Phuket: Kata/karon Tuk-Tuk Drivers: ' We Will Block The Road'

[eezergood]

The problem are they use to earn 2000-3000 baht and more a day.

Use to live like a king and maybe have lot of private exepenses as big luxuryhouse and luxury’s cars we don’t know about.

Now Karon-Kata has more than 400 tuk tuk]s. I fell SO sorry for the Tuk Tuk' s because they only demand to live same life as before.

Ref. http://www.phuketgazette.net/news/savepdf.php?ref=2012311955&id=8111

are you high?

[Arkady]

Picture sows a highly educated, intelligent Thai gentleman who just wants to provide value added service to foreign guests at a competitive price.

[Arkady]

One tuk-tuk driver responded, “Tell Chalerm that in Phuket
we no longer have rice fields. We just have tuk-tuks. This is the only way we
can make a living.”

Rice fields in Phuket? It never was a rice producer. Traditional industries were tin mining and rubber plantations like most of the South, using imported Chinese coolie labour. Please find this <deleted> a job in a tin mine forthwith.

[bdenner]

When was the last time these scumbags planted a grain of rice, on Phuket? What utter rot!

In a dream time the problem will be overcome is when gutless government, corrupt/spineless police and the tourists move off the island returning it back to nature. BUT until then threads like this are a complete waste of bandwidth.

[jocko]

The problem are they use to earn 2000-3000 baht and more a day.

Use to live like a king and maybe have lot of private exepenses as big luxuryhouse and luxury’s cars we don’t know about.

Now Karon-Kata has more than 400 tuk tuk]s. I fell SO sorry for the Tuk Tuk' s because they only demand to live same life as before.

Ref. http://www.phuketgazette.net/news/savepdf.php?ref=2012311955&id=8111

are you high?

They only demand what they where earning before.

They should all get together and form a union and demand more we will pay it no alternative.

Those were the days brings a tear to my eye.

[HOOD Robin]

Just revoke 2/3 of all Tuk-Tuk licenses. Then the income for the rest of the Tuk-Tuk-drivers will go up immediately. And there are still too many of them.

Correct, just like in Pattaya.... Tooooooo many songtaews !!!! i'm afraid they will never disappear as one of the local poo jais will lose a lot of daily income... so this will never happen....

[KarenBravo]

One tuk-tuk driver responded, “Tell Chalerm that in Phuket

we no longer have rice fields. We just have tuk-tuks. This is the only way we

can make a living.”

Rice fields in Phuket? It never was a rice producer. Traditional industries were tin mining and rubber plantations like most of the South, using imported Chinese coolie labour. Please find this <deleted> a job in a tin mine forthwith.

Of course there were rice fields in Phuket. I remember catching fish in the rice-paddy field next to Patong hospital in 1986.

[ChrisY1]

More Arh....es holding progress to ransom......

[Unkomoncents]

These episodes are indicative of the serious underlying problems in Thailand's tourism dependent economy: a workforce that is largely unskilled and poorly educated,due to a stagnant, outdated educational model, a legal and judicial system that lacks the will and ability to maintain law and order, and a criminal underworld that has successfully infiltrated the government and exploited a culture of venality. It tragic to consider what Phuket could have been compared with what it is today.

[gamba]

The problem are they use to earn 2000-3000 baht and more a day.

Use to live like a king and maybe have lot of private exepenses as big luxuryhouse and luxury’s cars we don’t know about.

Now Karon-Kata has more than 400 tuk tuk]s. I fell SO sorry for the Tuk Tuk' s because they only demand to live same life as before.

Ref. http://www.phuketgazette.net/news/savepdf.php?ref=2012311955&id=8111

are you high?

Sorry, next time I write if is with "irony or sarcasm" so all can understand.

[jocko]

These episodes are indicative of the serious underlying problems in Thailand's tourism dependent economy: a workforce that is largely unskilled and poorly educated,due to a stagnant, outdated educational model, a legal and judicial system that lacks the will and ability to maintain law and order, and a criminal underworld that has successfully infiltrated the government and exploited a culture of venality. It tragic to consider what Phuket could have been compared with what it is today.

I agree but because Thailand as a Asian country and seems to be doing OK they powers that be will never change.

Maybe later.

[TackyToo]

When the clowns run the circus:

“We already suffer from the Russian tour companies setting up business here and charging people half the fares we do. If the [airport] bus comes here and is charging B30 from Karon to Patong, how do we make a living?”

If the Russions don't go broke by providing this service for a decent price, why would Thais suffer? And on how do we make a living- get a real job and work for a change!

[LivinginKata]

One tuk-tuk driver responded, “Tell Chalerm that in Phuket

we no longer have rice fields. We just have tuk-tuks. This is the only way we

can make a living.”

Rice fields in Phuket? It never was a rice producer. Traditional industries were tin mining and rubber plantations like most of the South, using imported Chinese coolie labour. Please find this <deleted> a job in a tin mine forthwith.

Of course there were rice fields in Phuket. I remember catching fish in the rice-paddy field next to Patong hospital in 1986.

Agreed - all along the middle part of Patong below Nanai Road was rice fields until the early 90s.

[zoran1]

establish of seatbelt and helmet compulsion for tuk tuk drivers, as for other drivers.

[marcher]

I guess its time to have an army escort with one of these, problem solved.

resized image 2.jpg

This is the only sensible comment among the hosat of ramblings below. Not that it will happen. The Thai are too soft and weak. Instead they will all have a chat around the table and get nowhere. Perhaps get thje Israelis in to sort them out

[catweazle]

Looking at all this and having had my very own personal problems and fights with these thugs, I wonder if Thailand's government will ever have the guts (and uncorrupted manpower) to root out the Tuk Tuk, Mini Bus and Taxi Mafia in Thailand for good, implementing mandatory meters in all taxis, tuk tuks, etc. along with the requirement to have a "Your driver won't use the taxi meter? Call free of charge to report offenders - 24h hotline: 081XXXXXXX" and revoke any license >for life< if three offense calls came in for any particular driver - full stop.

