Thailand welcomed 32.9 million foreign visitors in 2025, a 7.23% decline from the year before, as debate over dual pricing resurfaces in the tourism sector. The issue is examined in the second episode of the Bangkok Post’s Why Bangkok series, published on 28 February 2026. While no single factor explains the fall in arrivals, concerns over whether tourists feel fairly treated remain under scrutiny.

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Dual pricing is not unique to Thailand. Landmarks such as the Taj Mahal in India and Petra in Jordan charge foreign tourists higher entry fees, often described as maintenance contributions. In Thailand, public attractions including temples and national museums operate under ministerial regulations, while private operators fall under the Department of Internal Trade, though they are harder to regulate.

For some visitors, pricing differences are not the main concern. Caroline Purcell, a tourist from the United States, described entrance fees at Wat Arun as reasonable, noting high visitor numbers suggest affordability. She said she was “not totally opposed to native Thai people getting into these attractions for free considering this is your country”.

The issue becomes more complex for long-term residents. Pawarin Ramanwong, a travel agency director, said expatriates who have lived, worked and paid taxes in Thailand for years are still charged foreigner rates based on appearance. She argued that treating expats like locals in pricing would make them more comfortable spending money in the country.

Ms Pawarin also highlighted transparency as the core concern. She said clear communication about costs and how revenue is used, such as for clean restrooms and proper information signs, would help visitors feel charges are justified. She emphasised that openness from the outset is essential.

Beyond formal admission fees, informal transport scams have long affected Bangkok’s reputation. Taxis and tuk tuks operating outside fixed-rate systems have generated frequent complaints, with enforcement against individual drivers proving difficult. However, ride-hailing applications such as Grab and Bolt have shifted tourist behaviour towards fixed, transparent pricing.

Duengnapa Jarijitpaiboon, a local vendor, said tourists now avoid confusion by using these platforms instead of taxis and tuk tuks. The Department of Land Transport has introduced QR codes in taxis to allow passengers to identify drivers, verify fares and file reports directly. These measures aim to improve accountability.

Bangkokpost reported that industry observers note that tourism represents a significant share of national income. A Belgian tourist said other Southeast Asian destinations are sometimes cheaper with comparable or better service. Ms Pawarin warned that without serious attention to such concerns, the country risks losing its competitive edge.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now Bangkokpost 1 Mar 2026

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It’s not just about entry to attractions. I’ve been to restaurants where the English menu has higher prices than the same food in the Thai menu. We all know about the ever present farang tax.

The actual amount doesn’t matter, nobody likes to be constantly exploited.

If something is worth a dollar, it should cost a dollar regardless of whose pocket it comes out of.

Dual pricing is ultimately Thailand’s call, citizenship comes with benefits, and lower entry fees can reasonably be seen as one of them.

With around 33 million foreign visitors in 2025, long-term expats are statistically a tiny minority, so they’re largely collateral damage in a policy aimed at short-term tourism.

But there is a Catch-22 here. Many long-term expats pay taxes and live here for years, yet Thai citizenship is extremely difficult if not impossible to obtain.

It requires permanent residency first, years of documented income and tax payments, Thai language proficiency, and approval under a discretionary quota system.

In practice, very few ever qualify. So they pay “foreigner” rates indefinitely, while having little realistic path to ever access the “citizen” benefits.

That’s where much of the frustration comes from, not only the price itself, but also the structural reality behind it.

Dual pricing is in fact discrimination. What diffetence does it make if a seat is taken by a local or a foreigner? Same in restaurants or entrances. If dual pricing is a bit more at some places nobody complains, but sometimes it is far too much. Even in hospitals there is dual pricing, and again what is the difference betweem a local and a foreigner.. for expats it is difficult. Many pay more tax, but are not seen as a local. And to get a id is also a big challenge

Oooooh! Buhuhu! Poor little foreigners have to pay more. Ouch, that must hurt the little wallet! See, I talked to you like a parent talk to small children.

10 hours ago, dyertribe said:

It’s not just about entry to attractions. I’ve been to restaurants where the English menu has higher prices than the same food in the Thai menu. We all know about the ever present farang tax.

The actual amount doesn’t matter, nobody likes to be constantly exploited.

If something is worth a dollar, it should cost a dollar regardless of whose pocket it comes out of.

I have yet to experience this dual restaurant pricing. If I did, I would get up and walk out and tell the staff why. If one feels that strongly, one should act accordingly.

Interestingly I read something on Bangkok’s facebook page yesterday about exactly the same thing. I was a little surprised to see that most on there thought it was fine, however the vast majority of posters seemed to be genuine tourists rather than expats/long term stayers.

Can’t do anything about it other than don’t partake if you feel that strongly about it.

