Angry Phuket tuk-tuk drivers blockade Patong

[ChangMaiSausage]

The sooner tourists are made aware of the crap that goes on in Phuket the better. All you ever hear in negative from the place. I pity people who have made their homes there.

As for Tuk Tuk drivers I don't think I need to say anymore as many have pointed out Tuk Tuk drivers need tourism as a supply of their income, when it all goes tits up who will they run to?

Plenty of great places to spend your holidays in Thailand, stay away from Phuket until someone does something about the scams and mafia.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[JetsetBkk]

The sooner tourists are made aware of the crap that goes on in Phuket the better.

<snip>

It is my opinion that very few tourists do more than read the glossy holiday brochures.

re. the story: this version by the Gazette makes much more sense than the nonsense published by the blogger Mr. Morison.

[LivinginKata]

The sooner tourists are made aware of the crap that goes on in Phuket the better. All you ever hear in negative from the place. I pity people who have made their homes there.

As for Tuk Tuk drivers I don't think I need to say anymore as many have pointed out Tuk Tuk drivers need tourism as a supply of their income, when it all goes tits up who will they run to?

Plenty of great places to spend your holidays in Thailand, stay away from Phuket until someone does something about the scams and mafia.

I sense that the casual tourist does some research on the net and is aware of the Tuk Tuk problems, that's why I see so many newbie tourists on the roads driving motor bikes and hire cars (cue NKM - and that's Ok in this topic )

Quite honestly this particular blockage of every road into Patong is just senseless. These guys are just killing their income potential. I made my home here in Phuket (10 years in Patong, and now 7 years in Kata) and you have no need to pity me.

And yes, I have a business here in Phuket, but I have no sympathy for this nonsense and I wish that the tourists would vanish and give these loons a lesson in real life economics.

I had a guest check-in this morning and he related to me his experience of travelling from the airport to Patong early this morning. Road blocked on the down hill into Patong, so he had to exit his very expensive taxi ride, walk through the taxi mob, where he felt threatened by the mob for violating their blockade, finding a m/cycle taxi and making his way into Patong.

How many other tourists had this experience ? Phuket has it's many problems, but this is just way over the top. Rant over.

[Jonmarleesco]

No doubt things will only improve when tourists get tired of the Phuket tuk tuk shenanigans and vote with their feet - and air tickets.

[drand11]

Honestly, just outlaw all tuk tuks. Let AC Taxi's drive customers around, just as it should be. 85% of year is HOT and/or WET.

Its one quick way to show the tourists that Phuket really wants to fix their problems.

While they are at it, require metered taxis 100% for the entire island, no exceptions. Simple call to report taxis that choose to screw the tourists.

[4u2mad]

My D9 dozer tuk tuk has no plate and no problem

[NamKangMan]

The sooner tourists are made aware of the crap that goes on in Phuket the better. All you ever hear in negative from the place. I pity people who have made their homes there.

As for Tuk Tuk drivers I don't think I need to say anymore as many have pointed out Tuk Tuk drivers need tourism as a supply of their income, when it all goes tits up who will they run to?

Plenty of great places to spend your holidays in Thailand, stay away from Phuket until someone does something about the scams and mafia.

I sense that the casual tourist does some research on the net and is aware of the Tuk Tuk problems, that's why I see so many newbie tourists on the roads driving motor bikes and hire cars (cue NKM - and that's Ok in this topic )

Quite honestly this particular blockage of every road into Patong is just senseless. These guys are just killing their income potential. I made my home here in Phuket (10 years in Patong, and now 7 years in Kata) and you have no need to pity me.

And yes, I have a business here in Phuket, but I have no sympathy for this nonsense and I wish that the tourists would vanish and give these loons a lesson in real life economics.

I had a guest check-in this morning and he related to me his experience of travelling from the airport to Patong early this morning. Road blocked on the down hill into Patong, so he had to exit his very expensive taxi ride, walk through the taxi mob, where he felt threatened by the mob for violating their blockade, finding a m/cycle taxi and making his way into Patong.

