I've just read that the proposed monorail from the airport to Phuket city via Patong will cost about 20 billion baht...

That's a lot of money, never mind the construction issues.

What about this simple idea?

The airport is located right by the beaches at Nai Yang. Patong is located right by ... er ... Patong Beach.

Why not operate a hovercraft service between the airport and the various beaches of Kamala, Patong and beyond?

The hovercraft can come right up onto the airport apron and tourist beaches. These machines are fast and the high-season weather should make the journey from the airport to the beaches very enjoyable and quick! Additionally, the views of the island would be very good!

The neccessary infrastructure to set up this project is minimal! The only problem is that the boss of the project will probably get murdered by the limousine/taxi/tuk-tuk mafia

This is another Thai government Fantasyland idea. If it ever happens I will dance naked down Bangla Road.....er, hang on, I did that last night.

sounds like a plan.

how much does one of those hovercrafts cost? (hopefully less that 20 bilion baht.)

You can tell that photo is a forgery. If it were a Thai hovercraft it would be covered in M-150, kratindeng, and D-tac stickers. Oh, and there would be about 100 people clinging on outside

cv

You can tell that photo is a forgery. If it were a Thai hovercraft it would be covered in M-150, kratindeng, and D-tac stickers. Oh, and there would be about 100 people clinging on outside

cv

LOL Vic! I just reckon a few more transit buses wouldn't go astray between the beaches. How hard can it be? It's a no-brainer!

But then again.... many things "disappear without a trace" around here!

Yes, I was just asking myself why a monorail is needed. Is it a road-congestion problem? (I havn't noticed a big problem myself). Or is it that no-one has the guts to stand up to the taxi mafia, and spending 20 bn baht is one way to avoid losing face!

In any case, 20bn baht is about 285 million pounds (I think!). I reckon you can buy quite a few large commercial hovercraft for that price.

Additionally, the hover project is better for cash-flow. You could start with one hovercraft, and see if there is demand for it. So you start to get customer revenue and can ramp up the number of hovercraft. With the monorail, you really need to build the whole thing before you can start to get paying customers.

Simon

Cool idea! If it was to sort of stroll off into international waters on the way down to Patong it would be able to have a casino on board

Why not operate a hovercraft service between the airport and the various beaches of Kamala, Patong and beyond?

/Monty P. humor

It might become full of eels

/Monty P. humor

What with the noise and danger jet-skis represent to beach goers, what's one more noisy, dangerous object in the vicinity?

what's one more noisy, dangerous object in the vicinity?

You saw Patong Bob last night too?

Yes, I was just asking myself why a monorail is needed. Is it a road-congestion problem? (I havn't noticed a big problem myself). Or is it that no-one has the guts to stand up to the taxi mafia, and spending 20 bn baht is one way to avoid losing face!

In any case, 20bn baht is about 285 million pounds (I think!). I reckon you can buy quite a few large commercial hovercraft for that price.

Additionally, the hover project is better for cash-flow. You could start with one hovercraft, and see if there is demand for it. So you start to get customer revenue and can ramp up the number of hovercraft. With the monorail, you really need to build the whole thing before you can start to get paying customers.

Simon

Simon,

Maybe you will be pleased to know that I have just opened a hovercraft rental company on phuket

It is based in Cape Yamu. So if you need a ride of a lifetime forget patong and come and pay us a visit.

Phuket Hovercraft.

If they can't organise a simple bus or songthaew service between Patong and Karon-Kata (thanks to our 'friendly' TTM), what's the chance of a monorail service to the airport?

I would just appreciate a simple bus service between Chalong, where I always stay, and Pattong.

Mind you, a bus service that stops at dusk is useless, but better than nuffin.

Hovercraft. Hydrofoil why not ? ... mafia aside.

Naka.

This is another Thai government Fantasyland idea.

I agree. The government has a hard enough time just appropriating land and getting the rights (and figuring out which government agency is responsible) to widen a road. Then the land owners haul away the topsoil and sell it before the land turns over. TIT.