Fear Of Attacks On Phuket's New Airport Buses Delays Launch Date

[NamKangMan]

Who really owns the tuk tuks?

A bunch of hillbilly thugs that drive the things certainly don't have the power to pull off this crap.

Those 'Hillbilly Thugs' have the power to hold up the US Navy Ships and barricade the roads, those HillBilly Thugs have the power to force cruise ship passengers not to disembark on their tour of Phuket Island in pre-booked minivans, Those Hillbilly Thugs have the power to beat up tour reps and drivers who 'dare' to enter into their territory, those Hillbilly Thugs have the power to demand payment if a tour company or rep. wants to pick up a hotel guest where the 'Thugs' operate from. Those Hillbilly Thugs have the power to smash up a Russian Tour shop in full view and the support of the police - who said "they (taxi drivers) had a right to be angry (at the tour company)"

Shall I go on ?

Still think they have no power?

I would add that "those HillBilly Thugs" have done untold damage to the tourism industry here.

The way they restrict EVERYONE'S freedom of movement around the island has made Phuket a less attractive place for a holiday.

The problem is there are still plenty of tourists coming to Phuket so there is still plenty of passengers for the tuk tuk so as far as they are concerned everything us tickty boo .

But I know what you mean but we have no influence god knows when they will see the writing on the wall .

Right now they still own the place.

Well, just announced today, the majority of the tourism market here is 22% Chinese and 15% Russian. That's 37% of the tourism market, the majority on package holidays - yes, that means the big coach bus to drive them all around, not everyone catching tuk-tuks. So, I don't think the tuk-tuks have as much business as they used to.

The West European, British and Scandi market has shrunk so much in recent times. I doubt they will be back. I'm not saying they are not coming back to Thailand, just not back to Phuket.

I'm sure the rubbish transport system here played a role in the loss of a big slice of that market.

I agree but my watering spot is on soi sansabai and i see and hear the tuk tuk going by with punters dont forget the big bus is not so good around Patong so maybe its for local journeys.

Take a walk along Beach Road and see them all parked there, doing nothing, just waiting to rip off one tourist for a day's wage.

Many tourist are aware of the abysmal transport situation here now and are making alternative arrangements, some, with deadly consequences, for those who ride/drive whilst intoxicated.

Maybe the travel agents in China and Russia are promoting Phuket package holidays to their fellow countrymen with the main selling point that you get coach bus transport to shows, tours, retail outlets etc and don't have to be ripped off by the local tuk-tuk drivers. :)

[Devlin]

In summary.

The airport is a good distance from town.

Phuket rips off visitors with a super lucrative taxi / minibus service.

This new bus service is long overdue and needed.

SOLUTION... Police on private cost overtime travel in the bus and escort the bus in liveried vehicles.

This works well in the UK on certain bus routes and at certain times of the year e.g Halloween, bonfire & mischief nights.

Working Thais 'Respect' the boys in brown.

Even if it takes back handers, this service is essential.

Rip off merchants can not be allowed to win here!!!

:0)

[iSabai]

In summary.

The airport is a good distance from town.

Phuket rips off visitors with a super lucrative taxi / minibus service.

This new bus service is long overdue and needed.

SOLUTION... Police on private cost overtime travel in the bus and escort the bus in liveried vehicles.

This works well in the UK on certain bus routes and at certain times of the year e.g Halloween, bonfire & mischief nights.

Working Thais 'Respect' the boys in brown.

Even if it takes back handers, this service is essential.

Rip off merchants can not be allowed to win here!!!

:0)

Actually Devlin, I've never met any Thai anywhere, ever, that said they respected the police here. Do an informal poll of sorts amongst your Thai friends and/or acquaintances, I think you'll find the same.

[keestha]

Working Thais 'Respect' the boys in brown.

Actually Devlin, I've never met any Thai anywhere, ever, that said they respected the police here. Do an informal poll of sorts amongst your Thai friends and/or acquaintances, I think you'll find the same.

Most likely with 'Respect' Devlin meant "are afraid of".

[Pinair]

They just choose the wrong model, here we are :

http://www.blacksburg.va.us/Modules/ShowImage.aspx?imageid=840

Edited March 22, 2013 by Pinair

[Devlin]

Working Thais 'Respect' the boys in brown.

Actually Devlin, I've never met any Thai anywhere, ever, that said they respected the police here. Do an informal poll of sorts amongst your Thai friends and/or acquaintances, I think you'll find the same.

Most likely with 'Respect' Devlin meant "are afraid of".

iSabai.... you misunderstood my use of the word 'respect' [within inverted commas]..... keestha, you are spot on - correct. I am well aware that the boys in brown command little or no respect from the vast majority of Thais. Their reputation however does afford them immense operational capability. When they want to achieve something, rest assured they do. If the police 'policed' this bus service venture, then the bus service would operate.

[DiNiro]

Working Thais 'Respect' the boys in brown.

Actually Devlin, I've never met any Thai anywhere, ever, that said they respected the police here. Do an informal poll of sorts amongst your Thai friends and/or acquaintances, I think you'll find the same.

