‘Dog bites man’ would hardly ever be a headline. ‘Man bites dog’ however IS a headline. In the same method ‘a taxi driver supplied customer with an excellent experience’ isn’t a headline. That’s unless it’s in Phuket Thailand.
The Thaiger might pave the road, all the best way from Bangkok to Phuket, with tales of the southern island’s faltering attempts at public transport. For one of many world’s favourite tropical island locations, it has the crappiest, and most costly choices for public transport, in comparison with, well… even Bangkok.
Phuket has a number of forty 12 months outdated songtaew open vehicles, even fewer buses that don’t seem to run to any schedule and nothing in the way of trains, or BTS type providers. If you’re really lucky you may find a motorbike taxi but they’re uncommon. Like actually uncommon.
All the talk in regards to the white elephant project of the decade, the so-called Phuket mild rail service, that was deliberate to run from the airport, then by way of Phuket Town and into the southern expat favourite of Chalong, has ended up in the ‘seemed like a good suggestion on the time’ file.
But No questions asked to provide a public gentle rail service that travelled to simply about all over the place, EXCEPT where vacationers would ever go to, was all the time doomed to failure. Of course it hit fierce resistance too, from none other than Phuket’s famous tuk tuk and taxi cartels… often described usually because the Phuket taxi mafia.
Simply, these gangs have worked collectively for over three a long time to lock out any competition, and even alternatives for modernisation or offering better providers for tourists, let alone locals. They’ve even been able to infect any potential competition from the new ride-hailing providers by forcing the drivers to charge the identical, extortionate fares.
How extortionate? Let’s start with a taxi journey around Bangkok, in the same small Toyota sedan taxis.
Firstly, the meters will work in Bangkok, in Phuket you’re more prone to discover a policeman with a properly-fitting uniform that you are a taxi with an precise working meter. Despite the actual law saying they must use their meters, they don’t.
For the tuk tuks, these 3 cylinder Diahatsu open vans, typically with amplifiers and audio system with extra energy than the actual engine, there isn’t a meter anyway. There’s a only a fixed value and your best attempt at haggling.
Compare a 30 minute trip in a taxi from, say, Suvarnabhumi airport to downtown Bangkok – often a trip of 30 minutes. You’ll pay round 200 baht for the ride… I do it at least as soon as per week.
But an analogous half hour ride from Phuket airport to, say, Kathu in the midst of the island, will price you more like 600 – 800 baht. Even short five minute trips from one Patong area to a different will doubtless price you 150 – 200 baht. That journey in a Bangkok taxi would most likely not even push the 35 baht flag fall.
The distinction is so extensive that it stays a seemingly unsolvable, festering wound for the recovery of the island’s vacationer economic system, and popularity.
So it was with astonishment yesterday The Thaiger posted a narrative “Thai tourist praises Phuket’s taxi for offering perfect city tour at only 50 baht”. It shouldn’t have been a headline – it shouldn’t have been even a slightly interesting story. It should occur a thousand times on a daily basis.
To his credit, fifty four year previous Suchart Nitiwaranuluck supplied a metropolis tour of Phuket Town for a very affordable 50 baht. When approached to touch upon the publish of a current Thai tourist, he advised the shocked media that he’d been providing the same excellent service for years, even lengthy earlier than Covid got here to town. So plaudits and well-earned pats on the again to Suchart. We need extra such as you in Phuket.
Countless attempts have been made to reel in Phuket’s transport cartels – successive Phuket Governors, nationwide governments, multiple nationwide police chief, even the army had an attempt after the 2014 coup. Then there’s been an extended parade of embassies and consular officers which have additionally weighed in, only to be run off the island with their tails between their legs.
Even 2 years of pandemic and restrictions has done nothing to dent the facility of the local taxi cartels.
From the second you walk out of the domestic or international terminals in Phuket, you’re faced with the equipment of a well-oiled, airport-endorsed, taxi fare rip off. It is the primary impression and the final impression many tourists will have of their visit to the island.
As Phuket struggles to recuperate from 2 years of restrictions and attract tourists again to its beaches, the one, big elephant in the room, that is holding back the island’s progress, is the transport cartels.
A vibrant future for the southern Thai island revolves around an efficient, sensible, inexpensive and equally vibrant public transport selection to maneuver vacationers and locals round.
So convey on more Sucharts and his 50 baht city tours. Let’s hope we hear more about Suchart and fewer concerning the price-gouging tradition of Phuket’s taxi and tuk tuk gangs..