Tourism ministry dual pricing proposal for hotel rates

[webfact]

 

By Editor

 

The Bangkok Post has reported that the tourism ministry plans to ask hotel operators to implement a dual-tariff structure under which foreign visitors may be charged rates similar to pre-pandemic days while locals may continue to enjoy discounted rates.

 

Foreign tourists may soon find Thailand a more expensive destination than in the past two years with the country now planning to raise hotel rates to pre-pandemic levels to support a faster recovery of the industry.

 

The report describes the tourism ministry plans to ask hotel operators to implement such a dual-tariff structure, quoting Traisuree Taisaranakul, A Deputy Government Spokesperson. 

 

“This is to maintain our standards of rates and services for foreign tourists, which affects the perception of country’s tourism brand,” Ms Traisuree said. “Rates that have been reduced during Covid-19 will be maintained for Thais to sustain the momentum of domestic tourism.” 

 

Hotels in tourism hotspots continue to offer huge discounts to draw back visitors after the pandemic pushed room occupancy rates to about 30%. 

 

While there was no immediate response to the proposal from hotel operators, the tourism ministry and the Tourism Authority of Thailand will soon hold talks with the Hotel Association of Thailand about the dual pricing plan, according to Ms Traisuree.   

 

While the country has scrapped all Covid-related travel restrictions, the tourism sector is still reeling from heavy losses accumulated during the pandemic. The government expects 9.3 million foreign arrivals this year, a fraction of the 40 million tourists who arrived in 2019. 

 

It was not immediately clear how the government’s new plan to attract more foreign tourists to Thailand – by raising prices and charging them more than Thais – would impact foreigners living in the kingdom.

 

Source: https://royalcoastreview.com/2022/07/tourism-ministry-dual-pricing-proposal-for-hotel-rates/

 

-- © Copyright Royal Coast Review 2022-07-07

 

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[Baron Samedi]

Discriminating against foreigners + rigging the free market economy.

If the do that, I will boycott the country and leave for another SE asian country.

I'm getting tired of that dual price BS.

<deleted>'em.

[Thaiwrath]

 

 

35 minutes ago, webfact said:

Foreign tourists may soon find Thailand a more expensive destination than in the past two years with the country now planning to raise hotel rates to pre-pandemic levels to support a faster recovery of the industry.

And they want to attract more visitors to the 'kingdom' ?

Pure genius ! ????????????.

The clowns in charge are delusional.

[Captain Monday]

Great idea, but call it a local discount. Not another racist dual pricing scheme disguised as fair  nationalism Foreign visitors are visa exempt or have tourist visas. Thais are Thais.

 

Persons with PR, Non-O(a) , work permits, and student visa, etc. should be afforded the discount tariff.

 

Thailand Elite is a program "to attract  wealthy foreigners" maybe they should pay more.

[poohy]

Well it hasnt taken them  long to truly Eff that up has it

[frankie machine]

gee, i thought they had followed the usual thai business model, and raised the prices when there are fewer or no customers.   does this mean they will put them back to normal now? 

[zzaa09]

Whatever become of free enterprise and open/free market without government say so mafia-like shake downs?

[mike1967]

That'll work then!!! After 12 years of staying in Thailand and having been back in the UK since Covid kicked in....I know where I'll be staying now. Being away from Thailand has opened many people's eyes.

[Laughing Gravy]

This 'Kermit' sure knows how to create unrest and make foreigners feel less welcome. I hope the foreign press get onto this and I can't wait for the flip flop or explanation how this is justified.

[TheFishman1]

All the dual pricing Well really attractors when I realize that they’re being discriminated against foreign holiday TT

[hellohello123]

Dual pricing!? What's that??

 

It doesn't exist... just like prostituion doesn't exist in thaiand

[bwanajohn]

Don't these guys every run out of feet to shoot

[alex8912]

Bangkok Post?  Really?  Wow.  
I thought that was worse than a swear word on here???  

[sqwakvfr]

As soon this news hits CNN International they might have to retract it? 

[Rhys]

It took that long to reinstate the policy?   Others going elsewhere.

[2009]

Good.

 

Let them shoot themselves in the foot and reveal their true nature.

 

 

[herfiehandbag]

In other news, as the effects of the Covid pandemic begin to subside, the Ministry of Tourism desperately casts around for ways to muck up the recovery...

[4MyEgo]

Why don't they just mind their own business and look at how best they can increase tourist numbers and leave the hotels to decide what they should charge, Jesus, do these clowns have to try and control everything, not that it effects me as I will have the wife book the hotel in her name (Thai).

[Ganesh108]

Next news item: Thailand will change its national flag to the Skull and Crossbones, to better represent the country's mindset.

 

If the plan goes through, I will never set foot in a Thai hotel again. Maybe Airbnbs will be the solution.

[RichardColeman]

It has never been my intention to stay in Thailand until very old age. The more they go along this crazy road, the more I'll just decide to move back to the UK earlier. Dual pricing currently does not effect me, I travel rarely with the wife and our rent is set by a lady my wife is friends with, but if this craziness rolls out to other things then its time to leave. 

