Taxis resist a new airport bus service in Phuket

PHUKET- Being ripped off by taxi drivers in Phuket seems to be part of a typical experience on Southern Thailand’s iconic island. From the cruise area where cruise companies are banned by taxi drivers to offer shuttle bus to horrendous prices of 1,000 Baht (33 US dollars) for a ride from Phuket International Airport to Patong or 400 Baht (13 US dollars) from Phuket town to Patong.

However, tourists have little choice than comply as public transport on the island is almost non-existent: Songtao busses, a kind of open van, are rather cheap and uncomfortable. But they circulate only between Phuket Town and various beach areas. Best way to travel around town is either to rent a car –the cheapest solution- or find an affable taxi or moto-taxi driver for an entire day...

Myriads of tourists complain for years about exorbitant prices from taxi drivers. It so far felt into deaf ears. While the Provincial Government negotiated many times with taxi “unions” to use taximeters, It has categorically been opposed by taxi drivers.

In all fairness, an explanation to taxi drivers’ intransigence comes from the current zoning system in Phuket. Taxis can only circulate from their registration zone to their destination. However, they are not allowed to take someone on their way back to their registration zone.  The system which was designed to assure fair business to anyone is turning into a real handicap as taxis have to double charge for the ride.

Meanwhile, taxi unions are furbishing their weapons as the provincial government tries to launch a new air-con public bus service between Phuket International Airport and Patong/Kata beaches. The service which is –according to the Provincial Hall- a “low cost bus” targeting locals was due to be launched in March. But protests already forced the service to be postponed while consultations with the local population –in fact the taxi unions- have since continued. Many taxis have already vowed to block the bus of running according to local newspaper “Phuket News”. The bus service would most probably start now in May with very limited schedules (one service per hour) and stops at six various points. If the service runs well, more routes would then be opened...

Tourists will then have to be patients as things will take time to change. There is indeed no need to transform business habits in Phuket so far. The island remains indeed as popular despite an increase in recent years in petty criminality, attacks on visitors and scams. In 2011 –latest available data from Thailand Ministry of Tourism-, total foreign arrivals grew by 47% to reach 6.62 million. Last year, estimated total arrivals should have topped between 7.5 and 8 million travellers. Why should Phuket taxis feel worried about?

Sourced: TravelDailyNews