Taxi drivers near Cafe del Mar in Kamala, Phuket, have caused another disturbance affecting tourists. Kamala Police Station received a complaint about an incident that happened on Wednesday evening.

 

Chalermphon Kwanyuen, a 40-year-old taxi driver, was booked through the Bolt app to pick up passengers from Cafe del Mar. At about 7:50 pm, upon his arrival, Manasmee Poksakul, a local taxi driver, spoke to him about their concerns with app-hailed taxis in that area. Traditional taxi drivers in the area are upset with Bolt and Grab drivers, claiming they take away their customers.

 

Chalermphon, aware of previous issues between taxi drivers at Cafe del Mar, started a conversation with Manasmee, who requested he park farther along at a nearby hotel. As Manasmee explained the rules to him, Chalermphon's passengers grew uncomfortable and left the taxi. As they departed in the rain, Manasmee allegedly shouted rudely at them.

 

The incident was recorded by foreign tourists and uploaded to a popular local social media page, sparking criticism towards the taxi drivers and concern for the image of Phuket tourism.

 

Manasmee was called to the police station and informed that he would be charged for threatening behavior. However, after paying a 500 baht fine, the case was closed. Chalermphon was pleased with the outcome, stating he wanted to maintain his safety without intensifying the situation.

 

At the moment, the incident has not been publicly acknowledged by the Phuket Land Transport Office (PLTO), headed by Chief Adcha Buachan. The PLTO is tasked with managing the activity of all taxi drivers and vehicles in Phuket.

 

Last reports from the PLTO showed continued efforts to clamp down on unlawful taxi activity at the Phuket airport, which has been ongoing for the past few months.

 

File photo for reference only. Courtesy of Google

 

-- 2024-05-17

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

4 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Traditional taxi drivers in the area are upset with Bolt and Grab drivers, claiming they take away their customers.

 

time to rethink your business model then. 

29 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

a local taxi driver, spoke to him about their concerns with app-hailed taxis in that area

 

29 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

explained the rules to him

 

I would love to hear about those concerns and those rules.

1 hour ago, snoop1130 said:

At about 7:50 pm, upon his arrival, Manasmee Poksakul, a local taxi driver, spoke to him about their concerns with app-hailed taxis in that area. Traditional taxi drivers in the area are upset with Bolt and Grab drivers, claiming they take away their customers.

...cry me a river!

 

bob.

1 hour ago, snoop1130 said:

Manasmee was called to the police station and informed that he would be charged for threatening behavior. However, after paying a 500 baht fine, the case was closed.

500 baht and a wai is the going rate for thais that do wrong.

 

bob.

Price for acting like an idiot = 500 baht.  Cost to the image of Thailand for those tourists involved or watching = priceless.

2 hours ago, stoner said:

time to rethink your business model then. 

 

The prevention of competition is the keystone of their business model.

A disgusting image of Thailand that most foreigners never see until they get in here. What a shame to Thailand to have such taxi crooks all over.

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Traditional taxi drivers in the area are upset with Bolt and Grab drivers, claiming they take away their customers.

Turf wars....

So typical Thailand to have continuing issues with taxi operators....continually happening everywhere....often ending in violence and even deaths. But...nothing happens to solve these issues! Talk about hopeless authorities...taking salaries and doing zero!

8 hours ago, SingAPorn said:

A disgusting image of Thailand that most foreigners never see until they get in here. What a shame to Thailand to have such taxi crooks all over.

 

And they are everywhere. I tried to get a taxi in Bangkok this week and not one, none at all, wanted to use the meter for a 5-10 minute trip. Another image that tourists receive when they come to Thailand.

12 hours ago, BangkokReady said:

 

The prevention of competition is the keystone of their business model.

It's the model in the whole country. Monopoly makes life so easy.

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

 

Taxi drivers near Cafe del Mar in Kamala, Phuket, have caused another disturbance affecting tourists. Kamala Police Station received a complaint about an incident that happened on Wednesday evening.