[andyman57]

The shovel just gets bigger and the hole gets deeper .clueless

[2009]

Come to Thailand:

 

- Get ripped off on your hotel 

 

- Get ripped off by airport taxis

 

-Get ripped off by most other taxis in downtown areas

 

- Get ripped off to get into everything tourism attraction

 

- Get hassled in the streets and on the beach by lowlifes 

 

- See how we have polluted our part of the Earth

 

-Appreciate our casual racism

 

- Be unable to swim in our water

 

- Consume our overpriced low quality goods 

 

- Enjoy the cheap oil, MSG, and sugar in everything

 

-Risk life and limb on our roads

 

- Be robbed blind by a pack of rabid monkeys on an island

 

- Pay more for our pisswater beer than you do in your home country for a decent pint

 

-Don't worry. To make it all better we have stinky foul-mouthed hookers lined up on the streets for you. That's what you are here for 

 

- Don't forget to stroke our ego by telling us how good Thailand is

 

[harrycallahan]

Why stop at dual? They need passports to travel so they can price it - anything - based on the GDP of the customer's country. Not so good for Singaporeans, but great for Burundians. 

[ikke1959]

A premium travel destination they want a few days ago.. Now dual hotel pricing... Good forthe tourism.. If you are a foreigner you pay more than a Thai, for everything. Premium travel destination, with discrimination of all non Thais..Tourism must break down to the bottom or even deeper...and cry fool as nobody comes anymore......Stupid, or the stupidiest Government ever

[ThailandRyan]

Thailand the country who only wants well heeled tourists. Time for the peasants to rise up and take the country back.  If it wants dual pricing on hotels what's next, dual pricing for everything you purchase in 7-11 and so on.  Way to go.

 

Honestly this country must be broke.

[chang1]

1 hour ago, Captain Monday said:

Great idea, but call it a local discount. Not another racist dual pricing scheme disguised as fair  nationalism Foreign visitors are visa exempt or have tourist visas. Thais are Thais.

 

Persons with PR, Non-O(a) , work permits, and student visa, etc. should be afforded the discount tariff.

 

Thailand Elite is a program "to attract  wealthy foreigners" maybe they should pay more.

Is this for real or sarcasm?

"Great idea" - How will raising prices attract tourists?

"but call it a local discount. Not another racist dual pricing scheme disguised as fair  nationalism" - What difference does it make what you call it? it is still the same. 

"Foreign visitors are visa exempt or have tourist visas. Thais are Thais." - So why should Thais get a better deal than tourists?

"Persons with PR, Non-O(a) , work permits, and student visa, etc. should be afforded the discount tariff." - Why?

"Thailand Elite is a program "to attract  wealthy foreigners" maybe they should pay more." - So you expect wealthy people to pay a high price for their visa and then pay higher prices when they get to Thailand? 

 

Prices should be controlled by supply and demand. Right now there is far too much supply for the amount of tourists. If nothing else changes, which seems the case, then the best way to attract tourists is lower prices not higher. The cost of flights is going through the roof making long haul flights a big deterrent to travel. People will put value for money of a destination a much higher priority. I know several people who are not travelling at all just because of the flights. So jacking up prices now is just plain dumb. 

 

“This is to maintain our standards of rates and services for foreign tourists, which affects the perception of country’s tourism brand,” Ms Traisuree said. - The perception is a cheap destination with poor standards and all this will do is change the perception to an expensive destination with poor standards.

Where does the extra money go to? That doesn't get explained.

[vandeventer]

17 minutes ago, 2009 said:

Good.

 

Let them shoot themselves in the foot and reveal their true nature.

 

 

What comes next? A setup like Bali where you pay according to your country, Japan than America pay the most than Europe than Australia so on down the line. They might have stopped doing this as it's been 25 years since I been to Bali but I still remember seeing the signs with all the countries listed and their prices, it really <deleted> me off at the time.

[Swampy999]

26 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

Why don't they just mind their own business and look at how best they can increase tourist numbers and leave the hotels to decide what they should charge, Jesus, do these clowns have to try and control everything, not that it effects me as I will have the wife book the hotel in her name (Thai).

Yep, exactly what I do if I sence a rip off, I ask what the price is then later 'er indoors' does the same, then we both go and buy it at the Thai price, I always smile and say "thank you" as I pay ????????

[outsider]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

“This is to maintain our standards of rates and services for foreign tourists, which affects the perception of country’s tourism brand,” Ms Traisuree said.

This is to maintain your standards of blatant discrimination and assuming foreigners are diots, that's what it really is. What you don't realise is, you're no longer the No. 1 destination and it's a slippery slope hereon, with this level of stupidity.

[Zack61]

Further evidence that they really don’t have a clue and another fine example of government incompetence.  Brain dead oxygen thieves groping around in the dark hoping they’ll stumble onto a good idea. 
I just hope it’s not used to adopt an increased pre pandemic hotel pricing policy which I believe is where it’s headed. They could declare every hotel a national park to justify their decision.
For a country that relies heavily on tourism they are truly going out of their way to bring it to its knees.