The list of fares covers several pages, but sample prices include: Airport to Patong, one way B800, return B1,500; Patong-Wat Chalong B500/900; Patong-Laguna B700/1,300; Airport-Phuket Town (one way) B500; and Kata-Patong (one way) B500.
Announcing the prices on Monday (January 21) Vice-Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada, said they would protect passengers from cheating.
Drivers have been urged to form a cooperative and will be taught to “give good service and follow the rules”, he said. “Anyone breaking the rules will be punished under the law.
“A main benefit is that by converting to green plates, the taxis will be properly insured [in case of accident and injury to passengers].
“We are now in the process of educating the drivers. We expect this to bring results soon. If the education is successful then everything will go smoothly.
“Cases of cheating, which are often reported in local media, will decrease. All of the cars have stickers on the doors in Thai and English. If the customer has a problem, he or she can call 1584, the hot line.”
Jaturong Keawkasi of the Phuket Land Transportation Office (PLTO) told The Phuket News, “I have told the [taxi group] to list and collect all the members together so that they can talk to the insurance companies about getting a good bloc rate for cover.
He added, “I believe we will have 10 per cent more black taxis converting to green plates in February.”