How many other tourists had this experience ? Phuket has it's many problems, but this is just way over the top. Rant over.

"cue NKM - and that's Ok in this topic " - SNAPSHOT of the Phuket News Thaivisa Forum front page.

6 out of the 29 threads displayed on the front page are DIRECTLY related to road transport on Phuket.

That equates to around 21% of threads, and that's only the current front page.

That's 1 in 5 threads, which are all negative, related to road transport here.

Not questioning moderation, but it would seem it's "ok" to post about this disgraceful situation on 21% of threads, or one in every 5 threads - such is the dire situation here.

The numbers don't lie, and can't be disputed.

"that's why I see so many newbie tourists on the roads driving motor bikes" - as said, publically, and privately, I firmly believe, that's why so many die here.

[Guest]

And yes, I have a business here in Phuket, but I have no sympathy for this nonsense and I wish that the tourists would vanish and give these loons a lesson in real life economics.

I guess almost all of us thinks the same.

When the time comes, that this island has become filled with Alcatraz-class visitors and the tuk-tuk drivers complains that their income has vanished. This should be a proper answer for them.

Edited March 4, 2014 by Guest

[sam sen]

After 20 minutes of fruitless debate, Col Jirapat gave up and went back to the police station - to continue reading his newspaper before taking a well earned nap

[JetsetBkk]

I sense that the casual tourist does some research on the net and is aware of the Tuk Tuk problems

<snip>

I had a guest check-in this morning

<snip>

Here's a request: please can you ask your guests if they did any research regarding Phuket other than looking at holiday web sites and brochures?

You could ask them directly if they knew about the transport and/or scam type problems before they booked... but that might upset them!

This is a genuine request. Perhaps you could print out a small questionnaire and ask them to complete it at the end of their stay:

Did you enjoy your stay

Did you have any problems

Did you have any transport problems

Did you hire a bike

Did you hire a car

Did you use public transport

etc, etc.

Over time, these answers would give you an enormous amount of raw data that could be used to show what tourists think is good and bad about Phuket.

[madmitch]

As i mentioned before - total embarrassment to the nation

Who? The tuktuk drivers, the police or both?

[LivinginKata]

I sense that the casual tourist does some research on the net and is aware of the Tuk Tuk problems

<snip>

I had a guest check-in this morning

<snip>

Here's a request: please can you ask your guests if they did any research regarding Phuket other than looking at holiday web sites and brochures?

You could ask them directly if they knew about the transport and/or scam type problems before they booked... but that might upset them!

This is a genuine request. Perhaps you could print out a small questionnaire and ask them to complete it at the end of their stay:

Did you enjoy your stay

Did you have any problems

Did you have any transport problems

Did you hire a bike

Did you hire a car

Did you use public transport

etc, etc.

Over time, these answers would give you an enormous amount of raw data that could be used to show what tourists think is good and bad about Phuket.

A long time tourist, been here many times over the years, stays typically 3 months each year, knows his way around, rents a m/bike and is aware of the dangers of driving. Never uses public transport other than the taxi to/from airport. This time quite shocked at the high price being demanded by the airport taxis. Expected to pay 800 baht, 2,000 demanded (after midnight). Walked out to the main road, ended up paying 1,000 baht. WELCOME to Phuket, mai...

[NamKangMan]

I sense that the casual tourist does some research on the net and is aware of the Tuk Tuk problems

<snip>

I had a guest check-in this morning

<snip>

Here's a request: please can you ask your guests if they did any research regarding Phuket other than looking at holiday web sites and brochures?

You could ask them directly if they knew about the transport and/or scam type problems before they booked... but that might upset them!

This is a genuine request. Perhaps you could print out a small questionnaire and ask them to complete it at the end of their stay:

Did you enjoy your stay

Did you have any problems

Did you have any transport problems

Did you hire a bike

Did you hire a car

Did you use public transport

etc, etc.

