Phuket Taxis Blockade Luxury Cruise Ship Passengers From Disembarking

[dunkin2012]

I always tell friends who come to Thailand, avoid Phuket. There are many other islands who offer its natural beauty and hospitality of the Thai people.

They should go home with a good impression of Thailand.

Avoid Phuket and P......

plus Ao Nang, Krabi.... 2 Swedes died there........in a shower room.

[ScubaBuddha]

How well does the English saying "to shoot yourself in the foot" translate into Thai? Clearly not too well.

I think the closest thing would be "Sum num na." You get what you deserve. Applicable here.

The drivers were protesting the fact that local tour agents pick up most of the passengers who disembark from cruise ships at the port, leaving them with no work and no income.

Try having reasonable prices you morons! That is the only reason the resorts and tour agents have to use their own transport. I've never heard any member of the tuk tuk "co-op" explain WHY they have to charge 5 to 10 times Bangkok prices. Sum num na!!

[dunkin2012]

According to the government, tourist numbers are increasing. But what they AREN'T saying is that while the numbers may show an increase, the TYPE of tourist is quickly changing. With the current world economy, as well as hundreds of internet scam warnings about Thailand, the number of quality tourists (those who come and spend money in all the various shops, restaurants, etc.) is dropping like a rock.

The numbers are coming from the TOURS, and these people are, for the most part, NOT big spenders, meaning less and less Thai business owners make. My wife and I have a friend who is a tour guide for Japanese tours. She's been busy, BUT she told us that when the tours come in, those people prefer to go to restaurants and businesses owned by Japanese, and usually avoid the mainstream Thai businesses and restaurants. And, according to her, the majority of Japanese totally despise and hate tuk-tuk, and really don't like taking a songthow unless absolutely necessary.

Maybe TAT officials should get out of their aircon offices and talk to the half dozen or so friends of my wife and I who were in the tourism industry, but who, over the past 2 years or so, have had to shut down and find another line of work due to lack of business.

LOS - Land of Scams / Land of Shame / Loads of S**t / Land of Stupidity.

Take your pick.

Smack on the button with your assesment of Phuket. Actually I also use Japanese owned business where possible.

Hum.............. LOS - Land of Scams / Land of Shame / Loads of S**t / Land of Stupidity.

if you guys are not doin' anything productive at the moment, why don't you help them out.... Work for a none-profit organization to make them a better society ? That's what I always tell my friends to do if they don't like it try to change it... then. haha.............

[anterian]

The problem with the Thai tourist industry is that most Thais have never been tourists, they probably think the way they behave is normal and acceptable. Actually this goes for much of Thai culture and commercial practice, an insular backwater mentality which turns Xenophobic when challenged. The government should hand over the entire tourist industry to farangs until they learn to run it properly themselves.

[parryg]

The gang in brown, when are they gonna realise they are not there to negotiate disputes, these are civil matters, not criminal matters, the only crime was the blockade and their only task should have been to move them (taxi drivers) on and allow free and safe passage for the tourists. Thailand never fails to amaze me, perhaps that's where the slogan "Amazing Thailand" comes from

[tkoenig]

As usual the Thai Police couldn't find a way to manage 180 taxi and tuk-tuk drivers... Useless Police Force unless you are a high ranking government official and want a few hundred Police to block the roads off for you.

[KarstenBoAndersen]

Join "ban tuk tuks on phuket " on facebook

What is wrong to get people to join a protest against a mafia ?

[hardy1943]

As usual the Thai Police couldn't find a way to manage 180 taxi and tuk-tuk drivers... Useless Police Force unless you are a high ranking government official and want a few hundred Police to block the roads off for you.

Then they think they are highly important

[Huey]

Shooting themselves in the foot....again. Cave men had more brains.

This time in the foot, I hope next time it's in the face!

[techboy]

It is outrageous. Tour company van transportation is part of a paid package. I know quite well the nature of taxies and tuk-tuks that hang around locations where tourists are concentrated. They are lazy and are waiting for one fare to come along whom they can gouge the heck out of. Then they go buy a jug of Mekong and get ripped. I am not making angry conjecture. It is 12-yrs of experience and observation.

