Dual Pricing Reconfirmed In Thailand National Parks

[webfact]

 

By Editor

 

Regulations of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation National Park have announced dual-pricing entry fees for national parks, forest parks, botanical gardens and arboretums. Effective from 7th June.

 

The announcement shows a continuation of the long-standing dual pricing policy with foreigners being asked to pay higher fees, in this case, five times those asked of Thai people.

 

For example the cost for Thai children is 10 THB, but for non-Thais 50 THB.  For adults the fee will be 20 THB, but 100 THB for foreigners.  Thai Seniors over 60 years of age are free, whereas foreigners still pay the 100 THB fee.

 

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A common reaction to dual pricing policies from ex-pats is for them to say they will simply stay away from these attractions.  Dual pricing for long-term residents is one of the most contentious aspects of living in Thailand for many ex-pats who comment about their significant financial contributions to the Thai economy.

 

In 2020 Yuthasak Supasorn, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), said the TAT would discuss stopping dual-pricing for expatriates with the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department. 

 

Mr Yuthasak then said the move will let expats save money, allowing them to spend more as a key target to boost domestic tourism.

 

He said the agency wants to introduce an identity card for expats, helping to distinguish them from tourists so they will be charged the same price as locals.

 

“The key factor is we have to treat expats like like, without discrimination or a negative attitude towards foreigners,” he said.  However these intentions appear to have fallen on deaf ears, especially those of national park officials.

 

Dual pricing is not just a Thai phenomenon with many countries having such practices, albeit more subtle and much more restrained than Thailand’s national park policies.

 

Source: https://royalcoastreview.com/2022/06/dual-pricing-reconfirmed-in-thailand-national-parks/

 

-- © Copyright Royal Coast Review 2022-06-06

 

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[ChissBurger]

Is this as commonplace in Vietnam and Cambodia?

 

[Thechook]

If we thought of doing this in Australia we would be branded racist and face fines.  No matter where you come from even Thailand you pay the same as locals.

[scubascuba3]

"He said the agency wants to introduce an identity card for expats, helping to distinguish them from tourists so they will be charged the same price as locals"

 

Don't overcomplicate it, just ask for passport if they must

 

 

[webfact]

Entrance fees for national parks near Hua Hin – foreigners charged five times more

By  Online Reporter

 

File photo

 

The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Conservation has announced that the entrance fees to national parks in Thailand will be subject to a new pricing structure from June 7, 2022.

 

The new pricing structure sees national parks categorised into one of four groups, with fees charged according to the group.

 

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Group 1 charges Thai children 10 baht/person, Thai adults 20 baht/person, foreign children 50 baht/person, foreign adults 100 baht/person

 

Group 2 charges Thai children 20 baht/person, Thai adults 40 baht/person, foreign children 100 baht/person, foreign adults 200 baht/person.

 

Full story: https://www.huahintoday.com/hua-hin-news/entrance-fees-for-national-parks-near-hua-hin-foreigners-charged-five-times-more/

 

-- © Copyright Hua Hin Today 2022-06-06

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

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[BayArea]

1 hour ago, ChissBurger said:

Is this as commonplace in Vietnam and Cambodia?

 

https://www.expatsblog.com/news/14072010075/vietnam-is-now-axing-dual-pricing-for-its-attractions

 

Shame on Thailand!

[ThailandRyan]

Last week at Kalasin falls in Kachanaburi I was charged 10x's more than the GF who they thought was Thai. Her 30 baht, me 300 baht and then 30 baht for the car to enter.  Tried to show my Pink ID card and was pointed to a sign confirming even non Thai resident/expat ID'S not accepted anymore. If your a foreigner your a tourist in their eyes.  If you look Thai, like my GF from Myanmar they don't even blink.  It is what it is, dual pricing, and a way to make money.  Luckily the vendors selling food don't charge the same way.......

[Andylongtime]

Discrimination at its finest 

[bunnydrops]

I've been on the fence about it. On one hand it is good that they keep the price down so the average Thai can afford go and see their own parks, and the price a non Thai pays is still less than what he puts out in beer a day. But I thought the 10 times as it was in the pass was a bit steep. Would everyone be happier if the price was 10 times as high but "locals" got a 90% discount?

[Straight8]

Disgusting!

[blazes]

But does the government in fact make any money from this practice....I mean, enough to really make a difference to the nation's finances.  ( I guess I am assuming I am like most ex-pats....visiting a National Park just once in a decade.....)

[Orinoco]

1 hour ago, scubascuba3 said:

"He said the agency wants to introduce an identity card for expats, helping to distinguish them from tourists so they will be charged the same price as locals"

Don't overcomplicate it, just ask for passport if they must

That will never happen.

It's just a Red herring.

 

[RichardColeman]

OK look, I really do not mind a small price increase for tourists/foreigners, I'd be happy they did it in my own UK to let our own people in slightly cheaper for attractions.

 

BUT.

 

FIVE times the price is just ludicrous, No sane tourist seeing this 400% price gouging will enter the park - I certainly wont go. If they added on say 25% taking a ticket to 125 from 100, I'd be ok - but 500 just screams scam.

