Thai National Parks ordered to charge foreigners tenfold

[aussieinthailand]

So on this basis. if a Thai visits London, for example, and the cost to enter Madam Tassauds is £10 a Brit, should a Thai be charged £100 entry fee ?

No'p there would be cries to the world just how racist that would be.

I believe the previous constitution outlawed this separate pricing for foreigners, and Thai's, but was never enforced, so now we have to deal with this "fairly and constantly" or just don't go too them.

I wonder when they will decide that the whole of the country is a national park? coz it's been pretty much ten fold for most things for the foreigner any way.

[Bluespunk]

It might imply that the government thinks foreigners are ten times better than Thais. Perhaps foreigners should be honoured.

Joking aside, a two-tier price sceme is justified. The differential reflects the idea of local privilege. It's their land after all. For a foreigner, a visit is naturally something more special. The differential should be something reasonable though. 2x would be fine.

No it wouldn't.

Same price for everyone is the only acceptable price.

[toenail]

So the Thais that visit parks in Canada or the United States should also pay 10X the price. The logic would be "If you are Thai and have enough money to fly to the USA or Canada and visit the region for holiday, then you are filthy rich by Thai standards and can afford to pay 10X the price of a north American."

(And at the national parks in Thailand, who are the ones that throw litter around, abuse the animals, or takes land away from the national parks to build a hotel or restaurant???---not a farang.)

Edited February 4, 2015 by toenail

[roo860]

Anyone know how many years ago this pricing thing started, I can't recall if it happened in the 70's?

[kieran2698]

The increase there and at other parks was made in response to an announcement from the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department that admission fees for foreigners should be made consistent throughout the country as of Sunday.. should read as.. admission fees for people should be made consistent throughout the country. Seriously is there any other country in the world where foreigners are required to pay more to visit an attraction than residents ??

It is done in the US, only it is a local discount although not everywhere. Disneyland gives a discount if you have a driver's licence with an Orange County address, attractions in Guam are more expensive for tourists.

But thats not whats being done is it ??

If a black, white or asian person has a local resident card, they get the local resident price..

Here its purely a 'whitey' tax.. You can live here 20 years, have a local address, speak the language.. And its still 'whitey price'..

Its purely based on race.. Even to the point of local south east asians commonly being given the Thai price. Its racist discriminatory pricing. Call it what it is.

Nothing to do with being white and you know it, it has to do with not having residency, so actually the same.

[uptheos]

This is great now the tourists will go other countries. Does this government not care that its people are struggling from lack of tourist. Please Buddha help these officials get some brains

That's ridiculous of course they won't.

Anyone who wants to visit Thailand will and $10-15 admission to a national park after spending $1,000 on flights + accommodation, food etc. certainly won't put them off.

Where do people get these crazy notions from?

[kieran2698]

Sorry, but my logic is the one shared by the tourist authorities in countries which have dual pricing whereas yours is just based on a poor understanding of the given lexis.

And that logic then is also discriminatory and just another way to cover up racism as the Thais often do in writing Thai prices in the little used Thai numerals. They know it is wrong but do it anyway.

A discount is a deduction from the usual cost of something. If the usual cost of entering a park is 400 baht and the majority Thai visitors receive a 90% discount then take away the foreigners and they should go bankrupt. Which they wouldn't because the 40 baht is the usual cost.

And note the topic heading. "Thai National Parks ordered to charge foreigners tenfold" not "Thai National Parks ordered to give Thais 90% discount".

You are making ridiculous assumptions about this situation. You presume that because Thais pay 40 baht that this is what is takes to run the park, in reality there is not limit to how much could be spent and every baht helps. The National Parks are funded by the government, they will not go "bankrupt" they are national parks not businesses.

You go by a newspaper headline if you want, I am going by official statements by the tourist authority, everywhere dual pricing happens they give the same reasoning, it is not to penalize foreigners but to provide incentive to locals.

An honest mistake to hide dual pricing using Thai numeral?

