File photo courtesy of TRAZY

 

Phuket's provincial administration is tackling the rise of fake taxi registrations on ride-hailing apps, a threat to its tourism industry. Governor Saransak Srikruanet recently held discussions on the troubling use of false IDs and the emergence of "black plates"—personal vehicles illegally operating as taxis in tourist areas.

 

As of 2nd October, the Phuket Provincial Land Transportation Office identified over 100 illegal taxi operators using these apps. Governor Saransak has vowed legal action against offenders and plans to launch a public awareness campaign to combat the issue, reported the Bangkok Post.

 

Authorities prioritise safeguarding visitors' safety and preserving the island's reputation while ensuring fairness for legitimate taxi operators. This initiative is an important step in maintaining trust in Phuket's transport services.

 

Key Takeaways

 

• Phuket targets fake taxi registrations threatening tourism.
• Over 100 illegal operators detected by authorities.
• Public awareness campaigns and legal actions are underway.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-11-17

 

 

The fine upstanding, Honest and very well-mannered regular taxis in Phuket need to be protected from those nasty, cheap taxis on the ride haling apps.....lol

The mafia has spoken better do something

The question is, why have they not already been doing this !!

Same same every year. Few days of headlines, photos of taxis ..... and then back to normal.

 

Few weeks time the crackdown on pollution begins, as the city becomes covered in burning season pollution. You get headlines of new crack downs on burning etc .... and then back to normal. 

 

Vehicle emissions, for a week or so they do some testing on the side of roads ... then nothing and back to normal.

 

After you been here for a while you start to realise this is how things work. 

Everything on the name of protecting tourists, but is that the real reason? I believe it is because the normal taxis are complaining that these take away more customers as probably they give better service and are much cheaper, than the "official" m*ffia taxis

19 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

Everything on the name of protecting tourists, but is that the real reason? I believe it is because the normal taxis are complaining that these take away more customers as probably they give better service and are much cheaper, than the "official" m*ffia taxis

You are most likely correct. The loca drivers are losing out to exorbitant charges to foreigners when the foreigner uses an app. They can not over charge anyone. So i am sure they are the ones who initiated the local PD to focus on App drivers. It surely has nothing to do with tourism safety or confidence. 

1 hour ago, thesetat said:

You are most likely correct. The loca drivers are losing out to exorbitant charges to foreigners when the foreigner uses an app. They can not over charge anyone. So i am sure they are the ones who initiated the local PD to focus on App drivers. It surely has nothing to do with tourism safety or confidence. 

I agree with that. Many of the app drivers are not licensed though, looking at their black plates. This can cause insurance issues.

On 11/17/2025 at 7:32 AM, webfact said:

Phuket's provincial administration is tackling the rise of fake taxi registrations on ride-hailing apps, a threat to its tourism industry. Governor Saransak Srikruanet recently held discussions on the troubling use of false IDs and the emergence of "black plates"—personal vehicles illegally operating as taxis in tourist areas.

The taxi mafia have been operating in their way for decades,. protected it seems by some

We got to KORAT late night ( around 22:00 ) after a bus trip from BKK.  The wife ( Thai ) approached the taxi stand to get transport. She was quoted ONLY will do  ...."off meter" 400bt.... ( Luggage was 1 backpack )

 

Taking grab TO the station from our home normally is 128bt.

( Using Grab, from our home, usual cost  anywhere we want to go in Korat ranges from 117bt to 132 bt)

 

"Regular taxi drivers" wonder why people dislike using them....,hummmmm

 

""""HELLO TAXI METER""""

Taxi mafia has ruled for decades. 

 

One of main reasons i have not visited there in 15++ years and no desire to go back.  I suspect there are thousands upon thousands of people who have been extorted, cheated, ripped off, threatened that also have not been back and likely will never go again. With social media now more and more people share their rip off experiences online.

 

Sad that a mafia is allowed to openly rule with little to no repercussions  for decades. 

 

Some Mr Bigs must have some very nice villas in France by now and a few flats in London.

On 11/17/2025 at 7:32 AM, webfact said:

This initiative is an important step in maintaining trust in Phuket's transport services

I am afraid that ship sailed a while ago!

6 hours ago, pomchop said:

Taxi mafia has ruled for decades. 

 

One of main reasons i have not visited there in 15++ years and no desire to go back.  I suspect there are thousands upon thousands of people who have been extorted, cheated, ripped off, threatened that also have not been back and likely will never go again. With social media now more and more people share their rip off experiences online.

 

Sad that a mafia is allowed to openly rule with little to no repercussions  for decades. 

 

Some Mr Bigs must have some very nice villas in France by now and a few flats in London.

 

Extortionate and also violent swine.

 

Phuket (Kata) is the only place in Thailand I was threatened with violence ... by of course, yes, a taxi tosser. His mates pulled him back in time when they saw I was in a position to mash him and we parted in peace.

 

Not been back since 2008. I went several times before then as part of longer stays, for the Andaman diving. I got fed up with the constant attempts to rip me off like nowhere else in the country.

 

(Back then I also dabbled in the gogos now and then. It's the only place I ever had bad experiences with the women. The only place I ever experienced a 'starfish'.)

 

Despite the occasional gems amongst the locals, Phuket's just an open toilet from my perspective.

On 11/18/2025 at 8:07 AM, BusyB said:

 

 

 

(Back then I also dabbled in the gogos now and then. It's the only place I ever had bad experiences with the women. The only place I ever experienced a 'starfish'.)

 

 

Only in Phuket? You should get out more. ⭐🐟😂

On 11/17/2025 at 8:50 AM, ozz1 said:

The mafia has spoken better do something

Dodgy taxis have been around for the 20 years that I have been here, they are all over Thailand.

On 11/17/2025 at 7:30 AM, ikke1959 said:

Everything on the name of protecting tourists, but is that the real reason? I believe it is because the normal taxis are complaining that these take away more customers as probably they give better service and are much cheaper, than the "official" m*ffia taxis

 

100% agree - this is nothing more than protecting the thugs who run the TukTuks and Songthaews.

 

If there were an 'honest and reliable' taxi service in Phuket (and other area's of Thailand) these ride hailing apps such as BOLT, GRAB, InDrive wouldn't be as popular. 

 

Additionally - how hard is it for these 'taxi's to get involved with the ride hailing ? - you can order a TukTuk on Grab Right ? - The issue is clearly that when doing so, the price is fair and controlled and they 'can't' rip the tourists off.... 

 

 

15 hours ago, kiwikeith said:

Dodgy taxis have been around for the 20 years that I have been here, they are all over Thailand.

 

I thought that was what the the headline in the aricle should crack down on, but oh how wrong I was.

I read on the Phuket airport site that the Airport bus to the beaches and Phuket town is only 100 baht . It leaves every hour so no need to get involved with the mafia. 

https://www.airportbusphuket.com/