Thai man massively overcharged at national park because he looks like a farang

[ianf]

racial group means "any group of people who are defined by reference to their race, colour, nationality (including citizenship) or ethnic or national origin

The mumpty who posted earlier should think again before posting.

[charmonman]

What is a local?

It's somebody who lives in a particular vicinity, NOT somebody who lives in a particular vicinity and matches the personal prejudices of some goon in a ticket booth.

The "goon" is ordered to charge foreigners 200 baht.

The Thai person clearly looks like a farang so unless he could prove he was Thai the "goon" was doing his job.

If this Thai produced his ID then people have cause to complain but the report doesn't say he did.

IMO this was a set up!

What should we refer to someone that calls someone else a "goon"?

Well, gee Mr. Traveller, you just called someone a "racist", simply for pointing out that a dual pricing policy that is clearly predicated on a person's race is racist, so what should we call you?

It is not racist for a country to charge non-citizens a different amount than it's own citizens.

In this case they were charging a citizen a different price based entirely on the fact that he looked like he was of a different race. That's racist.

[Remi080]

Thai man massively overcharged at national park because he looks like a farang.

Let us explane this correctly, Thai man ,, massively overcharged ,, at national park.

So what it say is exually that overcharge farangs is just good business , and quite a normal thing for Thai nationals.

But because he is a thai man, its a massively mistake because his looks. So worth to go viral.

This is been for years like this, and still i think its discusting, now its been highlighted again. And again. All people complain about it because its not fair, but no one do something about it. This 2 side price policy makes me sick , it like the black and white people in the us in the old days.

[bazza40]

This must be some kind of record - 333 posts over 200 baht.

If you are going to complain about racism, it exists in every country, so get over it.

If you are going to complain about inflated fees for tourist attractions, simple - don't go there, walk away.

In all this sound and fury, signifying nothing, the fact that there are plenty of quite amazing sights in Thailand one can visit free of charge seems to have been ignored.

[dieseldave1951]

<deleted> Racism here. I am absolutely sick of it. Applies in every corner of this land. I refuse to pay the additional and if they insist I walk away.

and do i !!!

i will not pay ,

I feel its up to the tour operators to inform their customers about the unfair pricing in all countries so at least people can decide BEFORE what country there wish to visit

I never experienced this diabolical duel pricing until i came to Thailand,

If Thailand wants farang to help support the national parks then DONT rip them off

I mean farang pay to come to Thailand to see these places not buy them

But as usual money first talk later, only when the tourist vote by not coming then maybe the people who make these rip of pricing,might listen, but then again maybe not losing face after making a decision unheard of, Thai-ness if so fair to the walking wallets who come here,if the people in charge want to rip us off what does that signal the general Thai people to do ???

talk about taking the preverbal p---

[teacherpaul]

Publicity seeker! Having 5,000 "friends' tells us that!!

He does look farang and if he didn't (unknown) show his ID card to prove otherwise the attendant had every right to charge him the going rate.

I've visited many parks in this country and if I show my Thai drivers licence I get in for the Thai price!

And whats the problem with dual pricing anyway. Western tourists can afford to pay more. Would the foreigner still visit if Thais were made to pay the same? It's 200 baht, take it or leave it.

Your last paragraph is retarded on more than one level.

Firstly, you are encouraging racism - Strike 1

Secondly, what about the rich Thai families? They have more money than the average Westerner, so why should they get in at a low price? - Strike 2

Thirdly, hardly any other country in the world practises dual pricing. Also the fact that it is written in Thai and not English makes it yet another scam. - Strike 3

[tajtom]

Thailand wants to be known as a civilized rusted country

It must conduct itself in that way and stop being stupid and racist. In our countries there is no black white Asian shit.

We do not charge anyone differnet prices. And i must say that little ass wipe Thai needed a good slapping. How dare he insult someone like that

What a flea bag

[teacherpaul]

This must be some kind of record - 333 posts over 200 baht.

If you are going to complain about racism, it exists in every country, so get over it.

If you are going to complain about inflated fees for tourist attractions, simple - don't go there, walk away.

In all this sound and fury, signifying nothing, the fact that there are plenty of quite amazing sights in Thailand one can visit free of charge seems to have been ignored.

None of what you said solves the problem

The only way to solve it is to keep informing tourists via social media until they stop visiting and things change.

Your mantra is a kop-out! #headinthesand

[StefanBBK]

I don't mind dual pricing, but in Thailand it is applied by race. If my family goes somewhere, we pay Thai rates for the Burmese maid, but farang rates for me .

Better system would be to say the price is 200 baht and local tax payers get 90% discount on showing their ID or work permit etc.

This way it would just sound much fairer.

I would only allow this for establishments that are state sponsored, like national parks etc.