Tourists are not staying away because of dual pricing. They're staying away because the baht is too strong, other destinations (with at least as much to offer) are cheaper by comparison. High domestic inflation of accommodation and food has made matters worse. All economies are having a tough time so the foreign tourist's disposable income has diminished considerably over the last few years and putting food on the table takes precedence over a holiday.

Rather than look at it as higher prices for Farangs look at it as cheaper prices for Thais. This is to encourage them to see some of the tourist sights. Anyone that has ever been to America knows the hypocrisy of any Americans whining on here about dual pricing when it is alive and well and a blatant rip off to foreign tourists in their country.

I remember getting a baked potato with cheese at Jomtien night market. Thai price 50b, farang price 130b.

With 30 million tourists Thailand has already reached it's maximum tourism capacity, as long as the tourists continously are stowed together in relatively few areas like Phuket, Pattaya, Krabi, Hua Hin and Chiang Mai. With 30 million tourists in a few areas, the tourists will not experience the real Thailand, which most of them are coming for and therefore will not be returning to Thailand for future holidays. When tourists have been settled in their destinations, they are all buying tours to the same local attractions, which they have only seen in photo's, where they looked idyllic with no or few people, but these places are in fact crowded with fellow tourists. Anyone who have ever visited the tiny "James Bond" Island or Maya Bay, will know what I'm talking about.

7 minutes ago, Xonax said:

With 30 million tourists Thailand has already reached it's maximum tourism capacity, as long as the tourists continously are stowed together in relatively few areas like Phuket, Pattaya, Krabi, Hua Hin and Chiang Mai. With 30 million tourists in a few areas, the tourists will not experience the real Thailand, which most of them are coming for and therefore will not be returning to Thailand for future holidays. When tourists have been settled in their destinations, they are all buying tours to the same local attractions, which they have only seen in photo's, where they looked idyllic with no or few people, but these places are in fact crowded with fellow tourists. Anyone who have ever visited the tiny "James Bond" Island or Maya Bay, will know what I'm talking about.

And that is OK. I almost never face dual pricing out here in my rice paddy world. Even the tourist prices are really cheap for those that can afford plane fares to Thailand. Up to the vendors to ask what they like and up to the customers to pay or not. The real scammers are the tour operators adding a 2000 baht taxi ride to the attraction.

This old chestnut, still debating and still the same outcome after 25 years I am aware of. Holding a WP and paying tax and SS, I made the decision to not even bother going anywhere that has dual pricing. This decision was made many years ago, after taking my wife and 3 half Thai kids to Kaen Krachang park...wife Thai price, me 10x and kids they couldn't decide what to charge them. Secondly, in Chonburi ( where I lived and my WP was registered) 10 x price of Thais for entrance to temple. Now all this about being local and US and other countries do it is not the same. Thailand discriminates against any foreigner, Why, when I was a tax payer and living in Chonburi province I was asked 10x of the Thai guy behind me registered in Chiang Rai and that didn't pay any tax??? That is not local taxes that is any foreigner will pay 10x what a Thai pays. No point in getting upset about it, it's the way it is so just avoid these places. Of course try saying it's only peanuts and US does the same...that simply isn't true and certainly isn't a good way to promote tourism

I wish people would stop calling it dual pricing, which is a neutral sounding term. Call a spade a spade. It is Racial Pricing.

When Thailand says, you farang you are rich, do they mean a Thai pulling up in a Maserati is poor in comparison?

Just keep calling it racial pricing and they might think about it more.

Dual Pricing Debate Clouds Thai Tourism Outlook

Dual Pricing is greedy rip off that's pretty normal at tourists places around the world .

Those places don't care that Some tourists have the work all year and some have to get a bank loan to go for a Holliday .

This works same as Corruption they do that because the can.

10 hours ago, Patong2021 said:

I have yet to experience this dual restaurant pricing. If I did, I would get up and walk out and tell the staff why. If one feels that strongly, one should act accordingly.

I agree if one feels strongly then simply leave. A long time ago I was charged a crazy amount for a head gasket for a car I owned- just because it was an expensive car and obviously the garage was adding more as it felt I could afford it

I paid as I had to- then sold the car the next week and later told the garage why they would never see another penny from me ever again- they had been working on my car for years- they were apologetic - but of course too late

Theatrical rhetoric to brush it under the rug or true change coming?

Some ideas, solutions.

Stayed in Thailand 3, consecutive years a Gold Star could be placed on your Thai ID, or Drivers license. (Pay Thai Price)

Limit the amount and where dual pricing can be applied.

No Dual pricing on food.

Maximum 30% increase above Thai Price.

Setup a reporting network that can be completely filled out in 2 minutes, is available in multiple languages, requires location, Google GPS coordinates accepted, requires minimum 20 word explanation.

