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Phuket taxi drivers join forces for good, not evil
Phuket Gazette


Niran Thanaphop, general manager at the Katathani Phuket Beach Resort, welcomed the move. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut yesterday officiated the launch of a new consortium of taxi and tuk-tuk drivers at Kata Noi that may herald a new era for taxi services on the island.

The Kata Noi Community Taxi Service was formed by the 63 drivers who serve four taxi and tuk-tuk ranks stationed along the length of Kata Noi Beach (story here).

In a breakthrough in the mentality of taxi and tuk-tuk drivers stationed in front of resorts, the new consortium represents an open agreement by drivers to “share” their customers.

Niran Thanaphop, general manager at the Katathani Phuket Beach Resort, welcomed the move.

“Previously, we had only six to seven taxis working in front of our resort, but currently there are a lot of tourists coming to the beach here, more than 3,000 a day,” Mr Niran said.

“With 63 taxis and tuk-tuks now sharing their services along the beach, all of them can benefit by providing taxi services to tourists heading to and from Kata Noi Beach,” he added.

News of the consortium is hoped to alleviate the “mafia” image that has tainted the reputation of Phuket’s taxi and tuk-tuk drivers.

As recently as December 13, a Lithuanian tourist in nearby Karon filed a police complaint alleging that he was repeatedly beaten with a bamboo stick wielded by a taxi driver who wanted to force him to hire a taxi only from the rank in front of the resort where he was staying (story here).

Local limousine driver Sombat Wongwipatcharoen praised the management at Katathani resort for helping create the Kata Noi taxi consortium as a pilot project.

“We have received great support from the management team, who set out a taxi rank for us and helped set the conditions for taxi drivers to abide by,” he said.

Among the conditions are that all taxi drivers joining the consortium must wear a standard uniform and must issue taxi coupons to show the exact price and destination of each fare.

“We will also make sure every taxi has passed its annual inspection to ensure customers’ safety,” Mr Sombat explained.

“We will spread the word of this consortium as an example for other taxi drivers in Kata to follow,” he added.

Soucre: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/Phuket-taxi-drivers-join-forces-for-good-not-evil-23095.html


-- Phuket Gazette 2013-12-24

[Briggsy]

[KarenBravo]

There is still no competition between them. The collusion with pricing continues. For the tourist, the status quo remains.

Just more window-dressing.

[andreandre]

"Nothingness"

[clockman]

One day soon, reality! not make believe!

[NamKangMan]

"Nothingness"

It's the "Thainess" that makes the "Nothingness" on Phuket.

[alfalfa19]

What a joke. A few nice words, but only because they are receiving heat in the press right now. The only thing that will make these louts and bullies change their ways if is tourists stop coming to Phuket. That will not happen for quite some time, if ever.

[LivinginKata]

There is still no competition between them. The collusion with pricing continues. For the tourist, the status quo remains.

Just more window-dressing.

Well said. Window dressing. No change

[eezergood]

Sh!t scared, thats all.

[Blindside]

The give away is the "sharing" part. Sharing implies ownership. That mentality has not changed.

[Alwyn]

so instead of 20 little mafias there's now a "consortium" or one big mafia in other words. I wonder if they'll start with the blockading of resorts so people can't pick up friends by car etc like they do in Bangtao?

[nedkellylives]

Nothing is going to change its just all talk no action, only having metered taxis and allowing to operate anywhere on

the island would fix the problem the same as Bangkok and Samui

[belg]

a new era of greed they mean

or will they suddenly charge normal prices instead of extortion ?

[Emdog]

Hardly fits how I would define "good". Maybe translation glitch?

[steelepulse]

Now they can even charge more if they feel the angle of the sun isn't right, or the punter has an ugly shirt on. There is no competition whatsover and what happens when an outside taxi comes that doesn't have the "voucher"?

[Ulic]

So, same same, no difference. Bigger Mafia, in uniform, no competition same scams and rip-offs.

[mac1970]

Once Upon a Time ....

[NamKangMan]

There is still no competition between them. The collusion with pricing continues. For the tourist, the status quo remains.

Just more window-dressing.

And whilst the tourists know "the status quo remains" on Phuket - why would they return here for a holiday????

Edited December 26, 2013 by NamKangMan

[KarenBravo]

Many don't, some do, but, there is always an overwhelming number of first-timers to take their place.

[NamKangMan]

Many don't, some do, but, there is always an overwhelming number of first-timers to take their place.

The majority of the "first-timers" are now package holiday makers getting around the island on their coach buses, hence, the need for these guys to screw over what little is left of the traditional market, and a few western "first-timers."

[LivinginKata]

And even the first time Westerners have read enough internet reports and know that they should rent a vehicle. Many renting cars these days.

[NamKangMan]

And even the first time Westerners have read enough internet reports and know that they should rent a vehicle. Many renting cars these days.

I've been saying for a while now that everyone needs a vehicle, or access to a vehicle, on Phuket, or face being ripped off.

As you say, the word is out, and no one wants to deal with these guys at all during their holidays. Of course, their reply to that is to up the prices - the same with the airport taxis.

Problem is, look at all the traffic and accidents, and parking problems.

It's a tropical island with the traffic issues of a big city. Hardly world class for tourists on holiday.