Do you think it would make things easier for the staff to advertise the fact?

Easier to be honest and let buyers beware. Is this not why law has been raised to make businesses display their prices?

Were you here when menus did not display prices?

No, the law enforcing businesses to display prices and government financed attractions having dual pricing are separate issues and I fail to see why you have linked them.

You say "easier to be honest and let buyers beware", beware of what? They are being displayed the price for entry so how does making them aware that had they of been a Thai citizen it would have cost less help them in any way? Buyer beware of not being eligible for a lower price? Makes no sense, the buyer is aware of the price.

I would have thought that displaying the price for Thai's more prominently would just increase arguments and thus problems for those selling the tickets.

Not difficult to write in English - Entry fees. Foreigners - Bt400, Thais - Bt40

Pricing policy of the Kingdom of Thailand.

A clear statement to all foreign visitors. No arguments.

If that is all it takes then why all the comments on this thread?

Because they are presently hiding the part Thais - Bt40 in Thai alphabet and numerals.

So all these comments are about the use of the Thai script being felt by outsiders as "hiding" things? No, actually they are mostly about people feeling that Thai's should not pay less, so what are you talking about?

[hawker9000]

This is great now the tourists will go other countries. Does this government not care that its people are struggling from lack of tourist. Please Buddha help these officials get some brains

That's ridiculous of course they won't.

Anyone who wants to visit Thailand will and $10-15 admission to a national park after spending $1,000 on flights + accommodation, food etc. certainly won't put them off.

Where do people get these crazy notions from?

Where do people get this crazy notion that a fee increase for tourists at national parks is the ONLY thing chipping away at the thai tourist industry??? It's more like Thailand having almost no foot left to shoot itself in!

[chrisinth]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Never again

Never have!

Seen trees and water before....................

[Thomas33399]

The obvious and reasonable solution is that all foreigners who can show proof of residency or employment should be charged the same rate as Thais. The Thais are not interested in this.

They snub their nose at us people who are contributing more to their country than most Thais do - the majority of whom contribute as little as they possibly can. Most Thais are too lazy to clean their own toilet, their house or toilets offered to the people who spend money on their places of business.

This is a disgrace and one the Thais simply must be aware of. I know my Thai girlfriend is. She is very unimpressed with the attitude of Thais.

[uptheos]

This is great now the tourists will go other countries. Does this government not care that its people are struggling from lack of tourist. Please Buddha help these officials get some brains

That's ridiculous of course they won't.

Anyone who wants to visit Thailand will and $10-15 admission to a national park after spending $1,000 on flights + accommodation, food etc. certainly won't put them off.

Where do people get these crazy notions from?

Where do people get this crazy notion that a fee increase for tourists at national parks is the ONLY thing chipping away at the thai tourist industry??? It's more like Thailand having almost no foot left to shoot itself in!

Thailand was the 3rd highest tourist arrival after Spain and USA top.

I don't think they have yet shot themselves in the foot.

http://ieconomics.com/top-5-world-tourist-arrivals

[tragickingdom]

Thailand deserves it that tourist turn their backs on them. It is of course the incompetence of the bureaurats (almost all related to the undemocratic ruling class) who show their incredible incompetence. The junta obviously still believe that foreigners are and endless source of money, the walking ATM comparison comes to mind again.

[neverfeartheevent]

think I'll swerve the parks then..?

[Dogbreath]

Arrogance of a third world country is astounding.

Arrogance has never been the issue. It is stupidity and greed.

"It is stupidity and greed."

Interesting comment on a forum visited by economic refugees many of whom can't afford to live in their own countries because they didn't plan well for their retirement or who are unqualified and/or unable to find employment in those same countries that are collapsing under debt used to pay for things they were unwilling or unable to fund out of pocket.

If something is priced too high for you, don't use it or buy it. Time for some of the economic refugees from Farang Utopia to move on or stay away ... one more reason to raise prices.