[Sparkles]

Not only Phuket add Kho Samui , Kho Chang any island that is promoted as a tourist destination its transport system is run by the Thai mafia and the Governmnet knows it and doesn't have the balls to do anyhting about it.I have many friends who come to Thailand, they are pre warned and avoid places like Phuket like the plague.

[parryg]

Anyway this is an easy one, before docking, announce to all passengers that if you haven't got a pre-booked tour look for other minibuses at the port entrance, but in all circumstances avoid using taxi or tuk-tuk they will rip you off. This deal has probably cost them 1000bt/driver to the BIB to negotiate, Can you see their faces as every passenger simply walks past them and grabs the nearest MB, "well we got you access, but we can't force the customer to use your services" 555

[NanaFoods]

I'm speechless.

Well, almost....

Seems like too many rip-offs and scams have finally done themselves in.

Also seems like just too many tuk-tuks and taxis - stop encroaching on the rights of others and get another job, or go tuk-tuk somewhere else.

One would think freedom of choice (passengers) supersedes tuk-tuk and taxi mafia whining. And what about the tour companies' freedom to conduct business as they see fit, and their inherent desire and responsibility to ensure the safety and pleasure of their clients (protection from scams)?

Edited April 6, 2011 by NanaFoods

[davidA]

Government to clear up the mafia??? half of the government are in it!!!!Ahh poor taxi drivers,poor tuk tuk operators,no work,no income??No one to rip off more like,no one to quickly divert to their uncles jewelery shop for a quick percentage earner. Amazing Thailand??only in the adverts,dont these thugs on wheels think?The way these idiots are acting,tourists will only feel safe in vans provided by a pucker travel operator and will refuse to visit Phuket.some of these voyagers are elderly people who would be terrified by these drivers demanding ridiculous amounts of money.therefore,the once tourist friendlt Phuket becomes just another Thailand hell hole to cross off the list of places to visit.Only Phuket loses in this farce.

[connda]

I've been in Thailand for 4 years. Never been to Phuket. And I don't think I ever will.

[katasyd]

It is outrageous. Tour company van transportation is part of a paid package. I know quite well the nature of taxies and tuk-tuks that hang around locations where tourists are concentrated. They are lazy and are waiting for one fare to come along whom they can gouge the heck out of. Then they go buy a jug of Mekong and get ripped. I am not making angry conjecture. It is 12-yrs of experience and observation.

I would like to subscribe to your newsletter.

[techboy]

The problem with the Thai tourist industry is that most Thais have never been tourists, they probably think the way they behave is normal and acceptable. Actually this goes for much of Thai culture and commercial practice, an insular backwater mentality which turns Xenophobic when challenged. The government should hand over the entire tourist industry to farangs until they learn to run it properly themselves.

Xenophobic? They are not being challenged here on anything but extortion.

[lifeincnx]

Quick fix: skip Phuket.

[anterian]

The problem with the Thai tourist industry is that most Thais have never been tourists, they probably think the way they behave is normal and acceptable. Actually this goes for much of Thai culture and commercial practice, an insular backwater mentality which turns Xenophobic when challenged. The government should hand over the entire tourist industry to farangs until they learn to run it properly themselves.

Xenophobic? They are not being challenged here on anything but extortion.

Well try querying a price and then pin your ears back, "farang kee nok" sounds pretty Xenophobic to me

[meelousee]

The cruise is a package deal, 1/2 day sightseeing is part of it and advertised as a air conditioned mini bus or van. They already paid for it.

Forcing the passengers to use an super inflated price of Taxi's or Tuk-Tuk is a breach of the passengers contract with the tour operator.

So this mess is as about stupid as stupid gets

[ajarnmarc]

Please, no offence to the many good people(thai&expat) living in Phuket.

But why on earth any one would want to live in a place with such over inflated prices

and losey service is beyond me.