Over time, these answers would give you an enormous amount of raw data that could be used to show what tourists think is good and bad about Phuket.

You forgot the main question.

Will you come back?

Answer: "No."

Edited March 4, 2014 by NamKangMan

[NamKangMan]

I sense that the casual tourist does some research on the net and is aware of the Tuk Tuk problems

<snip>

I had a guest check-in this morning

<snip>

Here's a request: please can you ask your guests if they did any research regarding Phuket other than looking at holiday web sites and brochures?

You could ask them directly if they knew about the transport and/or scam type problems before they booked... but that might upset them!

This is a genuine request. Perhaps you could print out a small questionnaire and ask them to complete it at the end of their stay:

Did you enjoy your stay

Did you have any problems

Did you have any transport problems

Did you hire a bike

Did you hire a car

Did you use public transport

etc, etc.

Over time, these answers would give you an enormous amount of raw data that could be used to show what tourists think is good and bad about Phuket.

A long time tourist, been here many times over the years, stays typically 3 months each year, knows his way around, rents a m/bike and is aware of the dangers of driving. Never uses public transport other than the taxi to/from airport.

"knows his way around, rents a m/bike and is aware of the dangers of driving. Never uses public transport" - same question, yet again,so how does he get home after a night out????

Sadly, just like many expats, one day, he'll be tomorrow's headline.

[LivinginKata]

You forgot the main question.

Will you come back?

Answer: "No."

Answer : "Wrong" Comes back every year. Read above

[jimihendrix]

My only question after all these years reading the same story: how come the only facet of daily life here that's not connected to the laws of "face" is the taxi/police relationship. I know the answer is money... but I thought face meant more than money

[NamKangMan]

You forgot the main question.

Will you come back?

Answer: "No."

Answer : "Wrong" Comes back every year. Read above

Read again LIK.

I was responding to JetsetBkk's post, about "your guests" in general - not about this particular guest of yours.

In any case, while we are at it, why not ask him if he ever rides home afer "one too many."

What do you think his answer will be????

[pluto_manibo]

The tourists should show some muscle and go somewhere else. One group of crooks running the town is awful. If all of the tourists got up and moved to Pattaya for a week things would change. The Russians have some muscle down there; maybe they should get together with the Chinese and evacuate everyone.

After 17 yrs just outside of Pattaya, I was thinking of making a move for Phuket( although I know of all its faults and limitations)...Pattaya is getting really bad but I guess Phuket is not much better.

[SteveB2]

Col Jirapat earlier met with the protesters to ask them to open the roads. They refused, telling him that they had already talked with him many times and he had failed to solve their problems.

After 20 minutes of fruitless debate, Col Jirapat gave up and went back to the police station.

WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Simple solution for this bunch of low life scum..

• 1 x Bell 212 helicopter gunship
• 1 x M134 mini-gun
• 1 x Police Colonel who just 'grew a pair' tagging along as door gunner

then...

Problem eradicated.

Edited March 4, 2014 by SteveB2

[Dave 74]

Local businesses should blockade their blockade. Don't allow the tuk tuks to move.

Given that blockading is a national sport. Would be fun. Tell all the police and media first.

[Guest]

Do you have customer databases of your former customers (with email addresses)?

It should not be too difficult technically to do a web questionnaire, which is filled by old customers and which outputs statistics. I can help with that. What is needed is the visitors who have been here and who maybe not have come back.

"Dear valued customers, ... While we all hope you enjoyed your vacation with us, we are experiencing challenges in Phuket. We have now seen less returning visitors compared to the earlier years. We would like to understand the situation better - whether it was our service or something else, why you have not came back. This survey is an collective effort of Phuket hoteliers to understand the current trends better, and naturally it can serve as guideline how to improve our services. Please participate to the survey so that we make things right again... ah, I almost forgot to mention. By saying "survey 2014" you'll receive two complimentary drinks at our restaurant"

With hard data it's much more easy to persuade the TAT and other organizations to do the much needed changes. As the data would be open to the public, it would naturally leak to the local press.. and maybe cross the borders.