As far as arrogance is concerned, there's plenty of that in Farang Land. Why anyone should expect "third world" counties to bend over and spread their legs to cater to Khun Farang being an excellent example of the vestiges of colonial arrogant mentality.

Which communist/socialist backwater are you from? Your smug, self righteous attitude adds little to the conversation. I can afford the fee. It's just that I refuse to support racist discrimination in any form. I am a long term expat resident and have brought a lot of money to this country that has ended in Thai pockets. Rather than gratitude for what I have brought here, the Thai government seems hell bent on alienating those of us with something to offer country.

[hawker9000]

This is great now the tourists will go other countries. Does this government not care that its people are struggling from lack of tourist. Please Buddha help these officials get some brains

That's ridiculous of course they won't.

Anyone who wants to visit Thailand will and $10-15 admission to a national park after spending $1,000 on flights + accommodation, food etc. certainly won't put them off.

Where do people get these crazy notions from?

Where do people get this crazy notion that a fee increase for tourists at national parks is the ONLY thing chipping away at the thai tourist industry??? It's more like Thailand having almost no foot left to shoot itself in!

Thailand was the 3rd highest tourist arrival after Spain and USA top.

I don't think they have yet shot themselves in the foot.

http://ieconomics.com/top-5-world-tourist-arrivals

Stuff like this gets littered here on TV ALL the time. For the millionth time, Bangkok is a hub. Many people "arrive" there in great numbers merely in transit, or for only short-stays enroute to other points in SEA. And the same on their return trips. Furthermore, one also needs to factor in the actual constituency of the tourists who DO stay, and the attendant trends. I doubt swelling Chinese numbers spend at the same per capita levels as western visitors from Europe and the US. Finally, one needs to factor OUT notoriously skewed TAT statistics intended to paint a rosy picture and keep those travel agents trying to peddle airfares to & hotel stays in Thailand supplied with sufficient snake oil.

Let's not start the debate again. I'm well aware of expats desperately trying to defend their emotional and financial investments in Thailand. If you want to believe the TAT fairy tale, you're entitled. I really don't think it's selling that well overseas where tourists come from though.

Yeap - 'in the foot and up to about the knee level at this point...

[palace15]

I may well have had my last Thai holiday, they are a complete joke and now this is the final straw. If we were permitted to multiply the prices here in the UK 5or10 fold we could reduce immigration by starving them out !

[rabid old goat]

abuse the animals

hmm didnt know this was on offer, i have to reassess my schedule

[ChaoDangChard]

ok, yes really fair right! not very close to racism right...

we have to remember to charge Thai´s 10 times as much for things in our own countries too...

[uptheos]

Bangkok is a hub. Many people "arrive" there in great numbers merely in transit, or for only short-stays enroute to other points in SEA.

Show me the evidence not just what you'd like it to be.

Anyone who goes through passport control is a tourist.

[mango66]

I really wonder why foreigners still allowed to pay same prices on public transport

and in food courts ??

Der PM Pryouth !

Please change this unbalance to ten fold immediately !!

[Si Thea01]

Most Farang tourists wouldn't have a clue, so what is all this whining going to achieve? Just don't go if you're too tight to pay 400 baht or are on a budget. Just stay home, get drunk and spill tears over the keyboard while you type your complaint and sit there contemplating the good old days, none of which we will see again.

Edited February 4, 2015 by Si Thea01

[Jonmarleesco]

This is presumably part of the 2015 tourism strategy. Well, I trust most foreign visitors will be able to perceive the discriminatory entrance fees and will duly tell the staff what the NPWPCD can do with it.

[EmptyHead]

Increasing national park fees and trying to tackle tourist prostitution.

That's gonna help the tourism effort.

Logic? Now, i get it: They want us to discover Thainess!

[KonKorat]

I travel to Thailand 2 to 3 times a year,average stay 1 month each visit,with the fall of the Aussie dollar and the increases they are talking about,they can sticks their parks up their clacker. i am sure numbers will be down from foreigners.Good job Thailand AGAIN!!!

[mango66]

Arrogance of a third world country is astounding.