I agree and ask people that question all the time, when they say Phuket is growing,

and the preferred spot to be over say Chiang Mai. My location isn't much better in Samui,

where like Phuket if you rent or have a car, it's also almost impossible to find a place to part it close to your venue.

All the taxi's and tuk tuk claim the roads side curbs as their reserved place to park.

In Phuket where I lived for two years, I used to get followed from where I had to park my car, walking back to the location I wanted to visit,

being asked repetitively if I wanted a ride? Like no one is allowed to walk in Phuket? Not to mention this issue wouldn't of been able to take place,

if I had been able to park closer to say the video store... I would show my car keys, but the taxi's or tuk tuk would just follow me anyway,

all the way to the door entrance. I was strong sell everywhere you went! You would think that since they are like to local landscape, with their vehicles parked

in front of every poplular area, that if someone wanted a taxi, they would just jump in, and wouldn't need to be pressured into taking a ride to their next location.

In Phuket it's not enough that taxi want to been seen everywhere but they also want to be heard!

In Samui they either try to push you down the road, if your on a motorcycle or in a car looking at something on the side of the road, or they run you off the road,

because they can't wait to pass the car in front of them, and just pass cars at will. You literally have to keep your eye straight on both sides, for what's coming in front of you maybe from the oncoming traffic. Ideally it appears the taxi would want us not to drive at all, or be provided transfers from the hotels, tour groups ect.

It's really becoming an impossible situation. One thing that Pattaya has seemed to master to some extent is the song tail that will get you just about anywhere you want to go for 20 baht flat fee, and almost everyone takes it at night, just to avoid having to find someplace to park.

Tourism in my eye since 2000, has gone down hill, due mostly to hospitality, that being lack of. Prices continue to climb, though quality remains the same and friendliness is only there if your spending money, and they can see the money being spent with one of their own. It's impossible to just walk around or drive around and be left alone, to enjoy Thailand how you wish. You must spend money if you venture out on your own. Amazing Thailand has grown to be Greedy Thailand.

[dunkin2012]

The problem with the Thai tourist industry is that most Thais have never been tourists, they probably think the way they behave is normal and acceptable. Actually this goes for much of Thai culture and commercial practice, an insular backwater mentality which turns Xenophobic when challenged. The government should hand over the entire tourist industry to farangs until they learn to run it properly themselves.

Xenophobic? They are not being challenged here on anything but extortion.

Jet ski scam....... ....

the same idea of extortion........... makin' money..... ........

[dunkin2012]

The problem with the Thai tourist industry is that most Thais have never been tourists, they probably think the way they behave is normal and acceptable. Actually this goes for much of Thai culture and commercial practice, an insular backwater mentality which turns Xenophobic when challenged. The government should hand over the entire tourist industry to farangs until they learn to run it properly themselves.

Xenophobic? They are not being challenged here on anything but extortion.

Well try querying a price and then pin your ears back, "farang kee nok" sounds pretty Xenophobic to me

very humiliated ....................but exclude other Asians ...

[robblok]

Taxi and Tuk Tuk in Phuket is a major problem for tourist industry. I am Thai and went there 9 years ago. We were rip off by this Tuk Tuk for a short distance cost me 200 baht so we choose to walk. Later we rent a car with GPS then just drive around the island cost us 1000 baht a day plus some gas cost. They are all bad and official never improve it. They should install meter for all Taxi and Tuk Tuk. Guys if you don't hav tourist you all will sit all day and get nothing.

It is but those Thais don't seem to understand it. Many foreigners get bored with being ripped off. But i guess its mainly the foreigners that are here a little bit longer that notice this. It gets my blood boiling sometimes, when my parents come over here we go out of our way never to visit Phuket but visit the rest of the South.

