Beng

Assist Thai Visa, original book, plus certificate from bank as does immigration.

Thank you !

When using an agent for yearly retirement extension,does the agent need the original bank deposit Book, or is a copy enough ? Any experiences ?

Not only villagers need to be advised. City folks too. Do not start your car engine and then stay in the same spot for 20 minutes.

As can be witnessed everyday.

I went to Khao Yai last week. I always enter from Prachinburi. I always speak in Thai to the officials. Previously they would always prod the conversation in a direction I liked. "Do you live in Thailand?" "Have you got a Thai driver's licence?" I would always get the Thai price (without asking).

This time I was immediately charged 400 Baht, the girlfriend 20 Baht. I didn't argue, try to negotiate or query the price. I knew there has been a new order. I just paid it.

I am just stating my witnessing of the policy change.

Well done Briggsy ! At least you showed them that this greed is unacceptable.

What they're doing now is really dumb from a business perspective.

Not at all. It's actually quite smart if you understand how these things work.

Different customers have different abilities to pay. Ideally, in order to maximise profit, a business would tailor its prices individually according to each customer's financial means - so those with less money are not deterred, but those with more money pay what they can afford. However, in the real world, it's simply not feasible to means test each customer in most situations.

But, where an easily applicable criteria exists that can be used to identify groups of customers who broadly share a financial status, it's simply sound business sense to use it to set different price points. Hence things like student discounts, pensioner discounts etc.

Here in Thailand, it's broadly the case that non-Thai visitors are better off than the locals - therefore it makes sense to use this fact to set different price levels and extract maximum profits.

You might find this a little callous (welcome to capitalism), but it's certainly not dumb from a business sense.

The main point about this topic is that expats that live here are no longer able to get the Thai rate. Some of the National Parks mentioned here hardly ever see a tourist (Kun Tan, Jae Son), so losing the expats does not increase revenue unless plenty of expats still go and pay the higher rate. You would also have to take into account that expats are likely to take visitors to these parks that they otherwise would never know about.

Out of curiosity I have contacted TAT in Chiang Mai (I drive past it every day, so no great inconvenience) and Chiang Mai provincial tourist office near Governors house as well as National Parks office near Regina School on Charoen Prathet rd, which are both very close to work. The boss at TAT was busy, so I made an appointment for Tuesday and the folks at National Parks office said they will try to get an answer for me as to why the policy changed. I also called Ministry of Tourism and sports and they said they will call me back. I'm not holding my breath, but you never know, someone might provide an honest explanation as to the reasoning behind the change. After all, that is what the topic is about - resident expats no longer being able to get into local parks at regular rates.

Are you serious ? If so, I pull my hat and say well done. Some government officials must be aware by now. Hope there will be answers.

Thank you.

No Charge to visit the little railway station and the tunnel.

The purpose of my OP was to create awareness that a Thai DL is no longer good for us expats to pay the normal fee at NP's.

.

As expected, the replies show that some of us don't care to pay more, while others do.

I do not mind a 100 Baht more or less, but I do mind getting ripped off.

20 years ago the NP fee was equal for anyone, then tourists had to pay up to 10 times more and now all of us (regardless of working/paying taxes) pay the tourist fee.

This shows that the attitude towards foreigners has changed from equally welcome to welcome only when pay and now to who cares about foreign residents.

Certainly not right for a country relying heavily on tourism.

I'd like to see an organized and well-publicized boycott of national parks.

Charging visitors from other countries many times more than locals is greedy wherever it's done.

And my guess is that the boycott would be effective. If no foreigners showed up, the foreigner pricing would seem even more ridiculous than it already is. A few years back the government decreed that foreigners who live here and can prove it are entitled to access to national parks at the same rate as Thais. It was still difficult sometimes to get in at that price. But, at least we had the law on our sides. I guess Little P. has seen fit to eliminate that progressive policy.

The problem is, that many tourists book trips in advance ( packages containing airfares, accomodation, trips, etc.) and are simply not aware of the situation.

Thanks for that.

