Phuket Airport Buses Face First Tuk-Tuk, Taxi Test at Public Meeting
By Chutima Sidasathian

Tuesday, April 2, 2013



PHUKET: A public meeting next week is expected to sound out whether Phuket's new public buses face serious opposition from tuk-tuk and taxi drivers or will be able to start running soon.

Residents are invited to attend the meeting, called by Kata-Karon Mayor, Tawee Tongcham, for the council offices at Kata beach at 10am on April 11.



Proceedings will be in the Thai language but some interested expats are expected to attend.

And tomorrow, Phuket journalists will be invited to take a ride on one of the new buses intended to service the route between Phuket International Airport and Kata-Karon.

Thursday week's public meeting is likely to be followed by more talks as Phuket officials gauge whether there's a level of antagonism towards the much-needed bus service.

For decades, Phuket's tuk-tuk and taxi drivers have had a virtual monopoly on transport between Phuket's airport and the island's holiday west coast.

Phuket Land Transport Office Director Terayoot Prasertphol has pushed ahead with the important Phuket bus project to the point where all that's needed in a go-ahead from Phuket Provincial Hall.

Approval has been delayed to see whether residents - including the tuk-tuk and taxi drivers - understand the need for the bus service and approve of its introduction.

Tuk-tuk and taxi drivers are also likely to be affected in Patong and other points where people can hop on or off the buses. More meetings are likely.

It has been speculated that many arriving and departing tourists will prefer to catch a tuk-tuk or a taxi directly from the airport to their accommodation or vice versa. But some are bound to prefer the low-cost buses.

Residents are likely to take advantage of a safer form of travel on some short trips, reducing the addiction to dangerous and sometimes deadly motorcycles as the transport of choice on Phuket.

Other bus routes around Phuket are likely to be considered if the first innovative Phuket airport route proves to be a popular success.

Tomorrow, journalists are expected to be invited to ride on a new bus from Phuket Provincial Hall in Phuket City to Karon and back as part of Phuket Governor Maitree Intusut's regular ''meet the media'' session.


Phuket Airport Buses Face First Tuk-Tuk, Taxi Test at Public Meeting - Phuket Wan