Putting down a phuket infrustructure myth

MANY o'coffee break and lunch hour have dwindled away in what to me is rapidly becoming one of the most annoying topics of debate: Phuket's transportation system, or lack thereof.

Ask most expatriate residents and self-proclaimed gurus on an indefinitely extended holiday, about the situation, and they’ll matter-of-factly infrom you that the island’s infrastructure is a product of the local mafia.

Dare to entertain such a notion and you’ll learn that the only hope for Phuket – these ever-enlightened wise men insist – is for “Bangkok muscle” to come in and sweep the island clean. That way Phuket can become just like Pattaya, Bangkok or any other place o’erthe rainbow, take your pick.

One thing in particular that gets my blood boiling is the insistence that recently implemented taxi fare standards in Phuket are unreasonable – that a 48 kilometer trip (45 minutes to an hour) from Phuket International Airport to Karon Beach at 1,300 baht is “ridiculous and a comparable trip anywhere else in the world would be cheaper”.

Let’s expel such myths once and for all.

From Hong Kong International Airport to Aberdeen (about 44 kilometers for a 40-60 minute commute) a metered taxi would cost about 375 Hong Kong Dollas or about 1,400 baht; similarly, a taxi from London Heathrow Airport to Central London would be no less than 42 UK pounds (about 2,000 baht); from Tokyo Narita Airport to central Tokyo, minimum 20,000 yen (about 7,900 baht). Indeed, comparable trips (using distance and/or time as a factor) by taxi in Paris, Berlin, Oslo, Amsterdam Sydney, Zurich, Rome, New York, and Honolulu would all cost more than 1,300 baht.

Event if this is Thailand, let’s not dismiss the fact that Phuket boasts the highest cost of living in the country. Personally, I am not willing to pay 1,300 baht to get to Karon from the airport. But if I were here on holiday with the goal of getting to my hotel ASAP, I wouldn’t hesitable to pay such a fare. However, as a Phuket resident living on modest earnings, the choice is simple: get your own wheels or suck it up and use the local public transport. Before I finally got my car, I was accustomed to using local public transportation, which is cheap and reliable during standard working hours.

If I ever needed to get to Karon from the airport on a budget, I would just catch the airport bus to Phuket Town, about an hour commute at 80 baht. From there, I would continue on a 40 baht songtaew the rest of the way, an additional 30 minutes. Creating a total price, for only a slightly extended commute, of 120 baht. Perhaps someday the proposed direct bus will do the same trip in under an hour for 100 baht or less.

In the mean time, the transport situation in Phuket will continue to improve – even if such progress happens in tiny increments. Change is inevitable, and the best changes won’t likely happen overnight.

THAI Phuket flights operating as usual

THAI Airways International (THAI) is still operating its full schedule of regular flights between Bangkok and Phuket – for now.

An officer from the ‘Enterprise Communication Department’ of THAI, asking not to be named,  ‘I have yet to receive any news about reductions in flights to Phuket.’

Her statement was in response to a report by Thai-language business daily Krungthep Turakij (KT) that last week said THAI had cut more than 500 domestic and international flights due to the decreased member of passengers resulting from the company’s flood crisis.

The report stated that affected routed included flights between Bangkok and Phuket, Haad Yai, Surat Thani, Hong Kong, Singapore, Kuala Lumpure, London,Paris,Zurich,Rome,Munich, Frankfurt, Moscow, Athens, Johannesburg, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi, Beijing, Shiang Hai, Guangzhao, Taipei, Dubai, Colombo and Mumbai.

“Perhaps Krungthep Turakij had an exclusive interview with someone, who gave them that information, but as far as I know, our current status still remains the same,” she said.

“As long as there is no official letter from management, I would confirm that all of our flights[to and from Phuket] are still operating as usual until we receive further notice,” she added.

According to the KT report, in addition to reducing the number of flights, THAI will also downsize the type of aircraft used on the routes to better suit the number of passengers, with consideration made on a day-by-day basis.

However, in a statement issued on October 30 on THAI’ Public Relations website, the airline said it will increase its seating capacity for flights to Phuket, Haad Yai and Krabi, in order to accommodate Bangkok flood evacuees fleeing to Southern Thailand.

THAI reported 4.8 billion baht in losses during the first nine months of the year, attributing the losses to foreign-currency exchange depreciation and a 41.5% increase in the cost of jet fuel compared with the same period last year.

However, during the third quarter, THAI achieved a profit of 2.4 billion baht, an increase of 10% year-on-year.

Speaking to the press, THAI President Dr Piyasvasti Amranand insisted popular destinations Phuket, Krabi, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai were all unaffected by floods.

He encouraged travelers to visit these destinations, which could be “conveniently reached” via Bangkok’s still fully operational Suvarnabhumi International Airport.

The THAI president admitted that travel advisories warning against travel to Thailand had cut the number of tourists coming from China, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and some parts of Europe.

THAI ‘s passenger load dropped to 65.8% last month from 74% in the same month last year, he said.

Mr Piyasvasri said the Thai government must clarify and create understanding that the flooding situation has improved, and usage the countries to lift travel warnings.

“If we can do it fast, we still have hope that our tourism industry will return to normal by December,” he said.

Marine Office allows 70 more rental jet-skis

THE Phuket Marine Office will allow amnesty to jet-ski operators so that they can register 70 jet-skis found operating illegally.

The move is aimed at ensuring all rental jet-skis in Phuket are covered by first-class insurance, Phuket Marine Office Chief Phuripat Theerakulpisut told the quarterly meeting of Phuket's honorary consuls last Friday,

"Since we started managing jet-ski rental operations in 2007, 219 jet-skis have been registered. However, we have found 70 jet jet-skis that are unregistered," Chief Phuripat told the consuls.

The Marine Office is not planning legal action against the offending jet-ski operators, but has instead asked them to cooperate with his office, he said.

"Also, the jet-skis will be registered for particular zones, which means that jet-skis being rented out in Patong cannot be used in other areas," he added.

Previously, jet-skis had to be registered with the marine Office under the category of cruiser and sports boat. "Under that system, there had been many problems with jet-ski insurance claims. So now we have created a category especially for jet-ski rental businesses. This system has been specifically designed for Phuket," explained Chief Phuripat.

Phuket Provincial Police Comander maj Gen Pekad Tantipong said that police had so far received about 40 reports of foreigners damaging jet-skis. "So I would like tourists who have a disagreement with a jet-ski operator to go to the police. That will make it fair for both sides," he said.

Jet-ski insurance scams have long tarnished Phuket's reputation among tourists, with pressure from consuls and ambassadors placing Phuket's top officials squarely in the spotlight.