gathered in front of the Phuket provincial hall in Phuket Town to submit a letter to the Phuket governor Narong Woonciew, seeking his intervention to address the problem of unregistered competition.

 

The letter presented to the governor highlighted the adverse impact that unregistered taxis have had on the business of registered taxis, passenger vans, and tuk-tuk vehicles that provide public transport services on the island. The drivers took turns airing their grievances and frustrations over the operation of unregistered taxis that have been stealing their customers.

 

To be clear, Phuket’s taxis are the most expensive in Thailand and have enjoyed a wretched reputation and been the subject of thousands of annual complaints about expensive fares, poor service and occasional violence.

 

Vice Governor Anupao Yodkhwan accepted the letter from the protesting driver and assured the protesters that the provincial authorities would look into the points raised in the letter and take appropriate action. Adcha Buachan, Chief of the Phuket transport office, also made a similar promise to tackle the problem.

 

After the letter was submitted and their voices heard, the protesters dispersed, satisfied with the response from the governor and the transport office. Recent years has seen a rise in diversification in app-based transport services, like Grab and Bolt.

 

For tourists, from the moment they walk out of the domestic or international terminals in Phuket, they’re faced with the machinery of a well-oiled, airport-endorsed, taxi fare rip off. Sadly this is the first and last impression many tourists will have of their visit to the island.

 

As Phuket continues to recover from nearly 3 years of restrictions, the island’s transport cartels and ‘taxi mafia’ are the biggest challenge to a sustained recovery and improved reputation.

 

Source: https://phuket-go.com/phuket-news/phuket-news/phuket-taxi-drivers-are-revolting-protesting-at-phuket-provincial-office/

 

-- © Copyright Phuket GO 2023-02-02

 

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[stoner]

the title is right....they are revolting but the other meaning. i say #2 fits quite well.. 

 

revolting

 

rĭ-vōl′tĭng

adjective

1. Causing abhorrence or disgust. synonym: offensive.
2. Causing abhorrence mixed with disgust; exciting extreme repugnance; loathsome.
3. That which revolts or is repelling.

[OneMoreFarang]

I suggest every taxi should have a transmitter installed which records if the meter is on or off, how many people are in the taxi, the location, etc. Technically that should be easy.

And then compare how often that meter is on when passengers are in the taxi.

Honest taxi drivers should be happy to support this... 

[madmitch]

Tourism has returned as have the same old stories that had been missing from the pages of Asean Now for two years.

 

It's like the clock has been reset!

[Mavideol]

if these guys are "legally" registered, have proper passengers insurance  and pay taxes on their income, then have to agree with them and fine all the "illegal" ones that have no insurance to carry passengers and not paying any tax... police knows who they are but (again the brown envelopes) turn the other way when seeing them "illegally" picking up people

[2baht]

Phuket taxi drivers are revolting

 

I know!

[andre47]

25 minutes ago, Mavideol said:

if these guys are "legally" registered, have proper passengers insurance  and pay taxes on their income, then have to agree with them and fine all the "illegal" ones that have no insurance to carry passengers and not paying any tax... police knows who they are but (again the brown envelopes) turn the other way when seeing them "illegally" picking up people

yes, but only if they are using the meter

[Pique Dard]

48 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

To be clear, Phuket’s taxis are the most expensive in Thailand and have enjoyed a wretched reputation and been the subject of thousands of annual complaints about expensive fares, poor service and occasional violence.

those taxidrivers should protest against  themselves, instead!

[Big Bert]

In over 20 years of living here I have never visited Phuket nor do I have any plans to visit.
People bitch on about Pattaya but this revolting taxi scams seal it for me.

[engamann]

Start use your meter you dum dums , the people don't need Bolt or Grab.

[spidermike007]

Let them revolt. Feed them, give them snacks, keep them off the roads. All they are doing is moaning about better priced competitors stealing business from them, and preventing them from acts of piracy. Put down the pirates. Just say no to nonsense and creeps. 

[Geoffggi]

12 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Honest taxi drivers should be happy to support this... 

What is his name ? ...........................LOL

[LosLobo]

9 hours ago, Big Bert said:

In over 20 years of living here I have never visited Phuket nor do I have any plans to visit.
People bitch on about Pattaya but this revolting taxi scams seal it for me.

Yet, Pattaya taxi-meters are not any better!

 

Edited February 2, 2023 by LosLobo

[Deli]

Never ever I'll use one of them.

Scum.

[Aussieroaming]

The taxi thieves.

[OneMoreFarang]

1 hour ago, Geoffggi said:

What is his name ? ...........................LOL

I don't know any in Phuket. But sometimes in Bangkok I am still surprised how humble some drivers are - even in Sukhumvit.

[Tropposurfer]

Maybe, maybe if you lot didn't extort and price gouge folks at rates truly obscene and unknown in other parts of LOS you wouldn't have had the rise of Grab etc. People would be and have been happy to use your brightly coloured cars all the day long. 

[Mavideol]

19 hours ago, andre47 said:

yes, but only if they are using the meter

they can't, it broke down sometime ago, no money to fix  555

[matador007]

Vote with your feet.

[Peabody]

"They stink on ice"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nEADNwXSEw&ab_channel=FrancisQ

[nglodnig]

I found Phuket taxi drivers at the airport not in the least revolting but if I need a taxi in Chiang Mai I use "CNX Taxis" on WhatsApp

[daveAustin]

On 2/2/2023 at 8:27 PM, Big Bert said:

In over 20 years of living here I have never visited Phuket nor do I have any plans to visit.
People bitch on about Pattaya but this revolting taxi scams seal it for me.

Shame to miss out just because of the taxis. It’s not my fav place, but bringing Pattaya into the topic lol. 
But yes, the Phuket taxi mafia are pondlife. I wish them all the bad luck in the world.