[Bung]

They should have just brought in a large bull dozer and sorted it out then and there.

[thailiketoo]

They should have just brought in a large bull dozer and sorted it out then and there.

Clinton Square here we come.......

[Misterwhisper]

Yellow-plate tuk-tuk operators are overt mafia;

Green-plate tuk-tuk operators are aspiring mafia;

Black-plate tuk-tuk operators are covert mafia.

Did I get that right or have I missed something?

[thrilled]

It sounds like I need to do more walking.

[stevenl]

The sooner tourists are made aware of the crap that goes on in Phuket the better. All you ever hear in negative from the place. I pity people who have made their homes there.

As for Tuk Tuk drivers I don't think I need to say anymore as many have pointed out Tuk Tuk drivers need tourism as a supply of their income, when it all goes tits up who will they run to?

Plenty of great places to spend your holidays in Thailand, stay away from Phuket until someone does something about the scams and mafia.

I sense that the casual tourist does some research on the net and is aware of the Tuk Tuk problems, that's why I see so many newbie tourists on the roads driving motor bikes and hire cars (cue NKM - and that's Ok in this topic )

Quite honestly this particular blockage of every road into Patong is just senseless. These guys are just killing their income potential. I made my home here in Phuket (10 years in Patong, and now 7 years in Kata) and you have no need to pity me.

And yes, I have a business here in Phuket, but I have no sympathy for this nonsense and I wish that the tourists would vanish and give these loons a lesson in real life economics.

I had a guest check-in this morning and he related to me his experience of travelling from the airport to Patong early this morning. Road blocked on the down hill into Patong, so he had to exit his very expensive taxi ride, walk through the taxi mob, where he felt threatened by the mob for violating their blockade, finding a m/cycle taxi and making his way into Patong.

How many other tourists had this experience ? Phuket has it's many problems, but this is just way over the top. Rant over.

"cue NKM - and that's Ok in this topic " - SNAPSHOT of the Phuket News Thaivisa Forum front page.

6 out of the 29 threads displayed on the front page are DIRECTLY related to road transport on Phuket.

That equates to around 21% of threads, and that's only the current front page.

That's 1 in 5 threads, which are all negative, related to road transport here.

Not questioning moderation, but it would seem it's "ok" to post about this disgraceful situation on 21% of threads, or one in every 5 threads - such is the dire situation here.

The numbers don't lie, and can't be disputed.

"that's why I see so many newbie tourists on the roads driving motor bikes" - as said, publically, and privately, I firmly believe, that's why so many die here.

Strange, since the number of tourists on motorbikes has increased, and the number of deaths on the roads has decreased.

Sent from my D90W using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[NamKangMan]

The sooner tourists are made aware of the crap that goes on in Phuket the better. All you ever hear in negative from the place. I pity people who have made their homes there.

As for Tuk Tuk drivers I don't think I need to say anymore as many have pointed out Tuk Tuk drivers need tourism as a supply of their income, when it all goes tits up who will they run to?

Plenty of great places to spend your holidays in Thailand, stay away from Phuket until someone does something about the scams and mafia.

I sense that the casual tourist does some research on the net and is aware of the Tuk Tuk problems, that's why I see so many newbie tourists on the roads driving motor bikes and hire cars (cue NKM - and that's Ok in this topic )

Quite honestly this particular blockage of every road into Patong is just senseless. These guys are just killing their income potential. I made my home here in Phuket (10 years in Patong, and now 7 years in Kata) and you have no need to pity me.

And yes, I have a business here in Phuket, but I have no sympathy for this nonsense and I wish that the tourists would vanish and give these loons a lesson in real life economics.

