Taxi driver mob tears down Russian tour agency sign, forces closure

Phuket Gazette -

Locals told officials that the Russian-owned business were stealing tourists from them, having a significant effect on their income. Photo: Christian Mouchet

PHUKET: Phuket taxi drivers in the popular tourist beach area of Bang Tao today successfully staged their second protest against Russian tour companies operating in the area.

The mob of angry taxi drivers from the Baan Bangtao Taxi Club pulled down the signs of one of their primary targets, Alex Holiday Tour Co Ltd in Cherng Talay, alleging that the company was run by Russians who were undercutting the prices of local people, and making it impossible to survive.

“Locals explained to me that the Russian-owned businesses were stealing tourists from them, which was having a significant effect on their income,” Cherng Talay Administrative Organization (OrBorTor) President Ma-ann Samran told the Phuket Gazette this afternoon

In addition to offering tour packages and supplying tour guides, these businesses are telling tourists to avoid using local tuk-tuks and taxis, he added.

Anticipating the protest, many of the tour operators catering to Russians remained closed today, including the taxi mob’s central target, Alex Holiday Tour.

Under pressure from the mob, the Director of Alex Holiday Tour, Dan Wannaborvorn, this afternoon signed the necessary documents to permanently close his shop, despite employing Thai staff and being fully legal, Mr Ma-ann said.

“Alex Holiday Tour’s director closed the business to avoid having any further problems with the locals,” Mr Ma-ann said.

Pairoj Sahod, President of Cherng Talay Taxi co-operative, also charged the Russian tour companies on Phuket with collusion.

“We heard that the Russian companies are working as a network on the island,” Mr Pairoj told the Gazette. “Russian time-share touts drive around the island looking for customers and offer them free tours of Phuket if they listen to a presentation about condos.”

“The office staff then takes them shopping and sightseeing, and – as you can guess – they get commissions from the shops,” he added.

While the mob stood outside of the tour office, a pair of foreigners arrived at the scene on a motorbike.

“We thought they were working for one of the Russian companies,” Mr Pairoj explained.

Allegedly not having work permits or passports with them, but plenty of time-share fliers, the pair were brought to the Cherng Talay Police Station for questioning.

“After establishing that they had nothing to do with the Russian tour agencies, the pair were released,” Mr Ma-ann told the Gazette.

Today’s protests comes just one day after Baan Bangtao Taxi Club’s first protest, where about 50 drivers from the club gathered in front of the Bangtao Beach Hotel, calling for Phuket officials to take action against Russian businesses. Emblazoned on banners and placards held by protesters were messages similar to those seen at the protest today.

The protest by taxi drivers in Bang Tao follows a blockade of the beachfront road in Karon on January 3 by local taxi and tuk-tuk drivers protesting against Russian tour operators in the Kata-Karon area .

Despite allegations that the “Russian tour counters” in Kata-Karon were devastating to the livelihoods of local Thai people, officials investigating the complaints found that the tour counters in question were owned and operated by Thai nationals

Source: http://www.phuketgaz...sure-20069.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2013-01-28

Didn't this exact same thing happen in Karon, Phuket about a month ago? All the businesses but one were Thai owned. The "Taxi Club" is just another gang. Since they think they are the "locals" they are entitled to overcharge tourists, unlike their competition. It's time to wake up and get a clue that people don't like getting ripped off by the "locals."

"Pairoj Sahod, President of Cherng Talay Taxi co-operative, also charged the Russian tour companies on Phuket with collusion.

“We heard that the Russian companies are working as a network on the island,” Mr Pairoj told the Gazette. “Russian time-share touts drive around the island looking for customers and offer them free tours of Phuket if they listen to a presentation about condos.”

“The office staff then takes them shopping and sightseeing, and – as you can guess – they get commissions from the shops,” he added........"

These sorts of tactics sound strangely familiar.....can't think where I have heard of them before though....:-p 

What a joke, Thailand the hub of legalised extortion.

"In addition to offering tour packages and supplying tour guides, these businesses are telling tourists to avoid using local tuk-tuks and taxis, he added." - would officials prefer these businesses tell tourists to avoid Phuket altogether????

