Under-construction Night Safari Sets Entry Fees

[george]

Under-construction night safari sets admission fees

CHIANG MAI: -- The management team of the Chiang Mai Night Safari, the project still under construction, said on Saturday that Thais and foreigners would pay the same entry fee to visit the park.

Mr. Thongchai Wongrienthong, the deputy governor of Thailand's northern Chiang Mai province who heads the public relations team of the project, told TNA that it has been agreed that a single-fee-rule would be applied regardless to nationalities, and children would pay only half the price.

''We will charge every adult 800 baht to visit the Night Safari and children will pay half of that. This entry fee applies to everyone regardless to their races,'' he said.

Earlier, the fees were varied due to nationalities, he said, child fee for foreign nationals was 300 baht and 400 baht for adults, while Thai children were to pay 100 baht and adults 250 baht each, and only 100-170 baht for Chiang Mai locals.

There was also a special fee for families, he added.

''We think the former rates were unfair and needed to be changed. We may offer memberships and holders could have a few free visits as an incentives,'' said Mr. Thongchai.

However, the new fee scheme needs to get a green light from the government first.

The deputy Chiang Mai governor said he would propose the change in fees to Mr. Plodprasop Suratwadi, an adviser to the prime minister for consideration.

The Chiang Mai Night Safari is expected to be partly opened on 13 April, 2005 although its

construction is likely to be completed later than the scheduled month of April next year, he said, as private sector is not confident whether the project is worth investing.

''It is difficult to do a marketing now when the project is still not completed. We can not take any overseas booking until another year,'' he said.

--TNA 2004-10-30

[Ajarn]

In reality, Thais are now going to pay the farang price!

A ripoff all-around, it seems to me...Reminds me of the kid selling lemonade for $5 a glass, figuring he only needed to sell one glass to make his money...

[p1p]

We live a little over a Kilometer or so away. At those prices, looks like we will only be going in by the back entrance though.

[kenk3z]

Sounds to me like they will be issuing "Elite Night Safari" cards to regular vistors.

kenk3z

[PvtDick]

That's nearly twice the price of the Singapore Night Safari! What are they thinking?

[astral]

They think they can get the entire investment back in the first week.

[Rinrada]

How much to get in during the day?

[meadish_sweetball]

At the meeting of the Hotel Association held last week, many voices were raised to oppose this "fair" pricing policy, which in reality means that most locals will not be able to enjoy the Night Safari.

While I don't like two-tiered pricing, this seems like a bad solution overall - over-inflated prices for everybody.

[chanchao]

> While I don't like two-tiered pricing, this seems like a bad solution

> overall - over-inflated prices for everybody.

Yes, but don't forget one thing: The problem is not this latest pricing squabble, the core problem is with a huge and very expensive project for which there is just no market.

Tourism reality in Thailand:

If you cannot offer [insert your new attraction here] for the same money of your average movie ticket at Metro Cineplex, then don't bother.

Even the original 250 baht for Thai adults was pushing it. HELLO: Chiang Mai has a huge, excellent long running zoo, one of the best in Asia. It costs 10 baht to get in.

Also Thailand has loads of REAL nature, actual existing jungle, most of it in National Parks, most of it costing 20 baht for locals. Now who's paying even 250 baht, over 10 times that, to see fake artificial jungle??

"Someone's out of touch with reality. "

4 ปี ซ่อม 4 ปี สร้าง 4 ปี ซวย

Cheers,

Chanchao

[p1p]

Unfortunately this seems to be typical if this beautiful but benighted country. Unfortunately this seems to be typical if this beautiful but benighted country. They love to jump in with both feet without proper planning or analyses of the situation. We see it in almost every project being undertaken, from the simple building of a house without the help of an engineer or an architect, through to major, government-run infrastructure projects. eg, the new Bkk airport.

All is fuelled by corruption, fat cats become too obese to move, and the rest of us have to pay 800 Baht to drive through an under-stocked, incomplete “Safari”.

Sorry for the rant above. Sometimes things get too much and one needs to vent a bit of steam…

[chanchao]

To remain objective though, I must admit I have a vested interest: If the place goes bankrupt then I will keep this excellent spot to walk the dog.

Cheers,

Chanchao

[chanchao]

> If you cannot offer [insert your new attraction here] for the same

> money of your average movie ticket at Metro Cineplex, then don't bother.

Addendum:

"Unless you are in Phuket and have whole herds of package tourers bored out of their heads with the beaches, for whom no price is an issue"

[meadish_sweetball]

> If you cannot offer [insert your new attraction here] for the same

> money of your average movie ticket at Metro Cineplex, then don't bother.

Addendum:

"Unless you are in Phuket and have whole herds of package tourers bored out of their heads with the beaches, for whom no price is an issue"

BTW...any news of the monochrome friendship ambassadors?

[p1p]

Still seem to be chewing on their bamboos, and drawing ever smaller crowds.

Wonder when they'll have to turn off the air conditioning to save $

[ovenman]

The Chiang Mai Night Safari is expected to be partly opened on 13 April, 2005 although its construction is likely to be completed later than the scheduled month of April next year, he said, as private sector is not confident whether the project is worth investing.

I wonder if the powers-that-be have given any thought to initially charging half-price since the safari will only be half-built?

[Ajarn]

The Chiang Mai Night Safari is expected to be partly opened on 13 April, 2005 although its construction is likely to be completed later than the scheduled month of April next year, he said, as private sector is not confident whether the project is worth investing.

I wonder if the powers-that-be have given any thought to initially charging half-price since the safari will only be half-built?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Half-baked, too