Another downside to the official two-tier price policy is that it sends a message to all Thais.

If the government does it, why can't we?

Exactly,perception becomes reality.

Yes, that is exactly what the Thais will think.

They have no respect for the environment at the beach so I imagine it would be similar in the parks.

Your presumption is true.

The reason I don't visit Thai national parks anymore is not the entrance fee but my bleeding heart seeing how unawarely and disrespectfully most Thais use to treat their national heritages.

Rather like the American father who, while on vacation with his kids in Yellowstone National Park, carved his name into the wooden railing over one of the scenic vistas... Maybe the Austrian climbers who left their trash on a ledge while climbing in the Tyrol. Or the Chinese family who used a marking pen to write their names on a famous Shrine in Japan. Perhaps it's closer to the UK girls who entered the Chiang Mai temple wearing bikinis. Or maybe it was the French couple vacationing in the Maldives, and threw their empty plastic water bottles into the sea next to their bungalow. Could it be the German guy who decided that the ancient stone shrine he passed while trekking was really an outhouse? Or maybe it was .....

Fill in which ever nationality you'd like, then go and blame Thais for doing the same thing. Everybody is perfect except the Thais. Certainly YOUR countrymen would never behave like that...

I really wonder why some of you live here.You seem to dislike just about everything about Thailand and its people.

Well said. In you your last sentence I could not agree more. There is some really bitter miserable people living here. Wished the would go to the utopia they want to find. Mind you I think if they won lottery they would complain about the denomination of currency they were paid out in. Never ever happy. What a way to live life. See why the administration is try to be rid of us. They are fantastic ambassadors for foreigners (not).

I'm living here for 25 years and remember well when everyone paid the same at NP's. Then they charged Tourists more but let foreign residents with DL pay the normal fee. Now another change targeting foreigners living, working and retiring here. What' next ?

Having visited many National Parks in Thailand, I think you are using the wrong logic to justify pricing the parks the same for Thai and for foreigners. Thais should have the same right to visit the parks the same as foreigners, but if everyone paid the "Thai" price then there would not be enough money to maintain the parks and they would be rundown and not very desirable to foreigners anyway. The other side is if all Thai had to pay the "Farang" price, then most Thais could not afford to visit the park and they would become an "Elitist" enclave for only the wealthy (comparatively speaking). Dual pricing systems absolutely exist in the USA. I live in California and you can get discounts to many Attractions by having a local drivers license whereas you would have to pay full price if you don't and I do not see any difference between that and the pricing at Thai NPs.

I have a Thai fiancee and I have traveled to many national parks with her family paying the Thai price because we were all together and no Thai park ranger can out talk my fiancee or her sisters. So there are ways to work the system, but in general I just want to make sure the parks are well protected and cared for and the higher price should not be a burden for either the Thai or others to enjoy.

The 'tourist pay more' policy was introduced not that long ago, in the mid - late 90's. They were well able to upkeep the parks before that date.

We simply vote with our feet and walk away.

When we have guests we point them in the direction of a friendly travel agent who can take them to all the attractions that are overpriced for foreign visitors but nevertheless packaged together are of a reasonable price.

We tell them we will not be going and why and it is their choice to go or not.

Fair enough.

Not this old moan yet again!

That said, the photo in the OP's post indicates, on the surface at least, that discrimination is not all one way: in Thai, on the left, the charge for a 'four-wheeled motor vehicle' is 100 baht. The charge for what is stated on the right in English simply as 'vehicles' is, however, only 30 baht.

I KNOW, DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE.

This is not unique to Thailand, many countries outside the Western world have this policy. India, Costa Rica, the list goes on. Don't see it as a Thai problem.

It is done to the tourists in Hawaii as well.

I find it hard to believe that a non native resident of Hawaii, one with a local issued state ID, is charged more based on their skin color and race.

No one really has a problem with residents v tourist prices for attractions. The problem is when the resident is defined by skin color alone (my Khmer ex who couldnt speak one word of Thai was routinely given the Thai price) not based on residency but based on race.

