Phuket doesn't need more tuk-tuks, says tuk-tuk chief

[webfact]

Phuket doesn't need more tuk-tuks, says tuk-tuk chief
Phuket Gazette


The legal tuk-tuk drivers of Patong have long campaigned against illegal drivers, and now are protesting against having more legal ones. Photo: Jeremie Schatz

PHUKET: -- Seven months after his last appeal to legalize tuk-tuk drivers on the island, Sakol Srisompoch filed yet another complaint yesterday, but this time it was against legalizing them.

In September, Mr Sakol led a group of legal tuk-tuk drivers to file a third formal complaint in their campaign to stamp out the illegal tuk-tuk trade in Patong (story here).

“We filed a complaint with the Phuket Land Transport Office [PLTO] because we heard of a group of tuk-tuk drivers in Kata-Karon calling for illegal drivers to sign up with them in order to become legal,” explained Mr Sakol.

“The group sent a letter to tuk-tuk ranks asking drivers to sign up, and promising to drive forward the legalization process.”

Mr Sakol argues that there are now too may legal tuk-tuks on the island, and that any more added to the mix would take away his income and that of other established, legal drivers.

“There are too many legal tuk-tuks already. If the PLTO allows any more, it will be much harder for us to earn a living,” he said.

“We would also like to ask officials to more strictly regulate the taxis already on the island. We have not seen them do anything to get rid of the illegal ones.”

Mr Sakol also postulated that the letter the Kata-Karon group sent may have been a scam.

“This group might be trying to trick drivers who want to become legal into paying them. If the PLTO is not planning to register more legal tuk-tuks in the area, they need to make that clear. ”

The PLTO affirmed they have no plans to legalize any more tuk-tuks on the island. Meanwhile, Region 8 Police are taking part in combating illegal taxi services in Phuket, said Jaturong Kaewkasi of PLTO.

“I will send out an official letter to clarify that we are not planning to open registration to legalize more tuk-tuks,” he confirmed.

— Kritsada Mueanhawong

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket-news/Phuket-doesnt-need-tuktuks-says-tuktuk-chief/29113#ad-image-0


-- Phuket Gazette 2014-04-11

[Soupdragon]

Stopping the price fixing and allowing fair (pun intended) competition would allow the Tuk Tuk numbers to find a 'natural' balance.

[fatdrunkandstupid]

Iranians, Indian, Morrocans and Russians don't pay for scam Tuk Tuk fares.

The Sharks are now starving and feeding on themselves.

Watch this space...

[WoopyDoo]

Competition is healthy in all industries, it provides a better service and cost to the public.

No competition means the customer gets screwed.

Thailand needs a monopolies commission.

[steelepulse]

Bring on another thousand! I'd like to see these sharks start eating each other. That or else, change the setup to any licensed driver can pick up in any zone at any price..........Competition, not collusion.

[LivinginKata]

Not often that I agree with our member fatdrunkandstupid but I do think he has hit that nail on the head ....

The Sharks are now starving and feeding on themselves.

I have been saying that exact same thing to my wife for many months. Fact of the matter is that there is a finite limit to how much dosh the Tuk Tuk's can extract for the passing tourists. I have deduced that the limit was passed a long time ago. And now I will be interested to watch that feeding frenzy.

[eezergood]

Erm I though they cant park there anymore......... dont get me started!

[fatdrunkandstupid]

Not often that I agree with our member fatdrunkandstupid but I do think he has hit that nail on the head ....

The Sharks are now starving and feeding on themselves.

I have been saying that exact same thing to my wife for many months. Fact of the matter is that there is a finite limit to how much dosh the Tuk Tuk's can extract for the passing tourists. I have deduced that the limit was passed a long time ago. And now I will be interested to watch that feeding frenzy.

I was down at Bangla a few days ago and I noticed that a lot of the Tuk Tuks are now the new bigger Suzuki trucks. There are some Somchais out there with a whole new level of debt. Their desperation should ramp up the violence nicely...

[NamKangMan]

Not often that I agree with our member fatdrunkandstupid but I do think he has hit that nail on the head ....

The Sharks are now starving and feeding on themselves.

I have been saying that exact same thing to my wife for many months. Fact of the matter is that there is a finite limit to how much dosh the Tuk Tuk's can extract for the passing tourists. I have deduced that the limit was passed a long time ago. And now I will be interested to watch that feeding frenzy.

It was always going to get to that point, not if, just when. I suspect it's nearly there.

I would expect to see more price rises in the future as the "money go down - put price up" model of business here is further used. Certainly, the airport taxis have responded this way with the increase of tourists using coach buses as part of their package holiday.

I also suspect there will be an initiative to make it more difficult for tourists to hire motorbikes, or more licencing and/or intoxication enforcement, or similar, designed to push tourists back into tuk-tuks, before any possible collapse of the monopoly.

Unfortunately, many more will die here (see thread with probable drunk Russian women killing Thai teen) before tourists, expats and locals, can go out, have a drink, and get home safely, and affordably, before real change is implemented.

[Jonmarleesco]

Mr Sakol would also like to ask officials to more strictly regulate the taxis already on the island. If officials were to do that, Phuket tuk tuk drivers could risk being accused of putting tourists first.

[ggt]

I always fancied myself...being a tuk-tuk chief...come to me for advice...I will tell you where to tuk-it...go tuk-yourself...and tuk-u...ta-da! I think I may have drank too much...tying to decide which beer is the best...

Edited April 11, 2014 by ggt

[godden]

Competition is healthy in all industries, it provides a better service and cost to the public.

No competition means the customer gets screwed.

Thailand needs a monopolies commission.

why is there only 1 monopoly commission

[NamKAheng]

“We would also like to ask officials to more strictly regulate the taxis already on the island. We have not seen them do anything to get rid of the illegal ones.”

So no more price gauging, no more illegal parking on the street and no more intimidation from the legal ones. I think we will see that when chicken will grow teeth.

[DaveHKT]

Not often that I agree with our member fatdrunkandstupid but I do think he has hit that nail on the head ....

The Sharks are now starving and feeding on themselves.

I have been saying that exact same thing to my wife for many months. Fact of the matter is that there is a finite limit to how much dosh the Tuk Tuk's can extract for the passing tourists. I have deduced that the limit was passed a long time ago. And now I will be interested to watch that feeding frenzy.

I was down at Bangla a few days ago and I noticed that a lot of the Tuk Tuks are now the new bigger Suzuki trucks. There are some Somchais out there with a whole new level of debt. Their desperation should ramp up the violence nicely...

I was around Bangla last weekend and surprised at the number of private vehicles freely advertising themselves as taxis directly opposite T*i P*n. neither the police or tuk tuk operators seemed worried about them. Likewise on Bangla itself (when open to traffic), tuk tuks, legitimate taxis, black taxis all parked up plus tuk tuks driving in the wrong direction (heading westerly towards the beach. No problems, that's probably why the BIB were strolling along smiling to themselves (I'm pretty sure one of them had a calculator in one of his pockets). I also noticed that the purveyors of beer from the styrofoam boxes are back on the streets, didn't see any of them sporting drinks licenses though. Maybe when the old/new mayor gets re-elected/elected things might change? I won't be holding my breath though