The announcement came following a meeting held between Phuket Governor Chamreon Tipayapongthada; Ministry of Tourism & Sports Phuket Director Santi Pawai and Phuket Provincial Land Transport Office yesterday (Nov 2).
The meeting was held after it was found that on Oct 31 a Thai woman and her foreign boyfriend had taken a taxi from Phuket International Airport to go to Patong, during the journey the driver, Muhammad Arabi Musorthey, stopped at a tour operator in Cherng Talay.
It is alleged that Mr Muhammad, who operates for the Airport Limousine and Business Service Co Ltd based at the airport, told his passengers that he had stopped to register that he had started his work shift.
However, after a short time another man came out and tried to sell the passengers tour packages.
After refusing to buy the packages, the two passengers removed their luggage from the taxi and decided to find alternative transport to get them to Patong.
The Thai woman later posted the story on her Facebook page.
Mr Santi told The Phuket News today, “My team went to check the tour company and they informed me that taxi drivers often bring tourist to the office so they can sell tour package.
“They also said that tourists are often happy to buy them.
“However, I have warned them that they must not force any tourists to buy packages, and if I find that they do, they will have no right to operate their tourism business. Anyone who violates this rule will be fined between B100,000-B500,000,” he said.
“If it is found that taxi drivers try to take passengers somewhere they don’t want to go their licence to operate from the airport will be cancelled, they will be fined B1,000 and their driving licence will be suspended for six months under the Land of Transport Act.”
Mr Muhammad has since been fined B1,000 and had his lincence suspended for six months.