The large majority of resident expats do NOT contribute to the upkeep nor maintenance of the parks. Why should we get to pay as little for entry as those who do?

Granted, the sign shouldn't read "Correct Skin Color Required," but with just a little bit of thought, we really do understand what is trying to be done here... unless one is really paranoid that the Thais are out to fleece foreigners. Personally, I don't think that's the case. If we want to play, we need to pay. Either though taxes or through higher entry fees.

Foreigners with work permit pay taxes here plus the higher fee.

What happens when families of Thai and non Thai try to enter national parks? Our son is 3 so no Thai ID. He looks foreign so what do they charge? How do they determine Thai and foreign?

Interesting question. Anyone ?

Warorot market or slighty across from Prince Royal church. Plenty there.

If I really want to go somewhere, I don't mind if it costs me 100 baht. I have been to parks where they didn't charge extra but I don't expect that to happen every time. If you don't want to pay, simply don't go to National Parks. One less tourist is no big deal as the parks are overcrowded during the holidays anyway.

Read the OP again.

This is not unique to Thailand, many countries outside the Western world have this policy. India, Costa Rica, the list goes on. Don't see it as a Thai problem.

It is done to the tourists in Hawaii as well.

Interesting, as Hawaii is US territory, Not right so.

I'm not sure, but isn't this forum called THAIVISA?

Pointing out other countries who practice discrimination serves what purpose on a THAI based forum?

That its okay?

kaorop post 6

Bet your in favour of that single gateway idea then to kill off the net and what people can see and say here in Thaland

Right, but this is off topic.

I hate this kind of discrimination too. It's not about the 80 Baht more, its about the feeling to be cheated.

It's also funny that the authorities are aware of the fact that the foreigners feel bad. Therefore they write the Thai prices with Thai numbers and not with Arabic ones because they think that we cannot read it.

You are exactly right, shame on them. When PM Prayut took power, he did a lot of good things. But after putting up the N,P. fees for foreigners, coming up with the alcoholic drink sales restrictions and the idea of censoring/restricting the internet, I have serious doubts about his abilities.

This is not unique to Thailand, many countries outside the Western world have this policy. India, Costa Rica, the list goes on. Don't see it as a Thai problem.

But it still is a problem and unjust.

Sorry, the N.P. name is Khun Tan, not Khun Tha. Its where the railway tunnel is.

We must mean different routes.. I mean the 1284 from the mae wang 1013.. That brings you out (in doi inthanon nat park admittedly) on the 1009 in baan khuan klang at the royal project agriculture bit..

Just had a look at Google maps. Looks like it is the 1013/1284. It's a new built concrete road and then asphalt downhill. You come out at the campgrounds/guesthouses overlooking the agriculture village.

Yes, there is also checkpoint two on the way further up to Doi Inthanon, but this you can pass without any charge if you turn immediately to the left afterwards towards Mae Hong Son (1192). The peek itself is a no go without ticket.

Thanks for that. Can anyone else confirm this ?

Can anyone confirm this ??

Went to Khun Tha National Park (app. 70 km east of Chiang Mai) today.

When arriving at the entrance, I was asked to pay a 100 Baht admission fee.

As Thais pay only 20 Baht, I pointed this out and showed them my Thai driver's licence, which they didn't accept.

The staff was very friendly and showed me a written order from the ministry of tourism to charge all foreigners 100 baht. They tried to save face and pointed out, that the Chae Son N.P. (not far away) and some others even charge 200 Baht, while Thais pay 40.

At 11:00 o'clock and being the first customer there today, I suggested that they take my 20 Baht, or get nothing.

They apologised and said that they couldn't do this even though they know that Thais pay the same as other people when visiting similar places in Europe and the US.

After trying with them in Thai language for about 20 minutes without success, I just left and will not visit a Thai N.P. anymore, unless this stupid and racist policy will change.

I like to encourage all foreigners to stay away from those places with a dual price policy, as my single refusal to pay 5 times more than Thais is simply not enough to get this thought over again by the authorities.