[lifeincnx]

<br>I've been in Thailand for 4 years.  Never been to Phuket.  And I don't think I ever will.  <img src="http://static.thaivisa.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/cool.gif" class="bbc_emoticon" alt=""><br>

<br><br>Two years in Thailand for me. I've never set foot in Phuket, except for the airport and a fast boat out to the Ko Similan islands. <br><br><b>Phuket's a Disgrace - Chiang Mai's the Place</b> <br><br>(memo to self - print bumper stickers)<br><br>

[Lizard2010]

They do not have the monopoly on Taxis

[silk]

Not only Phuket add Kho Samui , Kho Chang any island that is promoted as a tourist destination its transport system is run by the Thai mafia and the Governmnet knows it and doesn't have the balls to do anyhting about it.I have many friends who come to Thailand, they are pre warned and avoid places like Phuket like the plague.

I agree fully with you.

It seems the tuk tuk operators do not understand how the system works. Tour operators overseas or in any other country in Asia pre-sell packages like: cruise trip, pick up from port, day tour ect.for a certain price. To make sure that it goes smoothly for their customers, they make a contract with a local tour agent to provide these services and they agree on the price in advance, otherwise they cannot sell the packages overseas.

It looks like tour operators from overseas have to make a pre-contract now with every single tuk tuk driver. Will they be sure that their customers get what they paid for, are they insured, who to contact when something goes wrong? How much higher will be the fee? Who takes the costs for telephone call,to reach the driver, when customers are not picked up ??? Nobody seems to think about this.

Somebody will always be out of work, now the drivers of the minivans from local tour operators, who have very low salaries, will have no more tours.

[dom samui]

VERY VERY GOOD INDEED !!!

As i don't like crowded areas the more they do like this the more i'm happy!

Less and less tourists is a very good thing for thailand, don't you understand?

Think of Suthep saying : I don't respect farangs .....

You should have known better !

All their funny mickey mouse way of life makes my day everyday ,

and i can enjoy since few years nice hollidays in VIETNAM , CAMBODGIA , MALAYSIA AND LAOS !!!!

Dear thai, please keep on acting this way !

You are right , clever and very friendly behind your nice smiles !.................

:jap:

[dunkin2012]

Not only Phuket add Kho Samui , Kho Chang any island that is promoted as a tourist destination its transport system is run by the Thai mafia and the Governmnet knows it and doesn't have the balls to do anyhting about it.I have many friends who come to Thailand, they are pre warned and avoid places like Phuket like the plague.

I agree fully with you.

It seems the tuk tuk operators do not understand how the system works. Tour operators overseas or in any other country in Asia pre-sell packages like: cruise trip, pick up from port, day tour ect.for a certain price. To make sure that it goes smoothly for their customers, they make a contract with a local tour agent to provide these services and they agree on the price in advance, otherwise they cannot sell the packages overseas.

It looks like tour operators from overseas have to make a pre-contract now with every single tuk tuk driver. Will they be sure that their customers get what they paid for, are they insured, who to contact when something goes wrong? How much higher will be the fee? Who takes the costs for telephone call,to reach the driver, when customers are not picked up ??? Nobody seems to think about this.

Somebody will always be out of work, now the drivers of the minivans from local tour operators, who have very low salaries, will have no more tours.

I don't think the tourists on the ship will care 'bout what they have to pay on top of that... cos' they are for sure quite wealthy ...

but the problem is how many guys will have a 2nd chance to visit Puket again like the Brazilian guy in the story? .....

this might be their 1st and last time to come to Puket ... That was unforgettable welcome ...... Whatta shame for Taxis and TUk Tuks!

[dunkin2012]

VERY VERY GOOD INDEED !!!

As i don't like crowded areas the more they do like this the more i'm happy!

Less and less tourists is a very good thing for thailand, don't you understand?

Think of Suthep saying : I don't respect farangs .....

You should have known better !

All their funny mickey mouse way of life makes my day everyday ,

and i can enjoy since few years nice hollidays in VIETNAM , CAMBODGIA , MALAYSIA AND LAOS !!!!

Dear thai, please keep on acting this way !

You are right , clever and very friendly behind your nice smiles !.................

:jap:

make it spacious then................ Me think alike -the more space the more happiness I am

Edited April 6, 2011 by dunkin2012