Buuuuut... we are in Thailand, so this will be just a nice dream and nothing is gonna change. My prognosis: The local "authorties" will give in and let the Tuk Tuk Mafia have it their way as always. Guess there will be some cheap 2nd hand buses for sale in Phuket soon. "Thailaeeen..."

Maybe the government should reposess some of the unused rice paddies in the northeast and give them to the "poor" Tuk Tuk thugs and let's see if they are willing to work for a change instead of ripping off and putting off tourists with their arrogant, aggressive and violent behaviour. Would be kinda cool as there would be some free parking spots along the beaches of Phuket... Sorry forgot - of course they are already "booked" by those nice, friendly and reliable water scooter and speed boat guys. They need to make a living too, of course, since there is no fish left in the water... They all were respected and honest fishermen in the past, you know, but what should they do? Work? Naaaa... better to point a gun into a tourists face, and force him to hand over all of his cash to repair the 3 year old damage on their water scooter. Call the police? Naaaa.... they're best friends of all those lovely tuk tuk, scooter and speed boat guys... Need some Metamphetamine? Call the hotline! It's a jungle out there - chop down a tree and ten others will grow...

Edited April 6, 2013 by catweazle

[chrisrazz]

Close the airport. No need for a bus then, no Russians or any other pesky foreigners. Problem solved.

[belg]

let them put a turret gunner on top of each bus or the front of a bulldozer, in case someone wants to block the roads

2013 and maffia is taking control of the streets ...

street = public

all tour operators should just stop bringing in those tourists, game over would be nice

[eezergood]

I have to deal with this filth every day, it becomes tiring believe me

[phuketrichard]

"One tuk-tuk driver responded, “Tell Chalerm that in Phuket we no longer have rice fields. We just have tuk-tuks. This is the only way we can make a living.”"

If this is true then I can empathize.

Bullshit, most of the tuk tuk drivers are not locals but from essan and i doubt they ever had two baht to rub together. If their locals all they have is their beloved tuk tuk cause they sold their land and had fun for a year or two (i know a few thai's that this is true for).

Bring in the military

[XINLOI]

"One tuk-tuk driver responded, “Tell Chalerm that in Phuket we no longer have rice fields. We just have tuk-tuks. This is the only way we can make a living.”"

If this is true then I can empathize.

Or maybe the tuk tuk drivers could get a real job! lol, Scamming the public is all they know............

[eezergood]

"One tuk-tuk driver responded, “Tell Chalerm that in Phuket we no longer have rice fields. We just have tuk-tuks. This is the only way we can make a living.”"

If this is true then I can empathize.

Bullshit, most of the tuk tuk drivers are not locals but from essan and i doubt they ever had two baht to rub together. If their locals all they have is their beloved tuk tuk cause they sold their land and had fun for a year or two (i know a few thai's that this is true for).

Bring in the military

As i said, drink whisky today & lets not worry for tomorrow

[retell]

"One tuk-tuk driver responded, “Tell Chalerm that in Phuket we no longer have rice fields. We just have tuk-tuks. This is the only way we can make a living.”"

If this is true then I can empathize.

Bullshit, most of the tuk tuk drivers are not locals but from essan and i doubt they ever had two baht to rub together. If their locals all they have is their beloved tuk tuk cause they sold their land and had fun for a year or two (i know a few thai's that this is true for).

Bring in the military

As i said, drink whisky today & lets not worry for tomorrow

if thats whisky ?? smells like spiritus to me

[Pulle]

the smell of money ... no vision .... shortsighted.

No wonder no one takes a tuk tuk, expensive rip off!

[andygunther]

"One tuk-tuk driver responded, “Tell Chalerm that in Phuket we no longer have rice fields. We just have tuk-tuks. This is the only way we can make a living.”"

If this is true then I can empathize.

Are you seriously falling for this by suggesting that driving a tuk tuk or taxi at 5 to 10x the price of any other place in Thailand is the only way for a person in Phuket to earn a living?

I suspect it is one of the reasons that there will be buses, tourists complain about all these Tuk Tuks and Motorbikes who take over prices.

[crazygreg44]

"One tuk-tuk driver responded, “Tell Chalerm that in Phuket we no longer have rice fields. We just have tuk-tuks. This is the only way we can make a living.”"

If this is true then I can empathize.

My bet most of the Tuk Tuk drivers are not from Phuket, but from the Eesarn. Rice fields on Phuket ? . . . . the locals were fishermen and makers of coconut based copra ! And mining was big on Phuket. The Tuk Tuk drivers should ask their bosses why they get extorted by them. A driver has to pay a fortune in provisions to the owner of the Tuk Tuk. The driver will never own one, nor had he ever owned a rice field on Phuket before.

[wellred]

So when does the service actually start?

[tingtongfarang]

So when does the service actually start?

Never!

I think a bus service was once tried in phucket, The driver was dragged out the bus and beaten up...this is the second try but i dont think its even intended to succeed.

[wellred]

So when does the service actually start?

Never!

I think a bus service was once tried in phucket, The driver was dragged out the bus and beaten up...this is the second try but i dont think its even intended to succeed.

But they got the buses already so if they were never serious about this why fork out for the buses?

[tingtongfarang]

So when does the service actually start?

Never!

I think a bus service was once tried in phucket, The driver was dragged out the bus and beaten up...this is the second try but i dont think its even intended to succeed.

But they got the buses already so if they were never serious about this why fork out for the buses?

Then why did they fork out for the busses the first time ?