I doubt there is 1 tourist in a thousand who would forego visiting Thailand due to dual pricing. I travel a lot and I never give a thought to dual pricing wherever I am thinking of going. Paris has dual pricing to tour the Louvre. Would that stop me from going to Paris? No.

As the article points out, it's a bigger issue for local residents. And, of course it is, as they deal with it more. It's the same with road safety, pollution, traffic congestion, the state of the sidewalks, etc. Local issues. A tourist doesn't care about these things. They're just here for a week or two--then they leave and the uneven sidewalks, the dual pricing, the bad traffic, etc., are our problems, not theirs. As for the tourism drop, they can study all they want why the tourist numbers are down but the culprit is not dual pricing.

Joe pricing has long been an issue here and there have been various administrations that have attempted to address it but they can't get their corresponding officials too accept anything once it's agreed to.

What I would like to see is a system where expats are given the same admission policy as Thais, if they can show proof of residency such as a Thai driver's license a pink card, etc

That would be a fair thing to do, and I would show at least a modicum of respect for the expat community, which I know is too much to ask.

2 hours ago, Purdey said:

I wish people would stop calling it dual pricing, which is a neutral sounding term. Call a spade a spade. It is Racial Pricing.

When Thailand says, you farang you are rich, do they mean a Thai pulling up in a Maserati is poor in comparison?

Just keep calling it racial pricing and they might think about it more.

A Japanese customer of mine got charged foreigner price entering Sai Gaew navy beach....Japanese/Asian,not really racial profiling...just all foreigners dual pricing

They should stop doing dual prices at public parks ridiculous TIT

38 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Joe pricing has long been an issue here and there have been various administrations that have attempted to address it but they can't get their corresponding officials too accept anything once it's agreed to.

What I would like to see is a system where expats are given the same admission policy as Thais, if they can show proof of residency such as a Thai driver's license a pink card, etc

That would be a fair thing to do, and I would show at least a modicum of respect for the expat community, which I know is too much to ask.

A Thai driving licence used to get you the same price as Thais when I first came here. I think that stopped after the last coup.

Aaaaaaaaaawwwwww, the poor falang hast pay more than the Thais, boo hoo!

First of all, if you live and work legally in Thailand you’ll get a work permit and if you show that to whoever takes the entrance fee, then you’ll get the Thai price. Secondly, for some strange reason I don’t see any falangs b.tching and complaining about earning multiples of what a Thai for the same job would get. You want the Thai price, then work for a Thai salary and see how far that will get you!

23 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

Dual pricing is in fact discrimination. What diffetence does it make if a seat is taken by a local or a foreigner? Same in restaurants or entrances. If dual pricing is a bit more at some places nobody complains, but sometimes it is far too much. Even in hospitals there is dual pricing, and again what is the difference betweem a local and a foreigner.. for expats it is difficult. Many pay more tax, but are not seen as a local. And to get a id is also a big challenge

For the wife

Bangkok Hospital .. check out the price if you pay cash or go thru insurance,, world of differnce !

Go to Hua Hin Gov Hospital for same procedure B58,00 vs B450,000

I went to Hua Hin hospital and paid the equiv of $65 for VIP

x rays Blood work and 4 doctors .. and you go right to the front of the line !

Surely there must be 20 previous threads on this topic?

Nothing will change.

Period🙃🙃

Flame post removed @Reddavy discuss the topic and not just troll other posters.

4 hours ago, pacovl46 said:

Aaaaaaaaaawwwwww, the poor falang hast pay more than the Thais, boo hoo!

First of all, if you live and work legally in Thailand you’ll get a work permit and if you show that to whoever takes the entrance fee, then you’ll get the Thai price. Secondly, for some strange reason I don’t see any falangs b.tching and complaining about earning multiples of what a Thai for the same job would get. You want the Thai price, then work for a Thai salary and see how far that will get you!

I'm afraid having a WP does not automatically get you Thai pricing, How can a foreigner get paid for a job that is restricted

Dual pricing is annoying and discrimination - yes - but no tourist has ever cancelled their trip (only) because of dual pricing. The main reasons for decline in tourists are quite simple: the baht is way too strong, prices in the tourist entertainment sector are out of control above and beyond inflation, and the demographics of places like Pattaya have changed so much that a westerner may not feel welcome there anymore.

On 3/1/2026 at 3:12 PM, Jim Waldron said:

Dual pricing is ultimately Thailand’s call, citizenship comes with benefits, and lower entry fees can reasonably be seen as one of them.

With around 33 million foreign visitors in 2025, long-term expats are statistically a tiny minority, so they’re largely collateral damage in a policy aimed at short-term tourism.

