THAILAND TRAVEL NEWS: A row has erupted on the island province of Phuket between Karta-Karon tuk-tuk owners and two of the island’s biggest tourism operators.

Local tuk-tuk operators have blockaded the entrance to Centara Karon Resort Phuket in an attempt to force tourists traveling on package sightseeing deals to use them, instead of pre-paid transportation from action tourist operator Siam Safari.

Local media reports claim that tourists from the giant Turismo Asia tour operator, who are also agents for Scandinavian giant travel group TUI Nordic, have been targeted in the blockade.

The action against two of the island’s largest tour operators – Turismo Asia sends 12,000 tourists a year to Phuket alone – has already reached Provincial Hall level, with Phuket’s pro-active and tourist orientated governor, Wichai Phraisa-ngop, likely to step in after police were called to the resort earlier this week.

The local tuk-tuk association is demanding tourists traveling on package trips to Siam Safari use them instead of transport from outside of the Karta-Karon district, and have stated they want a payment of Bt350 (about $US10.60) for each group of between one and four people sharing the one tuk-tuk they take to the local attraction.

They have said the fare is one-way from any location in Karta-Karon to Siam Safari, indicating other resorts may be on their list to blockade in pursuit of their claim.

Just over a month ago the Karta-Karon Tuk-Tuk Association reduced fares for fixed routes by about 25 per cent in attempt to stimulate patronage in the wake of extensive criticism of the high tuk-tuk prices on Phuket.

The cost of a tuk-tuk from Karon to Patong is now Bt300 ($9.00), while a tuk-tuk from Karon to the Phuket airport is Bt800 ($24) and a tuk-tuk from Karon to Phuket City now costs Bt500 ($15).

By John Le Fevre

Thailand Travel News for December 15, 2009