More Phuket tuk-tuk drivers move toward standard fares

Tuk-tuk drivers in Kata-Karon may soon be charging standard fares.

PUKET: -- Karon Municipality is compiling a list of fares charged by tuk-tuk drivers operating in the Kata-Karon area in order to establish an agreed schedule of standard fares to be shown – and charged – in the popular tourist beach areas.

The draft schedule is the first step in a new public relations campaign to build tourist confidence in local tuk-tuk drivers.

The goal is to have tuk-tuks carrying stickers featuring the set prices and the motto, “This tuk-tuk is safe to ride in”.

“Having tuk-tuk safety certificates is the idea of Phuket Vice Governor Nivit Aroonrat,” Phuket Provincial Land Transport Chief Teerayut Prasertpol told the Phuket Gazette.

“He saw many groups of tuk-tuks in front of hotels in Karon and he wants to bring them under provincial administration.

“We have assigned Karon Municipality to make this happen,” he said.

Chief Teerayut explained that the municipality is currently compiling a list of where the major tuk-tuk ranks in Kata-Karon are located and what fares drivers working from those ranks are charging.

“When we have all the information, the provincial administrators can proceed with drafting the schedule,” he said.

“This is so we can start moving toward having standard rules to be adhered to in order for drivers to be issued a certificate. The rules will also require that the drivers be dressed appropriately, that they drive safely, and that they be polite.

“Only then can the drivers put the stickers on their tuk-tuks,” Chief Teerayut said.

The Phuket Transport Office and Karon Municipality are scheduled to meet on August 28.

“We’ll see then what the next step will be,” Chief Teerayut said.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/archives/articles/2011/article10890.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2011-08-29

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In other words, they are going to formalize the outrageously expensive fares already charged.

...in order to establish an agreed schedule of standard fares...

More like:

...in order to establish a greed schedule of standard fares...

They can add 400B from south end of Kata to Old Phuket hotel in Karon to their list.

It's all pointless unless they institute meters with fares at least close to a Bangkok metered taxi fare. Of course that will never happen because that will remove the opportunity for the drivers to scam the tourists.

With the german tourist in ICU for being beaten by tuktuk drivers in Phuket, I'll say the timing is perfect...

This is just a rehash of what's happened in years past. Drivers agree to post fares which are the same fares they've always charged, only now they can point to a piece of paper that shows the extortionate fares and pass the blame and not lose face. Then in a few months time, these posted rip off fares will disappear just like they have in the past. Same same.

Wont they sell copy of those stickers on kao san anyways?