Phuket Tours Miffed Over Phi Phi Fee

[webfact]

Phuket tours miffed over Phi Phi fee

Tourists disembark on Koh Phi Phi, a popular tour destination from Phuket.

PHUKET: -- A 20-baht “entrance fee” levied by the local authority in charge of Koh Phi Phi has sparked a row with Phuket tour operators.

On Saturday the Ao Nang Tambon Administration Organization (TAO) began collecting the charge from all visitors to fund the cleaning of the island’s piers.

Tour operators are complaining the TAO did not officially warn them in advance.

Nikorn Tormaitree, a tour operator representative, said operators knew a charge would be introduced but weren’t told when. Some tourists were angered when TAO officials asked for the money, he said.

“The tourists didn’t know why they had to pay more because they thought the fee was already included in the tour cost. Although it’s only 20 baht, the tourists should know in advance because they might refuse to pay and this will cause problems.” he said.

Mr Nikorn said the operators would not resist the charge but asked that the Krabi Governor consider "whether or not it was suitable for tourists”.

-- Phuket Gazette 2010-04-06

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[virtualtraveller]

Typical,

the tour operators contribute to the trashing of the island by bringing masses of people daily, then moan about having to pay a meagre 20 baht per person towards the cleaning up. And have the temerity to let the tourists have to pay it themselves.

Only thing to complain about is whether the fees are actually being used effectively to keep the island clean!

[gotlost]

Phuket should be paying the tourist. Phi Phi is over priced and over hyped

[Jonathanpattaya]

Typical,

the tour operators contribute to the trashing of the island by bringing masses of people daily, then moan about having to pay a meagre 20 baht per person towards the cleaning up. And have the temerity to let the tourists have to pay it themselves.

Only thing to complain about is whether the fees are actually being used effectively to keep the island clean!

It will be included in the tour but the operators will be pocketing that. Typical, grab the money now and worry about the consequences later.

[starkey_rich]

Mr Nikorn said the operators would not resist the charge but asked that the Krabi Governor consider "whether or not it was suitable for tourists”

Why would the operators resist the charge it's going to be the tourist who ends up paying it anyway.

[NBT TV Phuket]

VDO on item-10- at http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/prev...ws_headline=VDO - weekly Andaman News April 9 (whole program) or

Tourists said they are not concerned about the 20 Baht fee collection for Phi Phi Island while operators call for a more systematic approach

Foreign tourists who arrive on Phi Phi Island of Krabi now have to pay 20 baht at a table set up by the Ao Nang local government. The new move took effect since April 1st following the local government's regulation. The fee collected will go towards the island environmental care. At first tourists did not seem to understand as some thought it was already paid, but after a clear explanation that it would contribute to environment, they said they understood. The presidents of Ao Nang Sub-District Administrative Organization Pankam Kititornkul pointed out that the fund would be spent on waste management on the island. He detailed that the island receives around 2,000 visitors per day and they plus local businesses generate about 20 tons of waste per day. His office has to shoulder over one million baht for waste disposal. He stressed that the local government has explained to tour and boat operators, most of whom understand and agree with the new measure. Mr. Nokorn Tormaitree, a boat tour operator from Phuket – Phi Phi Island, suggested that the operators should shoulder the fee and that it should be included in the tour package. He suggested a more systematic way of collection and that local government reviews the regulations.

[apetley]

VDO on item-10- at http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/prev...ws_headline=VDO - weekly Andaman News April 9 (whole program) or

He detailed that the island receives around 2,000 visitors per day and they plus local businesses generate about 20 tons of waste per day. His office has to shoulder over one million baht for waste disposal.

2000 visitors per day at 20 bht each is over 14 million bht per year.

Where's the surplus 13 million going?