I had a guest check-in this morning and he related to me his experience of travelling from the airport to Patong early this morning. Road blocked on the down hill into Patong, so he had to exit his very expensive taxi ride, walk through the taxi mob, where he felt threatened by the mob for violating their blockade, finding a m/cycle taxi and making his way into Patong.

How many other tourists had this experience ? Phuket has it's many problems, but this is just way over the top. Rant over.

"cue NKM - and that's Ok in this topic " - SNAPSHOT of the Phuket News Thaivisa Forum front page.

6 out of the 29 threads displayed on the front page are DIRECTLY related to road transport on Phuket.

That equates to around 21% of threads, and that's only the current front page.

That's 1 in 5 threads, which are all negative, related to road transport here.

Not questioning moderation, but it would seem it's "ok" to post about this disgraceful situation on 21% of threads, or one in every 5 threads - such is the dire situation here.

The numbers don't lie, and can't be disputed.

"that's why I see so many newbie tourists on the roads driving motor bikes" - as said, publically, and privately, I firmly believe, that's why so many die here.

Strange, since the number of tourists on motorbikes has increased, and the number of deaths on the roads has decreased.

Sent from my D90W using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Sadly, I suppose one road death every three days, and I suspect it's actually worse than reported, seems acceptable to some.

Edited March 4, 2014 by NamKangMan

[LivinginKata]

"cue NKM - and that's Ok in this topic :thumbsup:" - SNAPSHOT of the Phuket News Thaivisa Forum front page.

6 out of the 29 threads displayed on the front page are DIRECTLY related to road transport on Phuket.

That equates to around 21% of threads, and that's only the current front page.

That's 1 in 5 threads, which are all negative, related to road transport here.

Not questioning moderation, but it would seem it's "ok" to post about this disgraceful situation on 21% of threads, or one in every 5 threads - such is the dire situation here.

The numbers don't lie, and can't be disputed.

"that's why I see so many newbie tourists on the roads driving motor bikes" - as said, publically, and privately, I firmly believe, that's why so many die here.

Strange, since the number of tourists on motorbikes has increased, and the number of deaths on the roads has decreased.

Sent from my D90W using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Interesting comment. I would need to wait and review the published statistics. All I can say is that it's scarey watching many novice m/bike drivers wobbling about in packs. Mind you it's even more alarming watching the 'experts' overtaking with no fear of oncoming traffic.

[stevenl]

"cue NKM - and that's Ok in this topic :thumbsup:" - SNAPSHOT of the Phuket News Thaivisa Forum front page.

6 out of the 29 threads displayed on the front page are DIRECTLY related to road transport on Phuket.

That equates to around 21% of threads, and that's only the current front page.

That's 1 in 5 threads, which are all negative, related to road transport here.

Not questioning moderation, but it would seem it's "ok" to post about this disgraceful situation on 21% of threads, or one in every 5 threads - such is the dire situation here.

The numbers don't lie, and can't be disputed.

"that's why I see so many newbie tourists on the roads driving motor bikes" - as said, publically, and privately, I firmly believe, that's why so many die here.

Strange, since the number of tourists on motorbikes has increased, and the number of deaths on the roads has decreased.

Sent from my D90W using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Sadly, I suppose one road death every three days, and I suspect it's actually worse than reported, seems acceptable to some.

Don't twist words. You're claiming more and more people on bikes are the cuase of more and more road deaths. With the number of road deaths decreased over the years your claim lacks any foundation.

Sent from my D90W using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Guest]

Strange, since the number of tourists on motorbikes has increased, and the number of deaths on the roads has decreased.

Sadly, I suppose one road death every three days, and I suspect it's actually worse than reported, seems acceptable to some.

Some people think strategies, some prefer to focus tactical points. Neither are wrong.

If there has been a road death every two days (If I recall correctly, that was the number of motorbike deaths 10 years ago) and the amount is now reduces to one death every three days, it's good way to go.

But I don't really believe that the current statistics are correct. There is far more crazy drivers as well as ambulances with their lights on nowadays, compared to the past.