Private enterprises like certain Aquariums, zoos etc. Should not be allowed dual pricing. Next we know is different prices in restaurants and supermarkets....

I vote with my feet occasionally.

[biplanebluey]

Well, he does look like a foreigner

Joking aside, the article didn't mention if he did show the ID card or not..

Just try to read the article again, slowly.

However, despite Mr Grittapohn, who has a Thai ID card, explaining to the attendant he was in fact Thai the attendant insisted on him paying the 200 Baht.

I have read it SLOWLY------- now you do the same !!!!! It says he "has a Thai ID card "------ it does not say he showed it!!!!!!!!!!!!! OK?

[bazza40]

This must be some kind of record - 333 posts over 200 baht.

If you are going to complain about racism, it exists in every country, so get over it.

If you are going to complain about inflated fees for tourist attractions, simple - don't go there, walk away.

In all this sound and fury, signifying nothing, the fact that there are plenty of quite amazing sights in Thailand one can visit free of charge seems to have been ignored.

None of what you said solves the problem

The only way to solve it is to keep informing tourists via social media until they stop visiting and things change.

Your mantra is a kop-out! #headinthesand

Excuse me? Didn't I say in my post there are plenty of amazing sights to visit free of charge? That doesn't solve the problem?

Now that you've pissed me off with your ignorant hashtag, I won't tell you where they are.

[speedtripler]

I don't think a dual pricing system is wrong in itself but if it's based solely on whether or not the entrant is a Thai national causes unease.

A system that IMO would be better all round would be making the distinction according to whether or not an entrant possessed an annual national concession card.

A national concession card could be purchased at the point of entry by anyone and would entitle the holder to visit national parks, Wats and other national tourist attractions at a concessionary rate; visitors without a card or who didn't wish to purchase one would be charged the full rate.

A resident of Thailand could purchase the card more cheaply than a non-resident e.g Baht 2,000. as opposed to Baht 4,000. because he or she would be more likely to be contributing more to Thailand generally than a tourist.

As if Thais contribute towards these attractions year round ... The few Thais I know that pay tax only do so because it's automatically deducted from their salary

[hugh2121]

F@@@###ing Racism here. I am absolutely sick of it. Applies in every corner of this land. I refuse to pay the additional and if they insist I walk away.

Me too, If they wont accept my Thai driving license then I tel the to **** Off.

Please everyone if you get charged more than a Thai to enter somewhere then walk away, if enough people do it then they will have no choice but to stop it.

Discovered at Pattaya floating market. Thais entered free, I was told 100 baht to enter. Called my party of Thais back from market and we all walked away, only to be chased and told "everyone free". Hit them in the wallet!!!!

[amerasianex]

Like I've said many times Thais ate their own worst enemy. No with WWW. Exposure. They will loose millions. No one likes to be discriminated against. No one. Dont forget the visitor already spent 60.000 to 100.000 thb just to fly here. Then they are abused victimized. Cheated

once they get here...wrong on many levels..

[KamalaRider]

Is this site run by Thai people?

If not why they keep using the word farang?

If this infamous word will continue to exist discrimination will persist.

Only Thais aren't farrang, that's why, can't use the word westerners or world citizens or non Asian because only people NOT from Thailand are called farrang, and furthermore, it's not used against us in a degrading way, unless there's a lot of negative words mixed in, it's used like we use the word immigrant, outlandish or tourist in our own countries.

Like a person not from Thailand.

Don't be over sensitive.

The word farrang comes from, foreigner or celery (long and white), Thai humour.

[maingmoom]

Publicity seeker! Having 5,000 "friends' tells us that!!

He does look farang and if he didn't (unknown) show his ID card to prove otherwise the attendant had every right to charge him the going rate.

I've visited many parks in this country and if I show my Thai drivers licence I get in for the Thai price!

And whats the problem with dual pricing anyway. Western tourists can afford to pay more. Would the foreigner still visit if Thais were made to pay the same? It's 200 baht, take it or leave it.

The problem is it's discrimination, it's not something most other countries do, it's not what tourist like. And it's wrong.

I have never paid when I have been asked to pay more than a Thai, I walk away.

[KamalaRider]

The Thai government should either agree or disagree with this dual pricing policy.

Announce this fact to the world should they agree and let foreigners decide.

Deception by using Thai numerals would not work in this age of social media.

The Thai government has disagreed with this policy. It is a law, that foreigners who reside in thailand and have proof such as a thai drivers license or a retirement visa or work permit, pay the same amount as Thais. That letter has been sent to every national park in the country. The park wardens are pocketing the difference. They are becoming very wealthy as they only turn over the amount charged to a Thai. Do they care? Does anyone care? Very obviously not.

Not true unfortunately, I looked it up earlier this year when this discussion started in another forum, I was misled to believe the same as you but it's simply not true.