 

Wonder what spin the TAT will put on it. Something about just attracting rich Indians pending

[Thunglom]

1 hour ago, Thechook said:

If we thought of doing this in Australia we would be branded racist and face fines.  No matter where you come from even Thailand you pay the same as locals.

Australia has some of the best management of national parks and Thailand just continues to ignore this.

[cnx101]

2 hours ago, ChissBurger said:

Is this as commonplace in Vietnam and Cambodia?

 

No

[mogandave]

2 hours ago, Thechook said:

If we thought of doing this in Australia we would be branded racist and face fines.  No matter where you come from even Thailand you pay the same as locals.

Dual pricing is routine in the US. 

[Mangkhut]

54 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

Last week at Kalasin falls in Kachanaburi I was charged 10x's more than the GF who they thought was Thai. Her 30 baht, me 300 baht and then 30 baht for the car to enter.  Tried to show my Pink ID card and was pointed to a sign confirming even non Thai resident/expat ID'S not accepted anymore. If your a foreigner your a tourist in their eyes.  If you look Thai, like my GF from Myanmar they don't even blink.  It is what it is, dual pricing, and a way to make money.  Luckily the vendors selling food don't charge the same way.......

I Paid 500 baht and GF 50 baht at the national park Phu Thap Boek in Lowi/Perchabun a few years back.  
 

So we actually paid 10 times more than a thai national…???? Not twice as much

[4MyEgo]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

A common reaction to dual pricing policies from ex-pats is for them to say they will simply stay away from these attractions.  Dual pricing for long-term residents is one of the most contentious aspects of living in Thailand for many ex-pats who comment about their significant financial contributions to the Thai economy.

Not a big deal for me, have not gone to one and will never go to one while dual pricing remains in place.

 

Dual pricing is only for those who want to pay for it, a bit like paying an agent 20,000 baht for those who don't have the funds to do their extensions in my opinion, i.e. bribing their way to stay here only adds fuel to the already corrupt system to serve their purpose of staying here, i.e. you get what you pay for.

 

I contribute to the Thai society by living here, but that is what I get for living here, that said, it's part and parcel of staying anywhere in the world, you get what you pay for, so I don't expect any special treatment, suffice to say I won't spit the dummy over dual pricing, I simply stay away from it.

[Classic Ray]

I hate dual pricing, especially when a local in a Mercedes is charged 50 baht and I in my clunker am asked for 500.

 

But the answer is simple, my family don’t patronize anywhere that does this, so they don’t make anything at all. 

[cheapcanuck]

Simple fix. If your a foreigner stop visiting dual price venues. When revenue drops the greedy venues will drop there prices.

[BritManToo]

Huay Tung Tao lake in Chiang Mai.

My Thai family pay 20bht each, I pay nothing because I'm over 60 (foreigners under 60 pay 50bht).

That's the sort of dual pricing I like.

[ikke1959]

They will do everything to destroy tourism... Last year they announced to stop double pricing. nowthey announce it that foreigners need to pay 5 times more than a Thai. I feel I should stop pay taxes here as there are  no advantages for us anymore.. And in a other articl ethey dare to write how good it is to retire in Thailand ...... Start with treat people the same before you want to attrack more foreigners....It is discrimination although they say it is not... Discrimination on color of skin and nationality... Human Rights should step in 

[ThailandRyan]

17 minutes ago, mogandave said:

Dual pricing is routine in the US. 

No it's not.  Non resident pricing for Disneyland and some places like it have always been done as locals go more often, but you do not pay more to go to a museum or national park....nice try.

[mrfill]

Just needs a bit of a PR update really.

Charge everybody 100Bt and offer a generous 80% discount for Thai nationals and anyone over 70 year olds who bring their grandparents with them.

[TheFishman1]

They don’t want us here they just want our money here no surprises this dual  pricing on public parks Has been around as long as I can remember just stop going to places that are dual prices the first time I ever came here I got a haircut and on the wall was a sign years ago Haiir Cut 30 bht after I got my haircut he told me I needed to pay 60 bht my reply was I’ll never come back here TiT

[EVENKEEL]

Yes of course it's wrong but are you going to let a few baht stop you from enjoyment? Hopefully if you have families here you don't deny them just because you'll be paying a bit too much.

[Phil1975]

Pure institutionalized racism, pity its not posted all over the MSM as opposed to the fashion flu BS 0r the new monkey <deleted> BS  

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

The announcement shows a continuation of the long-standing dual pricing policy with foreigners being asked to pay higher fees, in this case, five times those asked of Thai people.

Well they put me off returning to a national park years ago when they tried to charge 10X the entrance fee to Erewan waterfalls.

Then it was 40 baht for Thais and 400 for me.
I guess they can live with the locals and green tourists.

 

[Spilornis]

India and Sri Lanka have foreigner pricing that is ten to twenty times that of a local for entry to monuments and museums.

You get used to it but the downside is that because most monuments are similarly priced you tend not to go to the "secondary" sites for a quick look.

Would be much better if you could buy a 30 day pass that assumed one monument every two days and it gave you unlimited entry.

Similarly in Thailand expats could buy an annual "park pass" that assumed say one entry per month

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

He said the agency wants to introduce an identity card for expats, helping to distinguish them from tourists so they will be charged the same price as locals.

So stop talking about it and do it.