Expats sought to help Thailand’s tourism industry in its hour of need, end to dual pricing mooted

 

FILE PHOTO: Reuters

 

Thailand's tourism chiefs are turning to expatriates working in Thailand and foreigners living in the country to save Thai tourism in its hour of need. 

 

The tourism crisis in Thailand has been likened to the 1997 financial crash.

 

Now "two million" expats are being encouraged to travel more in order to help boost domestic tourism and officials attempt to come up with a raft of measures to lift the tourism doom and gloom caused by the pandemic. 

 

TAT governor Yuthasak  Suphasorn revealed to Thai Rath that his organisation will be meeting with Pipat Ratchakitprakarn, the tourism minister, and a host of other interested parties tomorrow. 

 

He described the crisis meeting as a concerted approach and a new vision for tourism in Thailand, post pandemic. 

 

He said that everyone in the industry was suffering and a clear, brand new vision was needed going forward. 

 

Yuthasak said that the 1997 Asian financial crisis (that had its roots in Thailand) was a disaster for the banks. Now 2020 has been a disaster for tourism. 

 

He is putting some plans on the table for tomorrow's meeting including offering free Thursdays at hotels and working with the finance ministry on 40-60% off for trips. 

 

Measures would be announced in detail later this month.

 

He intends to target three groups - 12 million Thais who in normal years would go abroad, the seminar and meeting fraternity, and the "two million expatriates" who work and live and have families in Thailand. 

 

To encourage the Thai market he is planning on utilizing the appeal of Thai celebs Weir Sukollawat and Bella Ranee for promotional material. 

 

Pipat echoed the need to get expats on board in saving the country as part of the "Explore the Unseen Thailand" promotion. 

 

He noted that expats love visiting new places and exploring the Thai way of life and are prepared to take in new destinations.

 

FILE PHOTO: Reuters

 

His idea is to target the high number of foreigners living in Bangkok and the eastern seaboard in particular. 

 

Meanwhile, Pipat has also mooted plans to end dual pricing of foreigners at some hotels in the country, ensuring that expats are charged the same as locals when booking accommodation.

 

The news comes after TAT’s Deputy Governor for Marketing Communications, Mr Tanes Petsuwan, also called for an end of two tier pricing in Thailand.

 

Speaking at the Foreign Correspondents Club earlier this month, when asked by popular blogger Richard Barrow, Mr Tanes said that “it does not make sense” to charge foreigners more than Thais.

 

Mr Tanes added that while the country is waiting for the return of tourists it “is a very good time for Thailand to reform the tourism industry structure”.

 

“What we did wrong [in the past] we must make it right this time”, he added.

 

The practice of two tier pricing in Thailand sees foreigners, even expats who live and pay tax in Thailand, forced to pay much more than Thais to enter places such as national parks, museums and historical sites. 

 

The subject of two tier pricing has also recently been brought to the fore by the 2PriceThailand online movement, spearheaded by blogger Richard Barrow.

 

The movement aims to publicise places that implement a two tier pricing policy against foreigners in Thailand. 

 

2PriceThailand can be followed on Facebook and Twitter where expats are encouraged to share their experiences of being on the receiving end of dual pricing in Thailand.

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-08-04

 

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555....555 now they want/need us and came back begging......, all good no problem but we have a couple requests such as : No More dual pricing at ANY facilities, that includes hotels, restaurants, water parks, natural parks and so forth and since our purchasing power has been dropping on a daily basis due to baht appreciation, once and for all just depreciate the damn baht to allow us to spend some more money

We might well be interested if Immigration didn't make life so hard for us expats . I would like to travel around the country but they insist on knowing where we are all the time and with all the reports they want from us i just go to the supermarket .

24 minutes ago, webfact said:

“What we did wrong [in the past] we must make it right this time”, he added.

Someone should tell him there is a very long list to start work on.

I do find it amusing that we have been slagged off chronically through the Covid drama, but are now being looked to as the potential saviours.

https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/tourism/minister-encourages-thai-hotels-to-stop-price-gouging-expats

 

Minister Phiphat says the Tourism Authority of Thailand will continue to work with hoteliers and travel associations to “ensure expats will receive the same hotel rates as locals”. But he admitted that his Ministry is unable to stop dual pricing in the near future as the issue falls under different ministries.

 

on top of that they blamed us for importing covid19

overpriced accommodations  & ongoing misinformation about foreigners being ‘responsible’ for bringing Covid 19  into the country.

 

and they are asking for our help,  that's the joke of the week 555

Perhaps farang might be more interested in spending their dollars while traveling if, for example, restaurants didnt have policies refusing to serve said farang

34 minutes ago, webfact said:

“What we did wrong [in the past] we must make it right this time”, he added.

Now you want our help Tanes.... Should have been more accommodating towards us in the past.

No all as you plonkers were interested in was Chinese tourists, stuff the farangs.

14 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand's tourism chiefs are turning to expatriates working in Thailand and foreigners living in the country to save Thai tourism in its hour of need.

 

Certainly. Be my pleasure.

 

But first a little attitude adjustment . If the relevant authorities would just kindly lie down and spread its legs I will gladly administer a light tap to the parts needing adjustment then we can holiday.

 

Now hold still while I slip on my Dr.Martens.

 

 

No, thank you.

 

When Thailand was doing well my "help" wasn't needed nor wanted, and I instead was ripped off and overcharged and "farang'ed" at every turn. There really is now no reason for me to rush to Thailand's "rescue". 

 

I have always traveled in Thailand and will continue doing so. But solely at MY pleasure and at MY discretion -- and not because Thailand all of a sudden pleads for my "help" and begs to be "rescued".

