On 1/9/2026 at 8:54 AM, Freddy42OZ said:

Can we please put this nonsense to rest. Who cares if you have to pay a little extra. Extra charges are common all over the world.

United States

Example attractions: Major National Parks (Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, etc.)
Non-residents: Recently introduced $100 surcharge on top of standard fees; annual pass for foreigners can be ~$250 vs ~$80 (pre-surcharge)

France (cultural institutions)

Example: Louvre Museum (Paris)
EU/EEA visitors: lower standard rate (~€22)
Non-EU visitors: higher (~€32) starting 2026
~€10 extra for non-EU visitors.

(Similar proposed differential pricing at Versailles and other French monuments.)


Egypt

Example attractions: Pyramids of Giza, Egyptian Museum
Fee difference: Foreign visitors often pay significantly higher than locals. Specific official published figures vary by site, but tourists can pay several times more than Egyptian residents.


Ecuador

Example: Galápagos Islands
Locals: ≈ $30
Foreign tourists: ≈ $200
Foreigners pay ~6–7× more than Ecuadorian nationals.


Sri Lanka

Example: Sigiriya (Lion Rock)
Locals: ~120 LKR (~$0.40)
Foreigners: ~$35
Tourists pay nearly 90× what Sri Lankan residents pay.


India

Example: Taj Mahal
Locals/Indian residents: much lower (often a few hundred rupees)
Foreign tourists: higher fees (several times more)
Exact rates fluctuate, but differential pricing for foreigners is well-established.


Japan

Example attractions: Some temples, parks, cultural sites
Locals vs foreigners: Plans to roll out dual pricing where foreigners pay double or more for entry in some places (e.g., locals ¥500–1,000, foreigners significantly higher).

(Note: Japan also has some private businesses/experiences reported to charge foreign customers more than locals.)


Turkey

Example: Miniatürk and other sites
Locals: ~TL 80 (~$2.62)
Foreigners: ~TL 350 (~$11.50)
Around 4× higher for tourists.


(Africa – general pattern)

Examples: Kruger National Park (South Africa), Maasai Mara (Kenya), Serengeti (Tanzania)
Locals or regional visitors: lower fees
Foreign tourists: significantly higher (hundreds of USD per visit)
Wildlife/national park fees in parts of East/Southern Africa regularly charge foreign visitors multiple-times the local rate as part of conservation funding.

You wasting your time on here mate, I agree with you but the long term contributors on this blog only want moaning comments otherwise you get marked with loads of 'thumbs downs', they make me laugh. 😀

20 hours ago, ColeBOzbourne said:

If the new country develops duel pricing after he moves there, then what should he do? Move again?

Do some research before you move. Problems are easily solved these days by the Internet.

5 minutes ago, cdulaney said:

Do some research before you move. Problems are easily solved these days by the Internet.

Do all the research you want, but you still can't control what changes may happen AFTER you've already made the move.

On 1/6/2026 at 7:20 AM, dinga said:

GREAT SUCCESS [to quote Borat]

Today's Bangkok Post reports that over 926,000 folks visited National Parks over the NY period - generating over 31million Baht in revenue.

This represents an average of some 33.5 baht per visitor.

Given the 10 Times disparity between Thai & Farang fees, the only conclusion to be drawn is that Farangs generally don't choose to visit National Parks. Perhaps reducing that disparity may result in more visitors and higher revenues.

In most of Europe access to National Parks is free. Hundreds of thousands Kilometres free hiking trails. Miss it.

1 hour ago, ColeBOzbourne said:

Do all the research you want, but you still can't control what changes may happen AFTER you've already made the move.

That is Life, as control is NOT what life is all about. Geee!!

2 hours ago, cdulaney said:

Do some research before you move. Problems are easily solved these days by the Internet.

22 minutes ago, cdulaney said:

That is Life, as control is NOT what life is all about. Geee!!

And here I was thinking that, with a little research and by using the internet, I could single-handedly control the world and solve all it's problems. Thank you for helping me see the light. Gosh!!!!

On 1/9/2026 at 9:52 PM, khunPer said:

Yes, Trump made that last year.

In US the higher fee applies to non-residents, not to foreigners in general. In Thailand it is applicable to all foreigners, no matter resident or not.

On 1/8/2026 at 3:17 PM, JamesPhuket10 said:

You could get on a rubber boat in France, go over to England, say the word 'asylum' be taxied off to a nice hotel by the sea for a year or two, free food and free money, English lessons, table tennis and the rest all for free, paid for by me and the rest of the tax paying population.

I think I prefer the Thai system where we have to pay to stay here, are never allowed to be permanent instead of attraction hundreds of thousands of riff raff as is the case in the UK, that way the Thais do not resent us as they know we do not have a free ride.

Just give the ticket to a Thai and get the money that way, easy to do.

Living here knowing we are not equal politically or culturally is fine by me, I can alway get on a plane back home if I want to as I know my annual visa extension is temporary each time, that is clear for us all to see so I do not understand why farangs get upset about such things, we are told from the outset we are always regarded as visitors?

Just had some friends from the UK visit for the third time they think it’s great that foreigners have to register their address when they enter the country reckon should apply in the UK.

29 minutes ago, StevieAus said:

Just had some friends from the UK visit for the third time they think it’s great that foreigners have to register their address when they enter the country reckon should apply in the UK.

I agree.

I remember working in Germany as a software engineer in the 1990's, we had to register as did all Germans the address they lived at.

I was once outside a pub as it was sunny and hot, the police turned up and checked the ID's of some of the customers, one was taken away, we should have ID's in the UK, I have nothing to hide.

In Thailand I carry a copy of my passport in my car as I have been checked once or twice over the decades.

2 hours ago, zig said:

In US the higher fee applies to non-residents, not to foreigners in general. In Thailand it is applicable to all foreigners, no matter resident or not.

I went to the larges aquarium in Thailand a few weeks ago which is here in Phuket, as a so called ExPat, I paid the local Thai price which was about 650 baht instead of the tourist price of 1400, the same price as my Thai partner paid (I am too old to call her girlfriend 😃)

On 1/10/2026 at 3:19 PM, garzhe said:

and pay taxes?

Really? On your Thai income?

On 1/9/2026 at 10:30 AM, dinga said:

My point is that the quoted revenue collection per National Park visitor indicates that the fees have been arbitrarily set without regard to the Laffer Curve principal ie. raising rates up to a certain point increases revenue, but raising them too high can decrease revenue, leading to a drop in total income. In my view, the numbers suggest a critical review is needed of both fee levels and attractions for all visitors

It's also possible that the people collecting the money are pocketing it. Or at least the foreigner component. TIT, after all.

16 minutes ago, impulse said:

It's also possible that the people collecting the money are pocketing it.

Could be the same at Yellowstone Park or Warrick Castle. How does one know?

3 hours ago, zig said:

In US the higher fee applies to non-residents, not to foreigners in general. In Thailand it is applicable to all foreigners, no matter resident or not.

No, if you have a pink ID-card, you are considered resident, just like in the US. I got in for free last year using my pink ID-card in Bangkok-attractions – I used it to check if an ID-card for aliens worked, it did...👍

5 hours ago, ColeBOzbourne said:

And here I was thinking that, with a little research and by using the internet, I could single-handedly control the world and solve all it's problems. Thank you for helping me see the light. Gosh!!!!

Goodness Cole, you are starting to do some deep thinking by living in Thailand. Good Luck with all the problem solving so try and stick with the simple things in Life, it will reduce your stress level as it sounds like here reading your back and forth with me. I have nothing left to say but try and Be Happy and Healthy.