Anyway, EVERYONE tells tourist to avoid using tuk-tuks and taxis here, as well as jet skis.

"Under pressure from the mob, the Director of Alex Holiday Tour, Dan Wannaborvorn, this afternoon signed the necessary documents to permanently close his shop, despite employing Thai staff and being fully legal, Mr Ma-ann said."

“Alex Holiday Tour’s director closed the business to avoid having any further problems with the locals,” Mr Ma-ann said

So he moves to Pattaya and sets up business there, where he employs people, makes money and has no problems. All that turnover in money and employment leaves the Phuket economy, just because some tuk-tuk and taxi drivers don't get the chance to rip people off.

The transport issue here is going from the ridiculous to the sublime.

They are in complete control of this island.

It might be a good idea for all those Russian tour agencies to " get out ".......................leaving the island half empty

"In addition to offering tour packages and supplying tour guides, these businesses are telling tourists to avoid using local tuk-tuks and taxis, he added." - would officials prefer these businesses tell tourists to avoid Phuket altogether????

Anyway, EVERYONE tells tourist to avoid using tuk-tuks and taxis here, as well as jet skis.

"Under pressure from the mob, the Director of Alex Holiday Tour, Dan Wannaborvorn, this afternoon signed the necessary documents to permanently close his shop, despite employing Thai staff and being fully legal, Mr Ma-ann said."

“Alex Holiday Tour’s director closed the business to avoid having any further problems with the locals,” Mr Ma-ann said

So he moves to Pattaya and sets up business there, where he employs people, akes money and has no problems. All that turnover in money and employment leaves the Phuket economy, just because some tuk-tuk and taxi drivers don't get the chance to rip people off.

The transport issue here is going from the ridiculous to the sublime.

They are in complete control of this island.

Just remember who controls the taxi and tuk tuk association

These guys just show they are thugs and they want to rip of tourists. Just lower your prices and charge normal money and people will go with you. I also tell everyone to avoid tuk tuks if possible. I also tell people not to go to phuket but go to the islands like phi phi as there are no tuk tuks to rip you off.

"In addition to offering tour packages and supplying tour guides, these businesses are telling tourists to avoid using local tuk-tuks and taxis, he added." - would officials prefer these businesses tell tourists to avoid Phuket altogether????

Anyway, EVERYONE tells tourist to avoid using tuk-tuks and taxis here, as well as jet skis.

"Under pressure from the mob, the Director of Alex Holiday Tour, Dan Wannaborvorn, this afternoon signed the necessary documents to permanently close his shop, despite employing Thai staff and being fully legal, Mr Ma-ann said."

“Alex Holiday Tour’s director closed the business to avoid having any further problems with the locals,” Mr Ma-ann said

So he moves to Pattaya and sets up business there, where he employs people, akes money and has no problems. All that turnover in money and employment leaves the Phuket economy, just because some tuk-tuk and taxi drivers don't get the chance to rip people off.

The transport issue here is going from the ridiculous to the sublime.

They are in complete control of this island.

Just remember who controls the taxi and tuk tuk association

i used the word "they." I know who controls the taxi and tuk-tuk association. "They" covers all of those involved in this regime.

"They" are causing untold, and possibly irreparable damage, to this island.

It might be a good idea for all those Russian tour agencies to " get out ".......................leaving the island half empty

Not difficult. The travel agencies back in Russia just sell Pattaya Package Holidays instead of Phuket Package Holidays. Maybe even promote Bali more, or their fellow Communists, Vietnam.

We take the piss out of the Russians a bit on TV, but at the end of the day, they still need accommodation, food, shopping and activities. If they stop coming to Phuket, vacancy rates will go up, dramatically.

The TAT is targeting emerging economies. These people are different to the western farang the Thai's know so well. Russian and Chinese do not even use the Roman alphabet. Most speak no english at all. The Thai's are going to have to adjust, or lose this market.

They are running out of markets to attract here.

Quote - "the tour counters in question were owned and operated by Thai nationals". Thai-Russian partnerships are increasingly common so is heightened competition; more so in sectors which are lazy, expensive or poorly served - like Thai public & tourist transport. For some reason Thai moto-drivers, baht bus operators, taxi's and the like have the impression that they are 'sacred cows'. Will the Russian mafia help the Thai mafia Get Real?? Please don't leave it to the govt else we all wind up as Red Shirts.

