Dual Pricing in Thai Tourism: Economic Necessity or Hidden Bias?

[Albo]

7 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

My daughter is a British citizen and pays the foreign student price in the UK. 

 

That's UK and not relevant. My guess is she pays the same amount of money to enter the parks, etc

 

 

Unless it's a residency issue that she needs to establish over period of time, perhaps she was admitted as a foreign student and therefore the bar might have been a bit lower for her.

 

No idea, but you would know why that has happened

[roo860]

18 minutes ago, grain said:

I just don't pay these dual prices, don't go to their grubby national parks full of plastic bags and mangy dogs, and I've seen enough gaudy Thai temples to last me half a dozen lifetimes. 

Well said, the parks are <deleted> holes.

[Celsius]

I hate parks as it's full of happy people 

[Neeranam]

5 minutes ago, Albo said:

That's UK and not relevant. My guess is she pays the same amount of money to enter the parks, etc

Yes, and so do I as I jumped through many hoops to get Thai citizenship too. If foreigners work here, there is a simple path to getting citizenship but in reality many can't be arsed, and don't even make the effort to learn the language. 

[lordgrinz]

2 minutes ago, Celsius said:

I hate parks as it's full of happy people 

 

I just hate people (All of them), so I don't go to parks unless my wife drags me there 🤪

[Neeranam]

4 minutes ago, lordgrinz said:

 

I just hate people (All of them), so I don't go to parks unless my wife drags me there 🤪

I'd tell my wife to go by herself, I don't want to go.

[Neeranam]

24 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

With the daily mass shootings there I doubt many Muslims would actually want to risk it in your country.

i wouldn’t feel safe there.

US culture is better -  and locals get discount at Disney World. The OAPs that retire here have nothing better to moan about than locals getting discount they don't get, maybe adds up to $10 a year. They forget that as a Thai I need to invest $500,000 to get a long-term retirement visa -  they pay 2000 baht, or many I know do it illegally for $500 through an agent.

[Neeranam]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Exploring a more balanced pricing strategy that respects both local and global visitors might enhance Thailand's tourist appeal and mitigate feelings of exclusion.

Do they want Thailand to become woke? 

 Tourists don't care, it's the long-term expats that make all the fuss. 

 

[mdr224]

12 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

Do they want Thailand to become woke? 

 Tourists don't care, it's the long-term expats that make all the fuss. 

 

If all foreigners would to be aware, and not participate, thailand would have no choice but to change

[quake]

1 hour ago, grain said:

I just don't pay these dual prices, don't go to their grubby national parks full of plastic bags and mangy dogs, and I've seen enough gaudy Thai temples to last me half a dozen lifetimes. 

 

Hear Hear. 

[mran66]

As long as this practice exists, no need to use words to describe thai thinking and culture. It's simply a disgrace. 

 

But simple to avoid luckily. 

[Guderian]

In my experience, there's plenty of things worth seeing and doing in the country that are either free or charge everybody the same. Just avoid the government-owned or -run scams.

[Thumbs]

Its not the fact that national parks charge extra, these are funded by the taxpayer so visiting tourists expect to be charged extra (not 00’s of percent). The problem i have is that private attractions think they have the right to do the same and fleece foreigners no matter if they live here or are just visiting, the signs purposely hide the fact they are extorting non Thai citizens in order to prevent heated disputes in front of other visitors. Tourism authority Thailand are well aware of what’s happening but do nothing, didn’t have much sympathy for these dual pricing attractions during covid karma is a bitch

[Albo]

1 hour ago, roo860 said:

Well said, the parks are <deleted> holes.

 

Not the one I camp in

[Albo]

6 minutes ago, Thumbs said:

Its not the fact that national parks charge extra, these are funded by the taxpayer so visiting tourists expect to be charged extra (not 00’s of percent). The problem i have is that private attractions think they have the right to do the same and fleece foreigners no matter if they live here or are just visiting, the signs purposely hide the fact they are extorting non Thai citizens in order to prevent heated disputes in front of other visitors. Tourism authority Thailand are well aware of what’s happening but do nothing, didn’t have much sympathy for these dual pricing attractions during covid karma is a bitch

 

I agree about dual pricing at tourist attractions (which I never go). Up to them to boycott

[Noah K]

You don't charge foreigners more, you charge everyone the same price, and give locals a discount. I know it's the same thing, but it is an easier pill to swallow. Disney has been doing it for decades 

[luangtom52]

Money-wise, I know most foreign residents and visitors to Thailand can afford the two-tier pricing and higher taxes. But, on the world stage, I have yet to see Western nations charging inflated prices or taxes for foreign residents or visitors. I no longer travel due to health issues, but know in the past that there were times when it did bother me. Flaunting it by gate-keepers or merchants was upsetting. They especially disliked it when I spoke to them in their native tongue and questioned them. I resided there for years and still have a house there in my wife's name. She returns for stays, but is not nailed with the double-tier until they find out she is an American citizen. Then, her anger usually kicks in and words are exchanged. That is just my two-cents....

