Phuket to raise boat fares to Koh Phi Phi and tour package prices from April 5
Phuket ferry and speedboat fares for routes to Koh Phi Phi, along with boat tour prices, are set to increase from April 5 after operators received approval to raise charges in response to higher fuel costs.
Phuket Provincial Governor Nirat Pongsitthaworn met officials from the Phuket Provincial Marine Department and local operators at about 1.30pm yesterday, April 2, to discuss rising operating costs linked to fuel prices.
Operators told officials they had been absorbing the higher costs since fuel prices increased and sought approval to raise fares to cover the added expense. Phuket Provincial Marine Department Director Adul Raluekmoon heard their concerns and agreed that fares should be adjusted to reflect the increased costs.
Adul approved a 200 baht increase for round-trip ferry and speedboat services operating from Phuket to Koh Phi Phi. Boat tour operators were also allowed to increase package prices by 200 baht per person.
Operators said they were satisfied with the decision and plan to apply the new fares from April 5 onwards. The revised rates are based on fuel prices remaining below 45 baht per litre, and fares may be adjusted again if prices rise further.
Last week, ferry operators on Koh Samui and Koh Pha Ngan also announced fare increases following higher fuel costs. The fare on the Don Sak Pier to Koh Samui route rose from 180 baht to 210 baht, while the Don Sak Pier to Koh Pha Ngan route increased from 250 baht to 280 baht.
Boat operators on Bangkok’s Saen Saep Canal and Chao Phraya River also raised fares by two baht from March 30. They later announced a second increase of another two baht yesterday, April 2, with the new rate due to take effect on April 7.
Fare increases are not limited to water transport, with The Transport Company also announcing plans to raise prices. Public passenger vans and minibuses will increase fares by 0.5 baht per kilometre from April 6.
Coach bus fares will remain unchanged for now to accommodate people planning to return to their home provinces during the long Songkran holiday. Those fares will later increase by 0.5 baht per kilometre from April 20.
Amid the fuel price situation, another price adjustment was announced last night, April 2. Diesel increased by 3.5 baht, while gasoline rose by 0.7 baht.
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