The safety of visitors to Phuket is again in the spotlight after a tourist from Egypt claims he was struck in the face by a tuk-tuk driver wielding a walkie-talkie in a dispute over a fare.
The blow came after the tuk-tuk driver discovered that 10 people wanted to travel in the tuk-tuk for a fare he had just negotiated for six people.
High fares and the aggressive behavior of tuk-tuk drivers head the list of complaints by visitors to Phuket.
The tourist required hospital treatment for a cut to the head. The tuk-tuk driver is due to appear in court.
Tourism chiefs in Phuket have stepped up efforts to reassure visitors that Phuket is a safe destination following the death last week of Australian travel agent Michelle Smith.
Two men accused of killing Mrs Smith during a bungled bag snatch have been remanded in Phuket Prison without bail after going through reenactments of the attack.
According to figures from the office of the Phuket Police Commander, major crimes on Phuket have fallen by more than 27% year-on-year.
