Still chaos over taxis at Phuket airport

[webfact]

Still chaos over taxis at Phuket airport
Prapaporn Jitmaneeyaphan



PHUKET: -- A plan to clean up the Phuket Airport taxi situation, with strict limits placed on the taxis allowed through the gate at any one time, and a complete block on “black” taxis, has yet to be turned into reality. The chaos continues, according to legal taxi drivers.

Legitimate drivers who spoke with The Phuket News today (September 4) said that they had received no information about new systems, policies or regulations, and that the free-for-all continued, with black taxis having unfettered access.

One driver, Theerayut Garagate, a member of the Phuket Limousine Business Service Co-operative (PLBS), said, “The only new thing I can see is that they have painted yellow lines for parking in the lane closest to the arrival terminal, but these spaces are not reserved for taxis.

“Black taxis are still operating at the airport. If AoT [Airports of Thailand, which owns and operates the airport] would like to change anything, it should take care of this matter first.

“AoT needs to build up our confidence in it. We have never trusted AoT because it never took care of this problem. We pay for the concession [to operate in the airport], but we have to struggle with all this stuff by ourselves.”

A spokesman for PLBS said that the current concession, which costs B1.6 million a month, expires in November. However, he noted that the airport had not sent PLBS a bill for August, and said he had no idea why this was.

Mr Theerayut said, “The AoT knows what is going on, who has the black, yellow, red, or white plates. The AoT has the right to check the facts. Why don’t they do it? The AoT can obviously see the problems, but never helps us with a solution. It never tries to chase away the black taxi drivers, but tries to push us away instead.

“If you don’t believe me, you can come to the airport yourself around two to three in the morning, and pretend that you are a tourist, then you will see for yourself. The black taxi drivers are still here.”

Pratueng Sornkham, the airport’s Director, seemed irritated by the taxi drivers’ complaints. “We’ve already set up six counters for them,” he said. “What else do they need?”

He explained, “We already had a meeting regarding general practice for the legal taxi drivers at the airport, and the [legal] taxi drivers will be informed of the details soon.

“We will allow only nine taxis from PLBS and nine from Phuket Maikhao Sakhu Co into the airport at any one time. Other drivers from those groups will have to find somewhere to park their taxis outside the airport.”

“The parking lot soon will be renovated, so the taxi drivers have to move out.

“The taxi drivers should understand that they need to share businesses with others. Jobs at the airport are not just for taxi drivers. Tour operators can also come and do business at the airport.” Mr Pratueng said.

As to the continuing problem of black taxis, Pol Lt Col Nimit Promma, an investigator with the Department of Special Investigation – which recently opened an office at the airport to try to clamp down on organised crime – said that stamping out black taxis at the airport was “impossible”.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/still-chaos-over-taxis-at-phuket-airport-41735.php#news-alert


-- Phuket News 2013-09-05

[LivinginKata]

Is anyone surprised that nothing is happening ? Status quo allows the money to flow.

[steelepulse]

>>Status quo allows the money to flow.

That's the motto the island has been running on for a couple decades now, especialy post tusnami. Forget about Amazing Thailand. Nice written work LIK!

[Soupdragon]

[media]

[/media] Edited September 5, 2013 by Soupdragon

[CiaranO]

Pathetic - and usual dribble of excuses from high ranking officials who lets be honest need to find a pair.

Money talks and they simply dont care about these issues. They are a s corrupt as can be.

Black Taxis - are a serious safety issue for tourists but hey lets not do anything about it.

Clueless officials living in the last century - i mean early last century

[eezergood]

MOve on folks, nothing more to see here

[deecee10]

business as usual

[belg]

how difficult and costly would it be to install a camera with number plate recognition to check how many times a car, taxi, black plate, comes in per day/week/month and just bill them accordingly or keep out the trash

[NamKangMan]

how difficult and costly would it be to install a camera with number plate recognition to check how many times a car, taxi, black plate, comes in per day/week/month and just bill them accordingly or keep out the trash

And who do you think that "bill" would be passed onto, creating even more expensive airport transport????

[Cuban]

How is that bus service doing now - is there a thread covering that ?

[TTSIssues]

How is that bus service doing now - is there a thread covering that ?

I took the airport bus last week, arrived in air Asia from chiang mai about 2.30 and the bus was leaving in 5 minutes. The two of us jumped on and off we went. AC wasn't particularly cold but we trundled along stopping on the way to drop people off where they wanted.

Driver dropped us right in front of my apartment in Patong. Perfect, couldn't have been better.

The starting point in Patong is a small office at the front of JJ Plaza.

Honestly, a fabulous service. I know I was lucky it was leaving just as we walked out of the airport, but I intend to use it every time now.

