Limo protest delays improved airport taxi service

[aussie dollar]

Limo protest delays improved airport taxi service

PHUKET CITY: A protest by about 100 airport limousine drivers at Provincial Hall yesterday morning successfully delayed the setting up of a taxi counter in the airport terminal.

It also prevented the number of meter taxis serving the airport from being increased from 30 to 70 with effect from next Monday (July 25).

“The Phuket Taxi Meter counter is currently 50 meters from the terminal, but Governor Udomsak Uswarangkura wants it moved to inside the terminal without [taxi drivers] paying for a concession,” explained Manod Chusak, who runs the limousine counters at Phuket International Airport (PIA).

“At the same time, he wants taxis to have counters set up at every beach on Phuket,” K. Manod added.

He also explained that the Governor, who is due to return from an inspection tour of Turkey and Romania tomorrow, had given his support for the number of taxis serving th e airport to be increased from 30 to 70 from Monday, and later boosted to 270.

Weera Kearpanich, Chairman of the Airport Limousine and Business Service Cooperative Ltd, said, “We currently operate four counters at the airport, and this year we are paying more than 1 million baht a month for the concession [for the right to operate a limousine service at the airport].”

K. Manod explained that the concession fee had been increased each year, from 905,267 baht a month in 2003 to 995,794 baht a month in 2004.

On top of the rising fees, K. Manod said, limousine drivers were already suffering from the greatly reduced number of tourists on the island following the tsunami.

“Limousine drivers are currently getting four to six fares between the airport and Phuket City or Patong each day. Before the tsunami the daily average was about eight to 10 fares.

“If taxis set up a counter in the terminal, limousine drivers w ill have even fewer passengers,” K. Manod said, admitting that tourists prefer to use meter taxis because they are cheaper.

He said that limousine drivers want Gov Udomsak to have the number of taxis serving the airport restricted to the 30 taxis that are currently allowed in.

The protestors disbanded after PIA Deputy General Manager Chan Chiamcharoen said that he would inform the PIA Director immediately of their complaints, and that the moves to improve taxi service would not go ahead until all the affected parties had discussed their problems with the Governor.

Brought to you by:
The Phuket Gazette
18:08 local time (GMT +7

[JayBee]

Originally Posted by aussie dollar

“Limousine drivers are currently getting four to six fares between the airport and Phuket City or Patong each day. Before the tsunami the daily average was about eight to 10 fares.

“If taxis set up a counter in the terminal, limousine drivers w ill have even fewer passengers,” K. Manod said, admitting that tourists prefer to use meter taxis because they are cheaper.

I hope the Governor stands up to the limo Mafia. My heart goes out to the limo drivers. If they can't get enough fares, because of meter taxi competition, then they might just have to make an honest living driving a mater taxi!!

[JayBee]

Originally Posted by dizbusta

Don't knock them too much, I will take a Limo over a Taxi every time as I prefer the comfort and I am prepared to pay the extra. However, what I don't like is the "detour" to certain travel operators on the way to the hotel.

Cheers
Diz

Fair enough for you . But there's room for taxis and limos, as well. I suspect that most of us would prefer the meter taxis. What's not fair is the limo Mafia trying to freeze out the meter taxis and monopolize the business. If there was fair competition, then I don't think you would have to be bothered by "detours" anymore, because they wouldn't want to risk irritating a good customer such as yourself. Now, they don't care, because they have near complete control of the business, and unless there is competition, then they can do as they well please!!

[erik1]

It works at BKK

[Coyotee]

I took a meter taxi to Patong on my last trip and it was comfortable and fast with no detour. Cost me 400 baht! On my return trip use the same taxi again (has his hp no.), same price.

It is easy to get the taxi, just walk out from departure hall, go across the parking lot and there are meter taxis parked next to the exit booth.

Malaysian

[t0rn]

Originally Posted by Malaysian

I took a meter taxi to Patong on my last trip and it was comfortable and fast with no detour. Cost me 400 baht! On my return trip use the same taxi again (has his hp no.), same price.

It is easy to get the taxi, just walk out from departure hall, go across the parking lot and there are meter taxis parked next to the exit booth.
Malaysian

Agreed, I get the meter taxi every time now - very comfortable and most importantly no annoying stops to try and persuade you to take their accomodation.
Cost difference isn't actually that much.

[stevem]

I've never experienced any of these stops before in more than probably 70 limo trips from the airport. You just have to make it clear that you have accommodation booked and dont want anything else.

I'm sure that if you feel that you are going to be stopped at one of these places, if you offered the driver B100 not to stop, he would accept it.