Most likely with 'Respect' Devlin meant "are afraid of".

iSabai.... you misunderstood my use of the word 'respect' [within inverted commas]..... keestha, you are spot on - correct. I am well aware that the boys in brown command little or no respect from the vast majority of Thais. Their reputation however does afford them immense operational capability. When they want to achieve something, rest assured they do. If the police 'policed' this bus service venture, then the bus service would operate.

You are correct.

IF the police wanted the bus service to operate, the word would go out to the thugs. No?

[eezergood]

A token gesture will be made, and MAYBE the buses will run during the monsoons. It will then be declared that the farang dont use them so we can cancel. Personally if I see a tuk tuk driver crashed in a ditch I would throw a few litres of fuelover him/her to ensure a swift journey to the next life

[NamKangMan]

A token gesture will be made, and MAYBE the buses will run during the monsoons. It will then be declared that the farang dont use them so we can cancel. Personally if I see a tuk tuk driver crashed in a ditch I would throw a few litres of fuelover him/her to ensure a swift journey to the next life

Yeh, and I hope he comes back as a tourist to Phuket, wanting to go up and down he coast. :)

[DiNiro]

A token gesture will be made, and MAYBE the buses will run during the monsoons. It will then be declared that the farang dont use them so we can cancel. Personally if I see a tuk tuk driver crashed in a ditch I would throw a few litres of fuelover him/her to ensure a swift journey to the next life

Yeh, and I hope he comes back as a tourist to Phuket, wanting to go up and down he coast.

...on the way to rent a jet ski.

[eezergood]

A token gesture will be made, and MAYBE the buses will run during the monsoons. It will then be declared that the farang dont use them so we can cancel. Personally if I see a tuk tuk driver crashed in a ditch I would throw a few litres of fuelover him/her to ensure a swift journey to the next life

Yeh, and I hope he comes back as a tourist to Phuket, wanting to go up and down he coast.

...on the way to rent a jet ski.

In his new ill fitting suit

[NamKangMan]

A token gesture will be made, and MAYBE the buses will run during the monsoons. It will then be declared that the farang dont use them so we can cancel. Personally if I see a tuk tuk driver crashed in a ditch I would throw a few litres of fuelover him/her to ensure a swift journey to the next life

Yeh, and I hope he comes back as a tourist to Phuket, wanting to go up and down he coast.

...on the way to rent a jet ski.

In his new ill fitting suit

Whilst choking on the drain pipe smell with someone throwing a Slow Loris on his arm.

Edited March 23, 2013 by NamKangMan

[LivinginKata]

Ho hum - just another day here in Paradise.

[taninthai]

I think just for a laugh they should let a Russian drive the very first bus now that would be interesting.

[eezergood]

Driving home last night a tuktuk driver made a sign at me like a kid firing a gun, when i didnt let him barge me off the road!! I was then overtook as I was about to turn right by 2 visa run buses into oncoming traffic - all near to Simon Cabaret!

[smotherb]

Why does the Thai government allow the mafia to control Phuket!

Uh, Duh, maybe they are one and the same

[JetsetBkk]

Who really owns the tuk tuks?

A bunch of hillbilly thugs that drive the things certainly don't have the power to pull off this crap.

Those 'Hillbilly Thugs' have the power to hold up the US Navy Ships and barricade the roads, those HillBilly Thugs have the power to force cruise ship passengers not to disembark on their tour of Phuket Island in pre-booked minivans, Those Hillbilly Thugs have the power to beat up tour reps and drivers who 'dare' to enter into their territory, those Hillbilly Thugs have the power to demand payment if a tour company or rep. wants to pick up a hotel guest where the 'Thugs' operate from. Those Hillbilly Thugs have the power to smash up a Russian Tour shop in full view and the support of the police - who said "they (taxi drivers) had a right to be angry (at the tour company)"

Shall I go on ?

Still think they have no power?

I would add that "those HillBilly Thugs" have done untold damage to the tourism industry here.

The way they restrict EVERYONE'S freedom of movement around the island has made Phuket a less attractive place for a holiday.

Untold damage? According to some sources the tourist numbers have been and will continue to rise.

And, I see loads and loads of people happily riding in the back of said tuk tuks every day. Six or more people at a time sometimes, from old grandma and grandpa farang, to younger dudes with their holiday girlfriends, to 3 or 4 young farang women holiday makers going to or coming from the beach, and families with kids in tow on their way to/from wherever.

I've heard the same "these people are killing tourism in Phuket" comments for years. But haven't seen any evidence of that yet.

You haven't seen any evidence? How do you know what Phuket would have been like now, if there had been Bangkok style taxis and buses for the last ten years?

It may have grown into a real paradise by the beach, with the scum bag tuk-tuk drivers banished to some other location, with commuter vans and limos charging competitive prices, with transport costs as cheap as Bangkok or Pattaya, with tourists happy to return to the low-cost, low inflation resort, with their memories of a wonderful holiday.

Compare that idea with the absolute dump of a place this island has turned into because of consecutive gutless and corrupt administrations.