[Albo]

57 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

US culture is better -  and locals get discount at Disney World. The OAPs that retire here have nothing better to moan about than locals getting discount they don't get, maybe adds up to $10 a year. They forget that as a Thai I need to invest $500,000 to get a long-term retirement visa -  they pay 2000 baht, or many I know do it illegally for $500 through an agent.

 

My annual parks fees including paying for my wife add up to nearly 10,000 baht a year

[Espanol]

Dual pricing, if any, should not be for Thais and foreigners, but for residents and tourists.

[Albo]

1 hour ago, Neeranam said:

Yes, and so do I as I jumped through many hoops to get Thai citizenship too. If foreigners work here, there is a simple path to getting citizenship but in reality many can't be arsed, and don't even make the effort to learn the language. 

 

The path isn't  simple in fact it's pretty impossible and they like it that way. 

 

If you're not working for probably 8 years and making over 40,000 during all of it. You might have had some sort of trade which allowed you a reasonable salary and employment but most are here teaching. I talked for 10 years as a second career. I didn't make over 40K until my third year. When I left I was making 85 including my bonus. I would have had to have stayed on who knows how many years in order to be employed at the time of my application review. This among a myriad of other issues. Sorry, disingenuous post

 

Citizenship here really isn't even worth it. Although I am getting very fed up with having to apply for my annual extension to the point of thinking about leaving again

[G_Money]

1 hour ago, Albo said:

 

Sure, I'll take it. 100k

 

Thai terms ok?

100k to enter a park?

 

 thought the difference between Thai and farang was about 200 baht for park entrance.

 

You most likely earn more than any Thai using the park so it all balances out.

 

Unless you decided to be an English teacher.  A popular choice for many escaping their homeland to “live the dream  (nightmare)” in Thailand.

[Albo]

Just now, G_Money said:

100k to enter a park?

 

 thought the difference between Thai and farang was about 200 baht for park entrance.

 

You most likely earn more than any Thai using the park so it all balances out.

 

Unless you decided to be an English teacher.  A popular choice for many escaping their homeland to “live the dream  (nightmare)” in Thailand.

 

No, I just want the 100k "'loan"" 😉🙏

 

earning more than the typical time isn't a valid reason.

 

As a second career I taught at some very respectable schools here in Bangkok over 10 years. I left with a salary of 85k pm. It is what you make of it

[wensiensheng]

3 hours ago, lordblackader said:

The problem with the article isn't that tourists are charged more; it's that people living and working in Thailand and paying taxes have to pay up to 900% more. Try charging a Thai living in a Western country who is paying income tax and who has the local equivalent of Social Security 900% more to enter a park - all hell would break loose, and you'd never hear the end of how racist and discriminatory it was. 

Ever tried entering Singapore Gardens on the Bay as a foreigner residing in the country? Discounts are for nationals only.
 

Nobody is premium pricing foreigners, everybody is discounting for domestic nationals.

 

or so they say 🤔

[G_Money]

Many states in America due the same 

 

Residents of the state are charged less than non residents in state parks .

 

Get over it.

[lanng khao]

1 hour ago, Neeranam said:

Yes, and so do I as I jumped through many hoops to get Thai citizenship too. If foreigners work here, there is a simple path to getting citizenship but in reality many can't be arsed, and don't even make the effort to learn the language. 

Peang pro wa pom pen kon ferang chai mai.  🙏

[terryofcrete]

2 hours ago, MalcolmB said:

The only person who notices is you.

 

The higher prices does have the affect of you don’t get all the cheap Charlie riff raff in these places which is nice.

A bit like a bar or restaurant with higher prices. It keeps the scum out.

Basil Fawlty is alive and well...no riff raff aloud...so you're barred...lol

[Jonathan Swift]

I know there are a lot of complaints about this, as to me, I have always accepted it as a built in part of this culture. I think the Thais are entitled to make their living, there are enough wonderful and enjoyable things here that those prices don't affect or bother me in the least. I've been here 11 years and there are so many cheap or free things to do that I don't even encounter any of the farang prices. I'm not going to give anyone advice because at 67 years I know better. But I think you can choose whether to get your underwear in a bunch or just accept the status quo and enjoy life. At some point when the tourism minister decides that this hurts tourism something might be done, but it's more likely that they would consider this a valuable revenue stream

[lordgrinz]

4 minutes ago, wensiensheng said:

Ever tried entering Singapore Gardens on the Bay as a foreigner residing in the country? Discounts are for nationals only.

 

Is it 750%-1000% more than the local cost? I think not.

[G_Money]

4 minutes ago, Albo said:

 

No, I just want the 100k "'loan"" 😉🙏

 

earning more than the typical time isn't a valid reason.

 

As a second career I taught at some very respectable schools here in Bangkok over 10 years. I left with a salary of 85k pm. It is what you make of it

“earning more than the typical time isn't a valid reason.”

 

You lost me with that one.

 

Sad state of affairs not having 100k to your name.

 

Are you a permanent camper? AKA homeless?

[MalcolmB]

3 minutes ago, lanng khao said:

Peang pro wa pom pen kon ferang chai mai.  🙏

No, because you are not Thai.

Chinese, Indians, Arabs and blacks are charged the same as farang