Coss Posted September 3, 2011 Report Share Posted September 3, 2011 My link Austrian Ambassador to Thailand Johannes Peterlik warned Phuket's top officials of a Europe-wide travel advisory telling tourists not to use tuk-tuks while on holiday in Phuket. PHUKET: The continued failure of local authorities to address problems of tuk-tuk drivers with foreign tourists could force European Union (EU) member states to issue a joint travel advisory warning against using tuk-tuks while in Phuket, the Austrian Ambassador to Thailand has warned. Austrian Ambassador to Thailand Johannes Peterlik issued the warning to local officials during the third meeting between honorary consuls and Phuket officials at Phuket Provincial Hall on Wednesday. Dr Johannes, who grew up in Thailand from 1976 to 1981 and has served as ambassador to the country for two years, said he and fellow EU diplomats in Bangkok had been monitoring the situation closely, but had seen little progress. “I think it is important for all the stakeholders involved to realize the EU stands together as one today. More than half of the consuls here are from EU member states… This is not a coincidence. You can check the numbers of tourists that arrive from these countries annually,†he said. In the future all of these states will share information and issue travel advice with the same wording, Amb Peterlik assured. “We have been watching this situation very closely, for the last one-and-a-half years, to be precise… and we are concerned in Bangkok. “We are happy to support the Thai police and authorities in implementing the law. We know how difficult it can be, but we have to rely on the rule of law as it is written. We have to rely on your leadership – the personalities of leaders, both provincial and national representatives. “If we can rely on that you will see the support we are trying to give you. If we cannot rely on that… we will be forced to specifically highlight Phuket as a destination in Thailand where it is not advised to use a tuk-tuk, one of the symbols of Thailand, as a means of transportation,†he said. Sitting next to Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha, he told the gathering he understood “how difficult†some EU tourists could be, but said that he and other diplomatic staff were duty-bound to protect their citizens traveling in the country. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted September 3, 2011 Report Share Posted September 3, 2011 << Dr Johannes, who grew up in Thailand from 1976 to 1981 >> It only took him 5 years to grow up? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
limbo Posted September 3, 2011 Report Share Posted September 3, 2011 Not to mention the use or rental of jet skis! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ozpharlap Posted September 3, 2011 Report Share Posted September 3, 2011 Thailand doesn't seem to care about western tourism Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radioman Posted September 3, 2011 Report Share Posted September 3, 2011 Unless someone ratchets up the pressure then the locals will just play the long game, wait, the noise will die down and no actual work will be required. Nobody's rice bowl gets upturned in the process. Seriously this could be fixed in an instant. Meters in all such vehicles and 100,000 baht fines for anyone not using the meter or refusing a customer when stated for hire. Lots of money to be made by the big shots selling meters too. Just too much trouble to think about doing anything though as usual. Where's that carpet and brush? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted September 3, 2011 Report Share Posted September 3, 2011 Thailand doesn't seem to care about western tourism Nonsense. The problem is there are so many little local fiefdoms in the kingdom. In their own area, they are able to thumb their noses at the national government. Takky gained power largely by allying his party to the Isan and Northern warlords. The Dems tried to play things above board, which doesn't work in Thailand. Beneath the modern veneer, Thailand is still living in the 19th century as far as local politics goes. Remember a year or two ago when the US fleet was in Phuket? The tuk-tuk drivers rallied to prevent the US Navy from carrying its people into town in chartered buses. They insisted they be permitted to gouge the swabbies and gyrenes. If the Navy had been wise, it would have just called everyone back on board and sailed elsewhere. When all of Phuket realised the tuk-tuk mafia was costing them money, they might have doen something. Instead, the Navy backed down to the thugs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cavanami Posted September 4, 2011 Report Share Posted September 4, 2011 How many times have tourist been warned not to go to LOS or of the scams, etc...warnings ignored! The cheap puzzy, fun times to be had will keep the tourists pouring in Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ozpharlap Posted September 4, 2011 Report Share Posted September 4, 2011 Nonsense. The problem is there are so many little local fiefdoms in the kingdom. In their own area, they are able to thumb their noses at the national government. Takky gained power largely by allying his party to the Isan and Northern warlords. The Dems tried to play things above board, which doesn't work in Thailand. Beneath the modern veneer, Thailand is still living in the 19th century as far as local politics goes. Remember a year or two ago when the US fleet was in Phuket? The tuk-tuk drivers rallied to prevent the US Navy from carrying its people into town in chartered buses. They insisted they be permitted to gouge the swabbies and gyrenes. If the Navy had been wise, it would have just called everyone back on board and sailed elsewhere. When all of Phuket realised the tuk-tuk mafia was costing them money, they might have doen something. Instead, the Navy backed down to the thugs. Nonsense, maybe, but eventually they will kill the goose that lays the Golden Egg ... if Thailand as a country cannot control it's fiefdoms, willingly or not, then eventually that care factor will erode it's lucrative travel business, but hey, IMO they will rely more and more on Asian tourism in the near future (especially if most of those in the west keep going broke) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted September 4, 2011 Report Share Posted September 4, 2011 There are plenty of tourists from the PRC. Problem is they have no money and spend almost none. Most such trips are "all inclusive" and the money goes to the tour company. The Japanese used to come here and travel around in groups, but they also spent a small fortune. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ozpharlap Posted September 5, 2011 Report Share Posted September 5, 2011 Phuket taxi mob beats driver in broad daylight PHUKET: -- A gang of taxi drivers encamped outside an upscale resort on Phuket's west coast today beat a local driver with an iron bar before causing a reported 50,000 baht in damage to his car. His tourist passengers were reportedly inside the vehicle at the time of the attack. Preecha Choowong, 38, filed a complaint at Kamala Police Station this afternoon, after receiving treatment for his head wound at Patong Hospital. Mr Preecha, a driver for the Kok Chang Safari elephant camp in Kata Noi, arrived at the Cape Sienna resort in Kamala at about 12:30pm to pick up Australian tourist Glenn Dawson. About six drivers outside the resort pulled Mr Preecha from his Honda Civic and started to beat him. One of the attackers hit him on the head with an iron bar. The same iron bar was used to damage his car, smashing the windscreen and breaking a side mirror. "Considering the state he [Preecha] was in when he arrived to file the complaint, we told him to go to Patong Hospital for treatment first, then come back and file his complaint," said Kamala Police Duty Officer Anek Mongkol. Lt Col Anek said his officers were now investigating the complaint in order to press charges for gang attack causing bodily and property damage. The attack today comes just days after the Austrian Ambassador to Thailand laid bare a caution for Phuket authorities to start taking serious steps to resolve the continual, brutal antics of lawless drivers on the island. If the renegade drivers could not be controlled, European embassies might be forced to issue a travel advisory warning tourists not to use tuk-tuks in Phuket, Ambassador Johannes Peterlik said. That warning followed the beating of a German man, who days ago regained consciousness from a coma, and the recent beating of two Dutch tourists, who both received hospital treatment, in Patong. Phuket Gazette Hey Flash, I think you can now start adding Phuket to Pattaya as a different country Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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