Arrogance has never been the issue. It is stupidity and greed.

"It is stupidity and greed."

Interesting comment on a forum visited by economic refugees many of whom can't afford to live in their own countries because they didn't plan well for their retirement or who are unqualified and/or unable to find employment in those same countries that are collapsing under debt used to pay for things they were unwilling or unable to fund out of pocket.

If something is priced too high for you, don't use it or buy it. Time for some of the economic refugees from Farang Utopia to move on or stay away ... one more reason to raise prices.

As far as arrogance is concerned, there's plenty of that in Farang Land. Why anyone should expect "third world" counties to bend over and spread their legs to cater to Khun Farang being an excellent example of the vestiges of colonial arrogant mentality.

all your comment seems only stupidy !!!

[tgeezer]

Are they raving mad, have they no idea at all of psychology? Better to try to maintain the illusion that to Thai hospitality is genuine. The Thai smile and wai gives Thailand a head start but if every business takes their lead from the Parks department and starts discriminating against Westerners more than they do already, that head start could easily be lost.

[Beetlejuice]

I would imagine that the majority of members of this forum apart from bird watchers don't visit Thai national parks all that often. If Thailand had a system like the British National Trust then this may alleviate the problem for frequent park visitors and for tourists that intend to visit National Parks, palaces and other places of interest where there are Government entry fees.

These 'season tickets' can be bought from the National Trust and then allow free entry into venues. There is for example one specifically for London which gets onto things like the "London Eye'. I'm sure the powers that be in this Country could devise a set up whereby these could be bought online from overseas if needs be thereby generating foreign exchange.

All of these tickets bought online would be one price.

Actually your post has made me aware of something that I hadn`t thought of and is very interesting.

Does anyone know if it is possible to acquire season tickets for anything in Thailand? Such as forests, parks, theme parks, cinemas, on any public transport systems and so on?

Or are season ticket schemes something the Thais consider as bad for business?

[Bluespunk]

Most Farang tourists wouldn't have a clue, so what is all this whining going to achieve? Just don't go if you're too tight to pay 400 baht or are on a budget. Just stay home, get drunk and spill tears over the keyboard while you type your complaint and sit there contemplating the good old days, none of which we will see again.

The money isn't the problem.

It's the assumption that charging more based on a persons nationality is acceptable.

It's not.

[White Christmas13]

The increase there and at other parks was made in response to an announcement from the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department that admission fees for foreigners should be made consistent throughout the country as of Sunday.. should read as.. admission fees for people should be made consistent throughout the country. Seriously is there any other country in the world where foreigners are required to pay more to visit an attraction than residents ??

YEP

Angkor Wat tourist $20/day

Cambodians FREE

Bagan Tourist $10

Burmese FREE

Taj Mahal Tourist 750 INR ( apx $17 )

Indians; INR 50 for Indians, Nepalese and Bhutanese (apx $2.20)

Need i go on

Yes go on or let's say I do it for you

Perth Zoo $ 28 visitors from anywhere in the world or OZ same price

Kings park in Perth (voted one of the best in the world) free for everybody no matter where you come from

you want me to go on to ? You just pick Asian countries because they all rip offs

Have a good night

[mango66]

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The increase there and at other parks was made in response to an announcement from the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department that admission fees for foreigners should be made consistent throughout the country as of Sunday.. should read as.. admission fees for people should be made consistent throughout the country. Seriously is there any other country in the world where foreigners are required to pay more to visit an attraction than residents ??

Yes Vietnam does the same.

I will not visit any place that charges me more than anyone else. If anything I would expect a senior discount below the local price. Anything over that I will not pay.

I have started withholding giving tip in all but the most extreme situations. Trying to fit in with the culture.

Madagascar does also, in the national parks the entree fee for a local is 5000A, for a tourist its 25000

yes it is trough !

Madagascar is 5 times undereducated to Western;

Thailand is 10 times undereducated compaired to west,

and 5 times compared to Madagascar !!