But there is a Catch-22 here. Many long-term expats pay taxes and live here for years, yet Thai citizenship is extremely difficult if not impossible to obtain.

It requires permanent residency first, years of documented income and tax payments, Thai language proficiency, and approval under a discretionary quota system.

In practice, very few ever qualify. So they pay “foreigner” rates indefinitely, while having little realistic path to ever access the “citizen” benefits.

That’s where much of the frustration comes from, not only the price itself, but also the structural reality behind it.

Well I for one knew the rules before I decided to live here, the reports of dual menu prices for farangs and Thais I have never seen personally during my few years of living here full time and long visits over 35 years.

I have read about them here but not personally see one, I have tested it by going into restaurants myself and the next day I let a Thai friend go in alone and join them after they have been given the same menu.

I went to the largest aquarium in Thailand which is here in Phuket and I paid Thai price as I am a long term resident, we just book via the web site, it is half price of the tourist price.

I never expect to be a resident but like 99% of all farangs, a long term visitor with the annual one year visa extension based on being over 50 which is dead easy to do, it only take half an hour each time in person.

We do not have any rights but we knew that in advance and the prices are dirt cheap anyway, after my visit back to England last year things are five to ten times cheaper here, the same cars are half the price here.

And most of the long term farangs probably do not go to the tourists attractions and so pay nothing if they do it cost peanuts anyway.

Thailand must be doing something right if it attracts 32 million tourists a year spending 5000 baht a day each, they are far more important than the few longterm farangs living here spending 2 pounds six shillings and sixpence a day.

The self importance of some farangs here makes me laugh, I don't find them annoying as I walk away when they moan.

On 3/1/2026 at 3:12 PM, Jim Waldron said:

Dual pricing is ultimately Thailand’s call, citizenship comes with benefits, and lower entry fees can reasonably be seen as one of them.

With around 33 million foreign visitors in 2025, long-term expats are statistically a tiny minority, so they’re largely collateral damage in a policy aimed at short-term tourism.

But there is a Catch-22 here. Many long-term expats pay taxes and live here for years, yet Thai citizenship is extremely difficult if not impossible to obtain.

It requires permanent residency first, years of documented income and tax payments, Thai language proficiency, and approval under a discretionary quota system.

In practice, very few ever qualify. So they pay “foreigner” rates indefinitely, while having little realistic path to ever access the “citizen” benefits.

That’s where much of the frustration comes from, not only the price itself, but also the structural reality behind it.

Nonsense.

Your "facts" are all over the place. Firstly, relatively FEW expats in Thailand work and pay taxes here. Seems like everyone is either a retiree, a digital nomad or "long-term" tourist who is seemingly able to survive without working here. These people survive on pensions, savings and investments or remote work, or a combination of some or all of these.

These individuals do NOT have access to Thai citizenship. Thailand wants people who pay income taxes and contribute to society. Mere residency, while not being able to speak any Thai is NOT a good enough reason to become a Thai citizen. Perhaps come to Thailand for work (Thailand is one of the few countries full of non-working expats) or start a business and then you might have a better case for naturalization.

Thai language proficiency is something that one should expect after years of living here, but thanks to the laziness of many western expats, those few of us who do speak Thai fluently have to suffer because many Thais assume we're as lazy and incapable as the majority...thus we always have to make it clear we can speak Thai and prefer to speak Thai, otherwise, we get addressed in English as if we were first-time visitors, based purely on the assumption that "farang = dumb and incapable of speaking Thai".

This doesn't happen nearly to the same extent with residents from neighboring countries, who actually put an effort into learning Thai. Most Japanese, Chinese, Burmese, Cambodian, Vietnamese and even Indian etc residents can eventually speak quite fluent Thai after a while, even if some of them struggle being understood due to their thick accents (particularly Chinese, Burmese and Japanese people).

However, surprisingly, Thai language fluency is generally NOT required to obtain Thai citizenship. It is desirable and it certainly helps, but you only need to have a relatively basic to intermediate understanding of the language to qualify.

Permanent residency is NOT required to become Thai, unless you're not married to a Thai (which is RARE)...since who lives in Thailand without being married to a local? This isn't America or Australia, where immigrants form their own ethnic communities and don't integrate into the majority. Thailand forces you to integrate if you want to have any level of permanency here.

Thailand is NOT and hopefully will never become a multicultural society. Westerners need to understand and accept this.

The "quota" system applies to applications for permanent residency, NOT to citizenship. While wait times can extend into years, I know of and have met several individuals who became Thai, including, none other than Bill Heinecke! I even saw a westerner who re-entered Thailand through Suvarnabhumi airport carrying a Thai passport back in mid-January. He used the autogates. Thus, Thai passport and ID card carrying westerners aren't quite as rare as some make them out to be.