[iSabai]

It was a real paradise by the beach, and there were no scum-bag tuk tuk drivers, Bkk style taxis, or buses, until mainstream farangland found the place. That was its real downfall.

It became a "dump of a place" because farangs came here, and the money seeking locals followed, to take advantage of them. It's a chicken/egg thing JB. Did the Thais make this place a dump? Or did the tourists coming here, and the Thais seeking income from, them make the place a dump? They both go hand in hand.

[DiNiro]

The locals turned Phuket into a dump.

I lived in a tourist resort in another country and the authorities don't allow Phuket type of growth and crime.

[eezergood]

I believe they held a meeting yesterday, did anyone attend?

[jocko]

I believe they held a meeting yesterday, did anyone attend?

I read the local mayor is on the case now.

So all should go well now.

You will need a smartphone to find the bus stops.

[eezergood]

I believe they held a meeting yesterday, did anyone attend?

I read the local mayor is on the case now.

So all should go well now.

You will need a smartphone to find the bus stops.

Better still his son will speak to the TukTuk club/union/mafia - If they are so organised I wonder if they are up to date with their taxes, insurance, maintenance etc..... I KNOW they have big speakers & shiny things

[NamKangMan]

It was a real paradise by the beach, and there were no scum-bag tuk tuk drivers, Bkk style taxis, or buses, until mainstream farangland found the place. That was its real downfall.

It became a "dump of a place" because farangs came here, and the money seeking locals followed, to take advantage of them. It's a chicken/egg thing JB. Did the Thais make this place a dump? Or did the tourists coming here, and the Thais seeking income from, them make the place a dump? They both go hand in hand.

The Central Thai Government, in Bangkok, through the TAT funding for advertising and marketing, WANTED, in fact, NEEDED, tourists to come here - then, when they did, just left it up to the "locals" to run, big mistake - and now we have, what we have. High rents pushing up all that tourists need - accommodation, food, drink and of course, specific for Phuket - transport.

Cheaper to holiday elsewhere in thailand - and in the region.

The Chinese and Russian market will not sort out "the market" here, but the lack of western cash will, eventually. Many of them will still be coming to Thailand - just not Phuket.

The Chinese and Russians can not / will not hold Phuket up.

[NamKangMan]

I believe they held a meeting yesterday, did anyone attend?

I read the local mayor is on the case now.

So all should go well now.

You will need a smartphone to find the bus stops.

You mean - "all should go well now' for the Mayor and his son - as usual.

That means, not so great for EVERYONE else on the island.

[jocko]

I believe they held a meeting yesterday, did anyone attend?

I read the local mayor is on the case now.

So all should go well now.

You will need a smartphone to find the bus stops.

You mean - "all should go well now' for the Mayor and his son - as usual.

That means, not so great for EVERYONE else on the island.

Of course what else could I mean.

Hear ye hear ye hear ye

[NamKangMan]

I believe they held a meeting yesterday, did anyone attend?

I read the local mayor is on the case now.

So all should go well now.

You will need a smartphone to find the bus stops.

You mean - "all should go well now' for the Mayor and his son - as usual.

That means, not so great for EVERYONE else on the island.

Of course what else could I mean.

Hear ye hear ye hear ye

Yeh, all the western tourists "hear" the same.

Strangley, all the BS that is happening here, and has done so for so many years, doesn't happen, to this degree, elsewhere in Thailand.

Phuket still afforable for many - just distasteful to them now. WHY????

Edited March 26, 2013 by NamKangMan

[KarenBravo]

Phuket still afforable for many - just distasteful to them now. WHY????

How do you know it's "distasteful to them"?

Is this your over-active imagination, or, just your usual habit of assumption without evidence yet again?

[NamKangMan]

Phuket still afforable for many - just distasteful to them now. WHY????

How do you know it's "distasteful to them"?

Is this your over-active imagination, or, just your usual habit of assumption without evidence yet again?

Have you been to Hua Hin lately? A lot of ex-Phuketians up there.

Have you been to Pattaya lately? Same.

I personally know a few that have left Phuket for Pattaya - something that they never would have considered in the past.

They didn't leave Phuket due to affordability, but, from my understanding, functionality and friendliness.

I can only comment on my observations, the people I meet, and the people I know. The REAL evidence would be in the data bases of police/immigration who have to register where tourist/expats reside. It would be interesting to see how many expats have moved away from Phuket to other areas of Thailand.

Edited March 27, 2013 by NamKangMan

[LivinginKata]

Not many of my guests moved away from Phuket to other areas in Thailand. Most moved on for economic reasons and returned to their home country to find work. A few bought their own home here on Phuket Island. One guy moved to Pattaya but he still prefers to 'holiday' here in Patong.

[steelepulse]

>>You mean - "all should go well now' for the Mayor and his son - as usual.

He's the first person all governors should look to for help seeing as all the patong drivers are helping his family and he has all the drivers ears. With the propsed one bus per hour, no money will be taken from the tuk tuk drivers and actually might help them make more money when the busses pull up full and there is a queue of tourists wanting to go to the next beach over. Easy poaching for the tuk tuks. Forest, trees and all that...................