 

Chalermphon Kwanyuen, a 40-year-old taxi driver, was booked through the Bolt app to pick up passengers from Cafe del Mar. At about 7:50 pm, upon his arrival, Manasmee Poksakul, a local taxi driver, spoke to him about their concerns with app-hailed taxis in that area. Traditional taxi drivers in the area are upset with Bolt and Grab drivers, claiming they take away their customers.

 

Chalermphon, aware of previous issues between taxi drivers at Cafe del Mar, started a conversation with Manasmee, who requested he park farther along at a nearby hotel. As Manasmee explained the rules to him, Chalermphon's passengers grew uncomfortable and left the taxi. As they departed in the rain, Manasmee allegedly shouted rudely at them.

 

The incident was recorded by foreign tourists and uploaded to a popular local social media page, sparking criticism towards the taxi drivers and concern for the image of Phuket tourism.

 

 

Manasmee was called to the police station and informed that he would be charged for threatening behavior. However, after paying a 500 baht fine, the case was closed. Chalermphon was pleased with the outcome, stating he wanted to maintain his safety without intensifying the situation.

 

At the moment, the incident has not been publicly acknowledged by the Phuket Land Transport Office (PLTO), headed by Chief Adcha Buachan. The PLTO is tasked with managing the activity of all taxi drivers and vehicles in Phuket.

 

Last reports from the PLTO showed continued efforts to clamp down on unlawful taxi activity at the Phuket airport, which has been ongoing for the past few months.

 

File photo for reference only. Courtesy of Google

 

-- 2024-05-17

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

Probably happens every day somewhere in Thailand🙏

17 minutes ago, Maitdjai said:

It's the model in the whole country. Monopoly makes life so easy.

 

Correct, look att CP group and they still pay minimum vages at all their stores, but doesn't make "life so easy"

Cafe del mar has been a blight for kamala since day 1

Loud music

Vaping on premises

smoking weed inside and on the beach in front
 

 

 

Get the PM onto this (when he has finished his globetrotting).

Thailand will never be a "world leader in tourism" until the taxi mafia is fixed.

I have only been saying this for 30 years, how long do they need ?

Tourist Activities at Phuket's Cafe del Mar Disrupted by Taxi Conflict.

 

The Taxi Drivers don't like the Legal competition in their so called Area.

Greedy sods . Sounds like the Mafia is still there.

4 hours ago, watchcat said:

 

Correct, look att CP group and they still pay minimum vages at all their stores, but doesn't make "life so easy"

Greedy management, is an epitome of a Monopoly.
 

Have fond memories of Phuket, met my wife there 15 years ago. But now I wouldn't go back there, not until they eradicate all these local mafias.

21 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Traditional taxi drivers in the area are upset with Bolt and Grab drivers, claiming they take away their customers.

Probably using meter – and thereby stop overpayment from passengers – could get result in that the traditional taxis get their business back...

14 hours ago, zzzzz said:

Cafe del mar has been a blight for kamala since day 1

Loud music

Vaping on premises

smoking weed inside and on the beach in front
 

 

 

You need to relax.

 

Edited May 18, 20242 yr by sherwood

27 minutes ago, sherwood said:

You need to relax.

 

You can relax without all that.

15 hours ago, zzzzz said:

Cafe del mar has been a blight for kamala since day 1

Loud music

Vaping on premises

smoking weed inside and on the beach in front
 

 

 

 

You forgot the huge party during Covid lockdown!

 

But anyway, I spend a lot of time in Kamala - eight months in 2023 - and ride past virtually every day. Beach clubs are not my thing so I have no interest, but the place has absolutely zero impact on my life.

 

Most people will use GRAB or BOLT  now and they only have themselves to blame.  Not only are the apps a lot cheaper but also when you book with an app,  When the driver gets there he/she knows where they gotta go.  You get a taxi driver off the street they haven't got a clue where anywhere is.  they gotta be the world's worst taxi drivers for never knowing any places.   Unless it's within a couple of mins of where they're parked up. And with GPS and google it couldn't it be any easier.  I do think a lot of these drivers can't read or write.