Tourists flying into Phuket will no longer be greeted at the familiar tour operator desks. The airport's management has barred companies from setting up temporary stands in the arrivals area, where guides usually gathered their groups, checked names off lists and directed people to the buses. A system that had worked for almost a decade is now in question.
The changes are being attributed to a shake-up at the top of the airport. The new general manager, who previously worked in Chiang Mai, has decided to bring to Phuket the same rules that apply in the northern province. In his view, the temporary desks spoil the look of the terminal and create unnecessary noise. Tour companies, however, point out that passenger traffic in Phuket, especially in high season, is far greater than in Chiang Mai, and that the two cannot fairly be compared.
According to The Phuket News, the ban affects about ten major companies that together handle between ten and twenty charter flights from Russia every day. Each of those flights brings in 300 to 400 people. Tour operators fear that without clear organization in the arrivals hall there will be confusion, and that tourists worn out by a long flight will spend longer searching for their transport.
The companies are baffled as to why the authorities did not engage in dialogue. They say the desks took up little space and were cleared away as soon as the last group had left. "The scale of tourism in Phuket and the volume of charter traffic, especially in peak season, make applying the same approach as in Chiang Mai completely inappropriate and ineffective for serving passengers," the tour operators' representatives say.
Following the complaints, representatives of the travel industry met with the airport's management on November 2. In an official statement, the Phuket administration said it had merely reminded the companies of the "rules for maintaining order" and of the need to ensure passenger safety. The airport did not say whether exceptions would be made for the high season or whether other meeting points for groups would be offered.
Travelers heading to Phuket on a package tour are advised to check with their agent before departure exactly where in the airport to look for the company's representative. It is also wise to save the guide's contact details or an emergency phone number in advance.
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