 

And frankly, ending double pricing only at "some hotels" simply isn't enticing enough. You've really got to do better than that, Thailand.  

Sample hotel price now vs high season in November.

 

when I see this kind of <deleted>...I stay home.

 

Spend every dollar like it’s a vote.

 

High Season This November 

 

 

Current “low season” price

54 minutes ago, webfact said:

Mr Tanes added that while the country is waiting for the return of tourists it “is a very good time for Thailand to reform the tourism industry structure”.

 

“What we did wrong [in the past] we must make it right this time”, he added.

 

The practice of two tier pricing in Thailand sees foreigners, even expats who live and pay tax in Thailand, forced to pay much more than Thais to enter places such as national parks, museums and historical sites. 

The most sensible and positive words I have heard for a long time from a TAT spokesperson. I will hold my pessimism for a while.

Off topic video removed:

 

 

So..........where's the stimulus package to accommodate expats, time to free up a bit of swill from the trough! Oink, Oink! Or better still, get on your knees and beg!

 

 

12 months ago they suddenly decided to enforce the TM30, forcing expats to take Monday off work to "report being home" if they went away for the weekend under the threat of visas not being renewed if we failed to comply. The same weekend away when we were paying 10x the amount to get into a national park, charged extra to stay at hotels (if you walked in), double for water parks etc.

 

Now, they want us to help them in their hour of need.

 

????

21 minutes ago, colinneil said:

No all as you plonkers were interested in was Chinese tourists, stuff the farangs.

Only yesterday

 

Treated like <deleted> for years and now they want our help.

They will get <deleted> all from me.

1 hour ago, webfact said:

 

Thailand's tourism chiefs are turning to expatriates working in Thailand and foreigners living in the country to save Thai tourism in its hour of need

I trust he's cleared all this with A-nut-in ..

Like the mighty lion asking the lamb to help it forage for food... i'm even surprised that they have gone that far what with loss of face and and all and "this is my country, not yours" statements we been hearing for like decades now...

49 minutes ago, Mavideol said:

555....555 now they want/need us and came back begging......, all good no problem but we have a couple requests such as : No More dual pricing at ANY facilities, that includes hotels, restaurants, water parks, natural parks and so forth and since our purchasing power has been dropping on a daily basis due to baht appreciation, once and for all just depreciate the damn baht to allow us to spend some more money

 

Don't feel too important with your requests. This is just until the real tourists - Chinese come back and start pouring billions in the Thai economy.

 

Notice the no sarcasm smiley before commenting.

 

 

My wife recently told me that the subsidies hotels are getting now so they can offer discounts are only available if the hotel guests are Thai.  I don't know if this is true, but if it is, then this in itself is de facto dual pricing. 

We have been living and/or working through the pandemic like our Thai neighbors, but we're supposed to support the Thai tourism industry by happily being gouged?  Not a very appealing appeal.

Not a chance will I be helping out until most of the things mentioned above are sorted. I won't hold my breath.

how  about HALF price, jesus  that would  have them in a  quandry

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Thailand's tourism chiefs are turning to expatriates working in Thailand and foreigners living in the country to save Thai tourism in its hour of need. 

get stuffed!

1 hour ago, webfact said:

at some

so a load of cack as usual

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Expats sought to help Thailand’s tourism industry in its hour of need, end to dual pricing mooted

I remember a good friend of mine went to immigration to renew his work permit. They kindly informed him that he didn't do his TM30 (this is when the whole issue was brought in) and he had to pay a fine. Not only did he have to pay a fine, he also had to wait for hours to hand over the money. He's been here over 10 years, married with a kid and working and paying taxes. He was furious and decided to travel to places like Vietnam, etc, a few times instead of weekends at the beaches here. 

 

I also remember the meeting with immigration at the FCCT forum. They simply didn't have any good answers for why they were trying to enforce this ridiculous law. I remember one officer smugly replied, "don't travel, then" when asked how people could find time to do the TM30 on a Monday after a weekend away to Pattaya, etc, when they have jobs and responsibilities. It felt like a complete abuse of their authority and just one abhorrent cash grab.

 

Now, I'm not the sort of person who isn't going to travel because I wanna vote with my money. If I wanna go on holiday or have a weekend away, I will. But asking me to travel to help them? No chance. I'd have quite happily done it had they just left me alone. I wasn't looking for any favours or special privileges. I just wanted some basic decency to be shown and not be treated as a criminal. 

 

I have sympathy for people who work in the tourist industry. I have absolutely zero for Thailand's tourism chiefs. Som nam na. 

 

 

 

 

I will happily embrace the request and travel even more than I have recently.  Roads are empty and hotels are a bargain and u dont need much brains to avoid  hotels with dual pricing .. But 10 times the rate at National  Parks is simply too much ! We simply dont go in... and that must serve to shorten any vacation. Reform Park prices please !

I have been waiting for the virus to end.  When it does I am thinking of just leaving, after twelve years.  Leaving house and properties which can't be sold for a fair price.  Thailand can help itself  they burned the bridge to my bank account.

The whole world is suffering because of the Chinese. Screw the Chinese government and don't let those people back in

TM 28 abd 30s have been reformed , have they not ? Isnt that a long term result of the FCCT Forum ? Isnt that the government acting ? As far as Im concerned it worked and a big " well done" to all involved.  Lets move on shall we ...

Quote

Now "two million" expats are being encouraged to travel more in order to help boost domestic tourism

 

So sorry, cannot. Too many TM30 to be written. Or was it 28? Or fiftysomething?