Travel Thailand Launches E-Ticket System in Marine Parks to Boost Revenue

[snoop1130]

Photo courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) in Thailand will unveil a new e-ticket system on 15 October across six key marine national parks, ushering in this year's tourist season. This initiative seeks to enhance transparency in entrance fee collection, aiming to increase park revenue by 10%.

 

During a press conference, Director-General Attapol Charoenchansa addressed longstanding corruption concerns within the ticketing process. Following a trial run since 2023 plagued by usability issues, the revamped system promises user-friendliness even in remote areas. Initially available in select marine parks, the programme has plans for expansion to the top national parks.

 

The revenue from entrance fees significantly supports forest conservation and tourism sustainability. Currently, income distribution designates 5% to local administrative organisations, 20% to individual park management, 60% to conservation, and 15% reserves for emergencies.

 

 

 

Between October 1 and April 20, Thai national parks recorded a visitor increase of 2.36%, contributing to a 2.6% rise in revenue totalling 1.55 billion baht. Notably, marine parks made up almost 66% of these earnings, with Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park leading at 450 million baht.

 

The e-ticket system aims to curb revenue losses and corruption. Attapol highlighted the importance of this income for their conservation mission and sustainable tourism advocacy. Future ambitions include using additional revenue to support communities within forest zones.

 

The new e-ticket roll-out will commence with marine parks such as Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi (Krabi), Ao Phang Nga (Phang Nga), and others, marking a significant step forward in Thailand’s commitment to preserving its natural treasures.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-04-29

 

 

[Peabody]

3 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Currently, income distribution designates 5% to local administrative organisations, 20% to individual park management, 60% to conservation, and 15% reserves for emergencies.

Love to see an accounting of these funds over the last decade or two!

[stevenl]

At the moment for phi phi, customers pay 200 baht and get a ticket for that. What's not transparent about that?

[jcmj]

Of course they will give this a shot and it would be nice if they actually spent the money as spoken about. I imagine if they could get more foreigners to buy a ticket their income would at least triple, or they could make it the same price and get more tourists doing this. That’s even a small figure as many places charge much more than triple for the price of a foreigner. Good luck. You got some work to do. 

[Thingamabob]

Tourism up or tourism down ? Conflicting reports/headlines all over the media.

[Guderian]

Will there still be double-pricing?

[petermik]

26 minutes ago, Guderian said:

Will there still be double-pricing?

Definitely.......

[kiwikeith]

36 minutes ago, Guderian said:

Will there still be double-pricing?

 

36 minutes ago, Guderian said:

Will there still be double-pricing?

Of course

[NoDisplayName]

Disney did away with E-tickets for their theme parks back in the 80's.

 

Unless these marine parks have 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea submarine rides, it won't be worth it.

 

 

 

 

[watchcat]

50 minutes ago, Guderian said:

Will there still be double-pricing?

 

Of course there will be, this is thaiand and they dont like aliens (part fom their rmoney)

[KannikaP]

18 minutes ago, watchcat said:

 

Of course there will be, this is thaiand and they dont like aliens (part fom their rmoney)

This is where one letter in the English language can make all the difference

 

...don't like aliens APART from their money, but do like them to PART from it.

[kwilco]

How long does a ticket last?

[2long]

17 hours ago, stevenl said:

At the moment for phi phi, customers pay 200 baht and get a ticket for that. What's not transparent about that?

Maybe some cash payments are 'mislaid' 😉

 

I know that at The Similans a passport number is required for a ticket, but that some dive centres 'navigate the system' with fake details in order to buy tickets in advance of having customers, especially at peak times before the quota is reached.

[Spilornis]

In India where the prices to national monuments and museums is around ten times the price of local entry the foreigner tickets are highly regulated and tracked to avoid re-use. The usual means is electronic scanning of a QR code.

FYI the usual admission charge for a foreigner is around 200 baht  with the Taj Mahal being 400 baht.

My main gripe is that it is the same price (200 baht) for the "lesser" places which means you quite often give them a miss.

A weekly ticket for say 1000 baht would be great but imagine the fraud. (Then again some countries mange tickets like this with potos on the tickets etc

[stevenl]

4 hours ago, 2long said:

Maybe some cash payments are 'mislaid' 😉

 

I know that at The Similans a passport number is required for a ticket, but that some dive centres 'navigate the system' with fake details in order to buy tickets in advance of having customers, especially at peak times before the quota is reached.

Easy to verify since the tickets are issued. So they know exactly how many tickets have been issued. 

Maybe some will pay half and keep half without ticket, but i don't see how an e-ticket would prevent that.