There had been concern that the drivers might see the proposed boat service between the airport and Patong as a threat to their livelihood, and officials were braced for a stormy meeting at Patong Municipality.
At a similar hearing in Mai Khao concerns were aired by local village leaders that the boat service might eat into local taxi drivers’ revenue.
But yesterday the official tone from Phuket’s party central was set by Patong Mayor Pian Keesin, who told the meeting, “We have to move on, we have to set the standard for Phuket.
“Look at Hong Kong and Macau or even Singapore. This is the kind of development we need. I think we have to be open-minded and consider whether [the boat service] will boost our economy. This is a new selling point.”
A taxi driver told The Phuket News, “It’s okay. It’s not really our customers and in any case it will be small numbers.”
Phuripat Theerakulpisut, Director of Marine Officer Phuket branch, said after the meeting, “I believe we received good signals from this hearing. Nobody in the relevant groups we invited disagreed with the project. This is a good sign.”
He said that now the hearings were over, work can begin on refining the proposal before it is presented to the Cabinet.
“As I have always said, this project is not designed to steal customers from the tuk-tuks or taxis. Our aim is simply to help reduce traffic congestion on the roads.
“More importantly, the market for this service is different, and I think they [tuk-tuk and taxi drivers] understand this.”
Initially the service will use the existing pier at the south end of Patong Beach, but Mr Phuripat said he was waiting for reaction from the private sector to the whole plan, and whether companies would be interested in investing in a new Patong pier.
Phuket’s one existing hydrofoil service cannot use the Patong pier because the water around it is too shallow.
But first the concept has to receive Cabinet approval. “If the Cabinet doesn’t approve, then it will be just another castle in the air,” Mr Phuripat said.