A Politician standing up for tourist! But will anything happen?

Article from Phuket Wan.

<h1 class="title">Phuket Authorities Told: 'Stop The Tourist Rip-Offs'</h1> Tuesday, December 16, 2008 PHUKET had plenty to be proud of, the Permanent Secretary of the Department of the Interior, Dr Peerapon Taitasawit, said last night. But he went on to deliver a strongly critical message to local authorities.

The senior bureaucrat from Bangkok surprised many important island identities in the audience as he formally opened the Patong Carnival 2008.

What he had to say from the stage on the Patong beachfront shocked many listeners, who were expecting a typical ''welcome to the carnival'' speech.

In no uncertain terms, he made the point that the island's tessaban chiefs should serve the community rather than ''taking the opportunity to line their pockets.''

The Patong tessaban had supplied journalists with copies of the friendly carnival opening speech Dr Peerapon was supposed to make.

What he actually had to say was off the cuff, totally different, and it contained a strong message.

Dr Peerapon, who said he was a frequent visitor to Phuket for holidays with his family, warned that the high cost of tuk-tuks, jetskis and longtail taxi boats could turn foreign tourists away.

''If they are happy with the price, they will come back again and again,'' he said. ''If the prices are too high, it will have the opposite effect.''

A big profit today could mean low profit or even no profit tomorrow, he said.

The sharpness of Dr Peerapon's speech surprised many people in the audience, which included the mayor of Patong, Pian Keesin, the mayors of Karon and Kamala, and the Governor, Dr Preecha Ruangjan.

Dr Peerapon, one of Bangkok's highest-ranking public servants, said that as part of their role, tessabans needed to control the cost of transport services.

''More tourists will come, even in an economic downturn, if these kinds of costs are not allowed to get out of control,'' he said.

Dr Peerapon said that tourists on holiday do not come to Phuket to have arguments with tuk-tuk drivers about the high cost of short journeys.

Too many of those kinds of disputes will lead people to go to other places.

''Tuk tuk drivers and others should not take advantage of tourists,'' he said.

Dr Peerapon went on to urge the Tourism Authority of Thailand to bring journalists from CNN and Reuters to report that Phuket remains a safe destination.

He also sought to promote greater local interest in Phuket's environment.

''This is your home,'' he said. ''You should take care of your own home.''

Dr Peerapon also held talks with Governor Dr Preecha while on Phuket.

http://phuketwan.com/tourism/phuket-authorities-told-stop-rip-offs/

I thought this was about the guy in Iraq who threw his shoes at W.

Good on him. He's a highly educated Thai who frequents the island for holidays with his family. He's obviously seen the downward spiral of rip-off prices and the environmental damage being done and has spoken up.

I'll just wait for the usual responses now from the Thai apologists and entrenched ignorant farang to pop up.......................

I thought this was about the guy in Iraq who threw his shoes at W.

you have to admit, that was a great dodge by mr bush, didnt think he had it in him.

You know, im glad this guy has stood up and said something, the sad thing is though, the tuk tuks and others will go on and take advantage anyways, its going to get worse before it gets better I think.

Good on him. He's a highly educated Thai who frequents the island for holidays with his family. He's obviously seen the downward spiral of rip-off prices and the environmental damage being done and has spoken up.

I'll just wait for the usual responses now from the Thai apologists and entrenched ignorant farang to pop up.......................

Don't hold your breath waiting for someone to stick up for the Tuk tuk drivers. I feel it is high time the Government stepped in and set standard prices for tuk tuk rides. If people knew exactly how much is was to get from A to B it would take make it a lot easier. Like a set rate per kilometer or having zones etc would be a start. It gets back to lazy, corrupt officials and police. The police find plenty of time to collect fines from farangs without licenses and lids.

I just dunno what the big problem is in terms of tuk tuks for most people, just walk or make other arrangements. I cannot even remember the last time I got in a tuk tuk. The problem comes down to people paying the rip off prices, if you just say "No, too expensive" and walk off, they will have no choice but to charge a sensible price if enough people do it. You are not dealing with the Mensa members of Thailand when dealing with tuk tuk drivers.

A good few years ago one Governor actually tried to implement fixed tarrifs, even got as far as printing up price stickers to be posted inside every Tuk Tuk. I actually saw some of these stickers, but the tarrifs did not even last one week.

Trouble is that newby holiday tourists have no idea about 'fair' prices and just compare with back-home taxi prices and treat it all as a great bit of holiday fun. That's how the Tuk Tuks get away with their rip-off prices and just feed off the newbie holiday-makers. I think the Tuk Tuks will be in for a rude shock after February 2009.

I feel it is high time the Government stepped in and set standard prices for tuk tuk rides. If people knew exactly how much is was to get from A to B it would take make it a lot easier. Like a set rate per kilometer or having zones etc would be a start.

Certainly so, there used to be signs for motorbike taxis and fares on them around, disappeared on samui.

Are the stickers of fares in the baht buses in pattaya still around?

I wonder why it is so different, if it is a law it should be implemented all over Thailand, not just certain places!

I pay pittens (5-10 Baht) in Surat for similar distance then for example the ten times inflated fare on samui (50-100 Baht) and the "Meter-Taxis" why do they get away with No meter and even more exorbitant fares, why is that I wonder!