U K, Canadian Ambassadors Put Phuket Tourist Safety On Agenda

[webfact]

UK, Canadian ambassadors put tourist safety on agenda

Phuket Gazette

From left, British Consul Michael Hancock, British Ambassador to Thailand Mark Kent, Tourist Police Commander Roy Ingpairoj and Tourist Police Division 5 Superintendent Yotsavee Pornperaparn. Photo: Tourist Police

PHUKET: -- British Ambassador to Thailand Mark Kent and fellow ambassador Philip Calvert of Canada today placed their tourists' safety squarely on their agenda with official visits to Phuket.

This morning, Ambassador Kent and British Consul Michael Hancock focused their talks with Phuket Vice Governor Sommai Prijasilpa on what measures authorities have taken to help protect tourists on holiday in Phuket.

“We are aware of the importance of tourists’ safety and have set up tourist assistance centers across the island and installed CCTV cameras in many areas of Phuket,” Vice Governor Sommai told the Phuket Gazette after her meeting with the British dignitaries.

“We have also taken steps to resolve the problem of illegal taxis and have established standard fares for taxi services on the island,” she added.

V/Gov Sommai expressed her gratitude for the personal visit by the embassy chief.

“Mr Kent and Mr Hancock also said they were willing to give any kind of help or support to us that they could,” she said.

Ambassador Kent and Consul Hancock then joined Ambassador Culvert at the Tourist Police headquarters in Phuket Town, where discussions also centered on tourists' safety.

“We talked about the problems – and possible solutions – concerning the issues that affect tourists; not just British or Canadian nationals, but all tourists,” said Tourist Police Commander Roy Ingpairoj, who travelled from Bangkok expressly to join the ambassadors during their visit.

“The Phuket Tourist Police serve every tourist who is involved in an accident or is in trouble. It does not matter what country they are from,” Maj Gen Roy said.

Ambassadors Kent and Culvert are scheduled to join Ambassador Joan Boer of the Netherlands in a meeting with Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut tomorrow to continue their talks on tourist safety.

Source: http://www.phuketgaz...enda-19893.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2013-01-08

[scorecard]

Chalerm (the champion of fixing tourist scams and problems, but all fixes now well past promised date) must have missed the photo op, perhaps taxi problems delayed him.

On the other hand perhaps this location a little too far south.

Edited January 8, 2013 by scorecard

[laurentbkk]

Pffff ..... what will that change ? Nothing , as usual ........

[crocken]

every little bit helps......

[fire and ice]

"We have also taken steps to resolve the problem of illegal taxis"

Of course as we all know, its the legal taxis that are the problem.

[Andre0720]

At least they are doing something to appear busy....

[RigPig]

Fixed standard taxi fees?????

Has anyone told the tuk tuk drivers or are the rip off prices the arangement they came to with the Tuk Tk Mafia.

How about publicising the fees so that everyone knows what they are?

[kevvy]

blab blab blab it just goes on and on and on .....its a shithole.

[LivinginKata]

Fixed standard taxi fees?????

Has anyone told the tuk tuk drivers or are the rip off prices the arangement they came to with the Tuk Tk Mafia.

How about publicising the fees so that everyone knows what they are?

I have lost count of the number of times a new Phuket Governor has tried to enforce this

[phuketjoy]

Since they say they fix the problem with taxi's they been very nasty on the roads causing many accident to get back that money with lower cost of rides so be carefull when driving if they see you are farang they will do anything to get you off the roads they are the scum of thailand

[1wazza1]

This is the same story every year but nothing ever is done or improves! Until a strong stance from Bangkok is taken regarding the police/council corruption and gang tactics from groups such as the unlicensed taxi drivers and jet ski operators that are widespread throughout Phuket the major economy for Phuket & Thailand (Tourism) will suffer due to this small group of criminals who continually highjack any major growth in Phuket's market. The continual annual seasonal disgrace that plagues the international media regarding Phuket is like a broken record that just keeps on playing year on year. It's so strange that for such a tranquil, scenic place there is so much unsightly rubbish strewn all over the Island and building and planning codes broken allowing beautiful tree lined hills overlooking the ocean to be built upon. Will be interesting to read this same story again next year as I have for the past two years.

[khunken]

Surely the diplomats have realised by now that talking to these people is a waste of time. Some of them are a big part of the problem.

Why not organise a hand-out of a leaflet explaining the rip-offs & dangers to all people checking in for a flight to Thailand. It wouldn't cost much if the airlines were persuaded to do the hand-out.

[Jimi007]

This is the same story every year but nothing ever is done or improves! Until a strong stance from Bangkok is taken regarding the police/council corruption and gang tactics from groups such as the unlicensed taxi drivers and jet ski operators that are widespread throughout Phuket the major economy for Phuket & Thailand (Tourism) will suffer due to this small group of criminals who continually highjack any major growth in Phuket's market. The continual annual seasonal disgrace that plagues the international media regarding Phuket is like a broken record that just keeps on playing year on year. It's so strange that for such a tranquil, scenic place there is so much unsightly rubbish strewn all over the Island and building and planning codes broken allowing beautiful tree lined hills overlooking the ocean to be built upon. Will be interesting to read this same story again next year as I have for the past two years.

While I agree with most of your post, they have now made most of the illegal taxis legal and upped the fares. Same problem, only it's now legal for them to over charge and intimidate tourists and drivers from tour groups and other businesses it seems.

