The government bus company currently operates a route from the airport to Phuket’s main bus terminal with several designated stops en route. Fares are up to a maximum of THB100 per passenger. The airport is also served by a fleet of taxis.
Local tourism association boss Sathirapong Na Takuatoong stated that while a complimentary bus service was a good idea in principle, it would impact on the income of other transport providers at the airport. He said one way around this might be to limit frequencies to 30-minute intervals so that arriving passengers who wanted to get to their destinations quickly would be forced into taking taxis.
If the free shuttles become a reality, the Airports of Thailand (AoT) will run the service. Phuket AoT deputy-director Thani Chuangchoo said another way of making sure buses and taxi-drivers did not lose money would be to allow the new service to stop anywhere on its designated routes.
The deputy-director also stated that the new bus service would only be free for passengers with boarding passes for flights that had just arrived. The proposed routes for the free service are to Saphan Hin, Patong and Karon, and Rawai.
Phuket proposes free buses from airport
News in Asia
Phuket provincial authorities say they may lay on a free bus service linking the island’s airport to key tourism destinations. At a meeting last week, representatives discussed the issue and seemed to reach agreement but laid down several stipulations.