The bus was also full with only about 2 seats remaining, so looks like business is picking up for them

Go the bus ! Stick it to those miserable taxi rip off merchants !

I would really encourage everyone to use it.

[NamKangMan]

How is that bus service doing now - is there a thread covering that ?

I took the airport bus last week, arrived in air Asia from chiang mai about 2.30 and the bus was leaving in 5 minutes. The two of us jumped on and off we went. AC wasn't particularly cold but we trundled along stopping on the way to drop people off where they wanted.

Driver dropped us right in front of my apartment in Patong. Perfect, couldn't have been better.

The starting point in Patong is a small office at the front of JJ Plaza.

Honestly, a fabulous service. I know I was lucky it was leaving just as we walked out of the airport, but I intend to use it every time now.

The bus was also full with only about 2 seats remaining, so looks like business is picking up for them

Go the bus ! Stick it to those miserable taxi rip off merchants !

I would really encourage everyone to use it.

Had you missed that bus, when was the next one due to leave, and would you have waited for it, on principle?

[LivinginKata]

Had you missed that bus, when was the next one due to leave, and would you have waited for it, on principle?

Looks like he caught the 14.15 bus, next one at 15.30 ...

[hawker9000]

Taxi drivers must hate that... Wouldn't want to be around when they decide to do something about it; kind o' surprised they haven't already. I notice the website for the bus service even has "news & warnings", including pics, regarding the taxi touts.

[Emdog]

Who'd a thunk? And just what do the drivers get for the 1.6 million a month? A hunting license, open season on tourists? And the 1.6 of course drives up the cost to the tourists. Seems they all want a piece of the pie, but will be shocked when the pie baker goes somewhere else....

[zaZa9]

'As to the continuing problem of black taxis, Pol Lt Col Nimit Promma, an investigator with the Department of Special Investigation which recently opened an office at the airport to try to clamp down on organised crime said that stamping out black taxis at the airport was impossible.'

How disappointing - even the supposed tough guys of law and order giving up so easy against a fragmented unorganized group.

What would be required here to tackle the militant Karen TT Mafia?

The DSI made such grand announcements and have achieved nothing so far.

A mates Thai B-I-L had just arrived from up north with his black taxi as the 'blitz' ( 555) started.

He says he has been stopped only once , and the 1500 baht fine cost him just one days profit.

Hes happy to be here and works off existing 'local rates'.

He was a professional before , clearing 20k a month.

[andreandre]

I haven't seen this on any Phuket news sites..:

http://www.pattayadailynews.com/en/2013/09/05/minister-of-tourism-requests-dsi-to-arrest-phuket-tax-frauds/

[lee b]

After reading the latest news of ongoings in Phuket, i would tell everyone not to use the taxis as they are not really the safest in the world...

[RigPig]

"After reading the latest news of ongoings in Phuket, i would tell everyone not to use the taxis as they are not really the safest in the world..."

So when I fly in at 10pm at night after 5 weeks in the Sahara Desert on an oil rig and need to get back to my apartment in Kata, what should I do? Walk with my bags? The bus doesn't run (isn't allowed) to Kata and Karon. Why are they not safe? I.ve never had a problem and I've been doing it for 8 years now. Fixed price and the guy has to return to the airport afterwards so double trip for him as he isn't allowed to pick up a return fair.....

Put brain into gear before engaging mouth (keyboard)

The post count is getting up there though !!

Edited September 5, 2013 by RigPig

[NamKangMan]

"After reading the latest news of ongoings in Phuket, i would tell everyone not to use the taxis as they are not really the safest in the world..."

So when I fly in at 10pm at night after 5 weeks in the Sahara Desert on an oil rig and need to get back to my apartment in Kata, what should I do? Walk with my bags? The bus doesn't run (isn't allowed) to Kata and Karon. Why are they not safe? I.ve never had a problem and I've been doing it for 8 years now. Fixed price and the guy has to return to the airport afterwards so double trip for him as he isn't allowed to pick up a return fair.....

Put brain into gear before engaging mouth (keyboard)

The post count is getting up there though !!

"need to get back to my apartment in Kata, what should I do? Walk with my bags?" - no, but the word "need" is appropriate in your post. Transport is an essential service. Transport is similar to medial, education, water, roads and electricity. These essential services have some Government controls, in most countries, but transport has very little Government control here, but has a lot of criminal control.

It's your "need" for this esential service that is being exploited here, to the point it has become a criminal enterprise. So, you will pay the fare, even if that fare is way over the fare charged for a similar journey, anywhere else in Thailand. They know it, and you know it. A small part of the reason, you have stated. They are not allowed to pick up a return fare.

There are many other factors at play causing the high cost of transport here, but but basicall, you will pay what they demand, as you have no choice, but let's keep in mind, the average daily wage here is 300 baht. The best fare I can get from the airport is 600 baht, for my own car and driver. (minibus and new bus aside) My driver is making more money than a Thai who has studied at university and is working in a profession, because he pays to become part of the criminal enterprise.

