Phuket Taxi drivers Blockade Cruise ship

Roughly 180 local Phuket taxi drivers blockaded the entrance to Phuket’s deep sea port today

In the latest wave of disputes the taxi drivers began their blockade involving cruise ships and the US Navy shortly after the Silversea Silver Spirit docked.

Passengers from the Silver Spirit were not being allowed in or out of the port at Ao Makham on Phuket’s east coast. After four hours of talks taxi drivers agreed to settle for taking 250 of the passengers however many others remained at the port

Frequent blockades by local Phuket taxi drivers who perceive shuttle bus transport as a threat to their livelihoods have over the past 18 months blackened Phuket's name as an attractive, trouble-free holiday destination.

Today's blockade is likely to bring to a head the simmering issue of damaging Phuket blockades on cruise ships and the US Navy.

Roughly 475 passengers onboard the Silver Spirit were planning to use tour buses rather than local taxis to get to Phuket City and Patong and this is probably why the incident arose

Taxi fares in Phuket are on par with taxi fares in developed countries, but often without insurance, service or suitably high standards inside vehicles.