>>Pairoj Sahod, President of Cherng Talay Taxi co-operative, also charged the Russian tour companies on Phuket with collusion.

Well I think it is all the taxi and tuk tuk organizations that should be charged with collusion, especially seeing as not one driver can undercut another driver as to the fare for a paying customer. Lets start wtih the patong association run by the mayors son, piya, then look at the kata/karon "association" and now that the cherng talaly co-op is popping off, let's look at them for collusion also as none of these drivers in these ranks can undercut anyone driver.

"the company was run by Russians who were undercutting the prices of local people, and making it impossible to survive."

Ha, ha! "Making it impossible to survive with only one mia noi.

So are the Police going to take action , surely a crime against this company/business? NO. Sums up Thailand completely, "You are not allowed to stop our cheating and extortion , this is our country".

Reminds me during the flooding in 2011. Some folks were offering free boat trips to and from a hospital in Pathum Thani and the local mafia taxi boat scum beat up the guys and smashed their boats. Land of Smiles? .

And as far as Phuket is concerned. F*** it better to sink into the Andaman sea and do everyone a favor

Unless it was set up under BOI or other special privileges, shouldn't Alex Holiday Tour also qualify as a local business?

So legitimate Thai partners who hold the majority in a "Russian owned business" are also targets because the word competition means stealing to the colluding, extortionate taxi, tuk tuk co ops. Even though the standardized (overpriced) fares have been legitimized the authorities have actually compounded an already corrupt transport system by adding a ridiculous number of yellow sticker taxis.

Seems like the same type of witch-hunt that DTAC was subjected to last year, although that was organized on a larger scale.

Any one offering a good efficient and honest service doesn't belong here,that's what I'm reading

"...these businesses are telling tourists to avoid using local tuk-tuks and taxis, he added."

What I am missing here is this quote: "And after implementation of ASEAN we go to all foreign countries an tear down their local print and TV media companies for doing the same..."

Just avoid Phuket!

Overpriced, scams, mafia...

Just another example why not make any business in this racist country.

Here is a novel suggestion. Have Canada Britain, Australia, Russia the U.S and EU all put Phuket on the same do not go there list as southern Thailand.

Once that is done you will see a great deal of work to clean it up as the country will go broke.

Just imagine if every major tourist country said stay away from Phuket officially.

"In addition to offering tour packages and supplying tour guides, these businesses are telling tourists to avoid using local tuk-tuks and taxis, he added."

Yeah, they do. And why??? Because you taxi and tuk tuk drivers are major rip-off artists!!! Som nam na!!! People should completely boycott you guys until you come to your senses!!!

I hope this tuk tuk mafia does not spread, they are evil people.

Not really hard to undercut the tuk tuk prices, at a 200bht pull off that's close to London prices, of course COMPETITION IS JUST NOT ON.

Never been to Phuket and this certainly makes me wanna stay away even longer. I think I will choose a location without all of these "little problems."

I stopped reading the article after I read "Phuket Gazette -"

Phuket, or \ˈfək ət\

Here is a novel suggestion. Have Canada Britain, Australia, Russia the U.S and EU all put Phuket on the same do not go there list as southern Thailand.

Once that is done you will see a great deal of work to clean it up as the country will go broke.

Just imagine if every major tourist country said stay away from Phuket officially.

this is on the Australian Government website.

• Australian travellers continue to report harassment and threats of violence by jet ski operators on beaches across Thailand, and particularly in Phuket, Pattaya, Koh Samui and Koh Phangan.
  
• Tourists may be exposed to scams and more serious criminal activity in Thailand. Be aware that food and drink spiking occurs in Thailand, including around popular backpacker destinations such as Khao San Road in Bangkok the night-time entertainment zones in Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket, and during the Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan.
  

sorry no sympathy..... Thais make is so easy for Russians then bitch about them....som nam na.....granted the Russians are overbearing and arrogant but whatever....

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Bad russian Dan Wannaborvorn, what was he thinking setting prices lower than tuks-tuks!? I used tuk-tuk a couple of times, turned out it's cheaper to buy a car.