The General Manager of Phuket International Airport has confirmed plans for an area where all legally registered taxis can pick up passengers. In a 3 page statement described as a “clarification”, Monchai Tanode responded to a formal complaint from Move Forward MP, Somchart Techathavorncharoen.

 

In a detailed complaint dating back to May, Somchart raised a series of issues affecting passengers arriving at the airport. These included tourists having to walk through the rain to get to the airport bus stop and having to leave the airport grounds to meet a pre-arranged taxi.

 

Phuket Airport is paid an undisclosed amount of money for its taxi concession that has caused decades of high fares, extortion and poor service for arriving tourists. The ‘monopoly’ has effectively blocked any real attempts to provide a real alternative. Even the bus service has been relegated to a ‘difficult to find’ area to the north of the domestic terminal arrival area.

 

By Peter Roche

Caption: Phuket airport taxis awaiting passengers

 

Full Story: https://phuket-go.com/phuket-news/phuket-news/phuket-airport-to-create-area-for-all-registered-taxis-to-pick-up-passengers/

 

-- © Copyright Phuket GO 2023-07-26

 

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that would be a great, as long as it's not controlled by the local mafiosos it would be a great improvement

I visited Phuket the first time in 1993, the time before "the internet", smartphones, taxi apps and all that. 

The taxis were overprized.

Now, 30 years later, the taxis are still overpriced.

By now we have rovers on the Mars. But the Phuket taxi issue seems to be unsolvable.

Amazing Thailand. 

1 hour ago, Mavideol said:

that would be a great, as long as it's not controlled by the local mafiosos it would be a great improvement

But the mafia would lose lots of money. Why would they allow that to happen? 

My ex #3 owns a small 'airport' hotel since about 2012.  She is forbidden by the airport authorities to collect hotel guests from the airport in her private car because it is not a registered taxi. She can drop off guests at the airport but is fined (regularly) when she tries to meet her prebooked guests.

Haven't been to Phuket, no plans to go either.

Will it still be "no meter" - 3 Billion baht sir. 

They mean a boxing ring ????

16 hours ago, simon43 said:

My ex #3 owns a small 'airport' hotel since about 2012.  She is forbidden by the airport authorities to collect hotel guests from the airport in her private car because it is not a registered taxi. She can drop off guests at the airport but is fined (regularly) when she tries to meet her prebooked guests.

With a private car she is also not legally allowed to drop off guests at the airport.
IMO rightfully so

Flew into Phuket 3 times, and simply rented a car, which turned out cheaper in the long run, for the 24 hrs of use.  Along with having it to explore during that time.

 

I refuse to take a taxi that doesn't use the meter.

 

 

20 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Phuket Airport is paid an undisclosed amount of money for its taxi concession that has caused decades of high fares, extortion and poor service for arriving tourists. The ‘monopoly’ has effectively blocked any real attempts to provide a real alternative. Even the bus service has been relegated to a ‘difficult to find’ area to the north of the domestic terminal arrival area.

 

฿฿฿Cha-Ching฿฿฿

PIA + Taxi Mafia - 1 plus a whole lot of incoming ฿฿฿฿฿฿฿฿฿
Foreign Tourist - 0 plus a whole lot of outgoing ฿฿฿฿฿฿฿฿฿

Enriching yourselves at the expense of foreign tourist?
Priceless

I warn people I know away from Phuket.  Getting ripped off immediately after deboarding the plane isn't a good way to start a vacation.  There are too many other better places to go in Thailand.

Phuket Airport to create area for all registered taxis to pick up passengers

Soon to be referred to as The Fight Club.

The Phuket taxi mafia will start selling entry tickets as the taxis come through the front gate.

They will always find a way to fleece