In relation to safety, there have been many accidents, but all I will say is these drivers have that little plastic Thai driving licence, and we all know how easy that is to get, to the point of being a joke. Now, these "drivers" are in charge of commercial vehicles with other people's lives in their hands, either in their own vehicle, or in other vehicles on the road. They are on the road from 10 to 16 hours a day.

These drivers are underqualified, are not checked for criminal records, have poor english skills, drive fast to make as many fares as possible in a shift (especially in high season) are often fatiqued and therefore sometimes under the influence of a stimulant, and the car is sometimes in questionable mechanical condition - especially in relation to tyres, in order to save money.

I remember this accident.

http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/Russian-tourists-injured-as-Phuket-tour-bus-slams-into-Patong-house-21244.html

A 68 year old bus driver in charge of at least 50 lives. He crashed into a house, but he could have rolled off Patong Hill and killed many.

I also remember this accident.

http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2012/Crane-rips-roof-off-Phuket-tour-van-19733.html

It amazed me no was decapitated.

Anyway, we all keep paying what they want and taking the risk on the journey, because like you say, there is nothing we can do.

[KarenBravo]

NKM, still twisting facts, I see.

The 300 Bt is NOT the average daily wage. It is the government mandated minimum wage.

Not the same thing, but, if it helps to bolster your argument by misrepresentation.............

[NamKangMan]

NKM, still twisting facts, I see.

The 300 Bt is NOT the average daily wage. It is the government mandated minimum wage.

Not the same thing, but, if it helps to bolster your argument by misrepresentation.............

You are correct KB. I stand corrected. (coffee hasn't kicked in yet)

There was no intention to misrepresent.

In any case, my point that a driver of a taxi, and a tuk-tuk for that matter, is underqualified to offer a safe service, and to justify such a high salary here, because of the criminality attached to the transport industry on Phuket, still stands.

Edited September 6, 2013 by NamKangMan

[eezergood]

NKM, still twisting facts, I see.

The 300 Bt is NOT the average daily wage. It is the government mandated minimum wage.

Not the same thing, but, if it helps to bolster your argument by misrepresentation.............

What IS the average wage?

[KarenBravo]

At a guess, 15k to 20k a month (here in Phuket).

[NamKangMan]

At a guess, 15k to 20k a month (here in Phuket).

So, Phuket is a different country to Thailand.

[KarenBravo]

Of course it is. Especially when you talk about cost of living and pay.

[xylophone]

At a guess, 15k to 20k a month (here in Phuket).

Difficult to assess the "average" wage because a few high flyers can skew the figures.

For the everyday Thai person working in the service industry here I would put it at 8,500 baht pm. Several folk I know are earning only that including an accounts clerk (3 yrs at Uni), a maintenance sparky, an office clerk, and a few girls working in cafes/restaurants.

Many of the Burmese and Laos girls working in laundries etc earn no more than 7,000 pm and the min wage is a fallacy for them.

[hawker9000]

At a guess, 15k to 20k a month (here in Phuket).

Difficult to assess the "average" wage because a few high flyers can skew the figures.

For the everyday Thai person working in the service industry here I would put it at 8,500 baht pm. Several folk I know are earning only that including an accounts clerk (3 yrs at Uni), a maintenance sparky, an office clerk, and a few girls working in cafes/restaurants.

Many of the Burmese and Laos girls working in laundries etc earn no more than 7,000 pm and the min wage is a fallacy for them.

I thought 15-20 sounded pretty high, even for Phuket. I wonder what these taxi drivers actually take home (as opposed to what they represent at townhall meetings, and including "commissions").

[KarenBravo]

I wouldn't say 15-20 is high. Chuck in bank workers, government officials, skilled workers and higher ranking hotel staff (of which there are many) and I would expect it to average out.

People like restaurant workers, construction workers etc skew the figures downward and also they are more visible.

Edited September 6, 2013 by KarenBravo

[robertthebruce]

"After reading the latest news of ongoings in Phuket, i would tell everyone not to use the taxis as they are not really the safest in the world..."

So when I fly in at 10pm at night after 5 weeks in the Sahara Desert on an oil rig and need to get back to my apartment in Kata, what should I do? Walk with my bags? The bus doesn't run (isn't allowed) to Kata and Karon. Why are they not safe? I.ve never had a problem and I've been doing it for 8 years now. Fixed price and the guy has to return to the airport afterwards so double trip for him as he isn't allowed to pick up a return fair.....

Put brain into gear before engaging mouth (keyboard)

The post count is getting up there though !!

I think what he meant was that ''Driving Standards' , are not the safest...