The group called for all factions of the industry to join the association in order to resolve disputes, especially to resolve the issue of tour companies in Phuket hiring buses and drivers from off-island.
ATBA President Chonnawee-ek Taewsakul presented the group’s formal complaint to Phuket Vice Governor Khajornkiet Rakpanichmanee and Phuket Land Transport Office, Jaturong Kaewkasi
“Local people in Phuket have been working in tour bus businesses for many years Each person in our association owns two to three buses,” said Mr Chonnawee-ek.
“The number of tourists has been increasing since Thailand entered AEC (Asean Economic Community), and as a result the island has attracted more independent agencies working with local tour companies and they provide buses and take tourists out of Phuket,” he said.
“To make matter worse,” Mr Chonnawee-ek added, “one local group set up the Andaman Business Tourism Association and brought buses from Isarn (Northeast Thailand) to join their association and work on the island.
“They have robbed us of our jobs. Now we have lost our source of income, we have no money to support our families and most of us are in debt. We want officials to intervene and solve this issue.”
Mr Chonnawee-ek added that the group would like to see all factions united in resolving the matter, including government officials and people from the private sector.
“This includes the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command, the Tourism and Sports Office, the Land Transport Office, the Andaman Tour Bus Association, tour agencies and tour companies in Phuket – we must all come together,” he said.
“All buses that serve tourists on the island must be a member of ATBA, so we can set standards as rules and regulations that everyone must follow,” he added.
Jaturong Kaewkasi of the Phuket Land Transport Office assured that his office would investigate the complaint.
“The Phuket Land Transport Office will look into the issue. We will present our proposals to ABTA before the complaint is handed to the Phuket Governor, who must sign the complaint and endorse any proposals before we can send this letter to the Department of Land Transport in Bangkok to consider further action,” he said.