[sydneyjed]

Just a photo call that's all it amounts to..a bit of welcome PR for the local authorities makes them look good and the lads from the embassy can say they have at least touched base and given their two bobs worth.In reality it's same same and quite frankly nothing will change..If I had a dollar for everytime Larry Cunningham the Australian Honorary Consul has sat down with these blokes when ever they've bothered to turn up that is!Rotton to the core and all with their snouts in the trough...

[madmitch]

This is the same story every year but nothing ever is done or improves! Until a strong stance from Bangkok is taken regarding the police/council corruption and gang tactics from groups such as the unlicensed taxi drivers and jet ski operators that are widespread throughout Phuket the major economy for Phuket & Thailand (Tourism) will suffer due to this small group of criminals who continually highjack any major growth in Phuket's market. The continual annual seasonal disgrace that plagues the international media regarding Phuket is like a broken record that just keeps on playing year on year. It's so strange that for such a tranquil, scenic place there is so much unsightly rubbish strewn all over the Island and building and planning codes broken allowing beautiful tree lined hills overlooking the ocean to be built upon. Will be interesting to read this same story again next year as I have for the past two years.

First time in many years I have seen the adjective tranquil associated with Phuket.

As for fixed prices, the late night airport taxis were trying to fix theirs at 1800 baht last night. My customers eventually found a ride to Karon at 1200 baht. I wish they had said they were arriving at 2am and they would have been pre-warned.

[webfact]

Tuk-tuk, jet-ski, taxi scams: Ambassadors name the bane of Phuket

Phuket Gazette

Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut (left) looks on as British Ambassador Mark Kent shows him a website listing scores of incidents in which tourists were beaten, robbed and scammed by tuk-tuk and taxi drivers in Phuket. Photo: PR Dept

PHUKET: -- In their first official visit to Phuket, the British, Canadian and Dutch Ambassadors to Thailand today plainly described their chief concerns about the scams and cheats continuing to plague Phuket’s tourism industry.

Speaking with Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut at Provincial Hall this afternoon, ambassadors Mark Kent of the UK, Philip Calvert of Canada and Joan Boer of the Netherlands focused on why tuk-tuk and taxi drivers are continuing to charge tourists in Phuket higher fares than are charged elsewhere in the country.

They also asked why metered taxis are not as common in Phuket as they are in other major tourist destinations across Thailand, including Bangkok and Chiang Mai.

“They are very concerned about why taxis are so expensive compared with other tourist areas in Thailand,” Governor Maitri said.

The governor explained to the ambassadors the steps Phuket authorities have taken in recent months in an attempt to regulate taxi drivers.

Phuket Land Transport Office [PLTO] chief Teerayut Prasertpol, who was present at the meeting explained further, “The PLTO is trying to get metered taxi drivers to charge by the meter, but the drivers do not want to because if they charged only by the meter they would not make enough as a living.”

“This has also deterred any private investors from even wanting to start a metered taxi service company,” Gov Maitri added.

British Ambassador Kent also introduced the governor to the website Phukettuktuks.com, which lists incident after incident of tourists in Phuket being cheated, scammed and even violently attacked by tuk-tuk and taxi drivers.

“The police are doing their best, but there is a serious shortage of officers in Phuket,” Gov Maitri replied.

Ambassador Boer specifically cited his concern about jet-ski operators keeping tourists’ passports as a condition of renting jet-skis.

However, Phuket Marine Office chief Phuripat Theerakulpisut replied that keeping customers' passports was a practice of the past.

“They no longer do this, and I passed that message along to Ambassador Boer,” Governor Maitri explained.

In addition to sharing his concern over the fares charged by tuk-tuk and taxi drivers in Phuket, Canadian Ambassador Calvert also raised the issue of the media using photos of dead bodies and photos of passports in news stories.

Despite the contentious nature of the chief concerns discussed today, Ambassador Kent was supportive of the Thai government’s efforts to resolve Phuket’s perennial problems.

“Most tourists who come to Phuket enjoy their holidays and have a good time,” he said.

He also praised the governor’s willingness to work with embassy officials in tackling the major issues affecting Phuket.

As a closing note, Ambassador Kent also praised the government’s efforts in raising the number of motorbike riders and passengers in Phuket who wear crash helmets.

“I think the government has done a great job in getting people to wear helmets – you can see it just driving around the island,” he said.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/Tuk-tuk-jet-ski-taxi-scams-Ambassadors-name-the-bane-of-Phuket-19904.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2013-01-09

[KKvampire]

You trying to get more action from the governor by praise Mr Kent? It wont work.the only way is to tell them you will advise Uk citizens against going to Phuket.as you have warned of the dangers against Thailand travel in general after the murder of Mr Ashton.

Sent from my LG-P350 using Thaivisa Connect App

[steelepulse]

Here's a tale of two incidents directly witnessed in Karon involving taxi and tuk tuk drivers in the last two days. Incident one, foreign motorcyclists hits the bumper of taxi going about 3 kph. No scratches, no dings, nothing. Foreigner pays taxi 10K baht and then police come, tell the taxi driver he can go, then police take the foreigner to the police station. Incident two, tuk tuk driver makes a u turn in front of a Thai motorbike rider behind him and Thai motorcyclist crashes and hurts himself in front of tuk tuk rank. Tuk tuks quickly send Thai guy on his way with no compensation and no police involvement. Point is, police are availabe when money is to be made contrary to what the governor says.

[chooka]

“The police are doing their best, but there is a serious shortage of officers in Phuket,” Gov Maitri replied.

Hang on aren't the police part of the problem? So they have a shortage of police, wouldn't increasing police numbers only increase the problem of scams and corruption?