The department of Parks, wildlife and plants conservation have stated this clearly on their website, although, at the moment, the pricelist is nowhere to be seen on their website.

Probably because of this discussion.

http://www.dnp.go.th/parkreserve/entrance_fee.asp?lg=2

I've got 5 year valid drivers license, work permit and ​NON-O with business extension to stay "visa" and I'm massively overcharged at most park the last year.

Walk away with disappointed family, but they accept we walk away because they understand my anger as they are equally angry with the Thai gov. policy.

Edited October 6, 2015 by KamalaRider

[nontabury]

Publicity seeker! Having 5,000 "friends' tells us that!!

He does look farang and if he didn't (unknown) show his ID card to prove otherwise the attendant had every right to charge him the going rate.

I've visited many parks in this country and if I show my Thai drivers licence I get in for the Thai price!

And whats the problem with dual pricing anyway. Western tourists can afford to pay more. Would the foreigner still visit if Thais were made to pay the same? It's 200 baht, take it or leave it.

I've also visited this attraction and shown my Thai drivers license, only to be refused entrance unless I was to pay the higher amount. What happened is that I walked Away along with my Thai family ( 7 people including my two Thai children) On this occasion we knew of another group which included two Koreans, all of whom gained admission at the lower Thai rate.

Regarding your point that western tourist can afford these prices, whilst Thai cannot. You are probably unaware that Approxamately 10% of Thais are in fact much wealthier that most Farangs. I personally know of one Thai who has visited this attraction who is far richer than any Farang living her in Thailand, and yes he is charged the lower price.

[KamalaRider]

http://www.thephuketnews.com/tax-paying-foreigners-not-entitled-to-local-price-at-national-parks-50333.php

Here's a news article about it in Phuket News.​

[speedtripler]

Publicity seeker! Having 5,000 "friends' tells us that!!

He does look farang and if he didn't (unknown) show his ID card to prove otherwise the attendant had every right to charge him the going rate.

I've visited many parks in this country and if I show my Thai drivers licence I get in for the Thai price!

And whats the problem with dual pricing anyway. Western tourists can afford to pay more. Would the foreigner still visit if Thais were made to pay the same? It's 200 baht, take it or leave it.

I've also visited this attraction and shown my Thai drivers license, only to be refused entrance unless I was to pay the higher amount. What happened is that I walked Away along with my Thai family ( 7 people including my two Thai children) On this occasion we knew of another group which included two Koreans, all of whom gained admission at the lower Thai rate.

Regarding your point that western tourist can afford these prices, whilst Thai cannot. You are probably unaware that Approxamately 10% of Thais are in fact much wealthier that most Farangs. I personally know of one Thai who has visited this attraction who is far richer than any Farang living her in Thailand, and yes he is charged the lower price.

OK I'll ask,

how do you know he is more wealthy than any farang in Thailand?

Edited October 6, 2015 by speedtripler

[nontabury]

Went to this same park in Krabi a few weeks ago with my Thai GF... When she saw that they charged me 10X what they charged her, she went off on the guy... Didn't matter, still had to pay, even though I have a Thai DL...

Full credit to your Thai G/F, but why did you still accept this higher change and go in. I certainly would never.

[Thian]

Thais only get paid $5 a day for a 12 hour shift. I dont have a problem paying the farang price!

Thais trying to scam tourists is what needs to change such as the Bangkok taxis.

5 us$ is 175 baht while minimum wage is 300 a day.

[Gecko123]

Thai identity card is criteria for whether Thai entrance fee is charged.

Entrance staff needs additional training.

Move along people.

Nothing to see here.

Edited October 6, 2015 by Gecko123

[todlad]

Here you go again, beer in hand, small brain, mouth engaged.

Thai people should really have been shot at birth don't you think? Wanting to give their own people the chance to improve themselves and educate themselves. It seems the majority of you in this club do nothing but attackThai education so why are you against this policy of dual pricing?

Thailand is a rich country is it: same GDP per capita as, well, you name your home country if its not Thailand. Of course not. Some of the pooret people in Thailand are among the poorest in much of the rest of the world and you know it. Yes, there are rich Thai people too.

I have taken my family to many places where there is discriinatory pricing and I have happily paid up for me. Unseen Thailand is well worth the money and is fascinating and informative for local and foreigner alike.

You all probably know that if you attend some (all?) of these places and have a local driving licence, you will be charged the Thai price. I wonder how many of you are so cheap as to do that?

As far as the boy in this story is concerned, that's a different matter and the person who made a mistake with his ticket and couldn't back down needs a good talking to.

[Jonathan Fairfield]

UPDATE

'Thai' man overcharged at national park is actually an American

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/860915-thai-man-overcharged-at-national-park-is-actually-an-american/

[akampa]

jonclark, on 05 Oct 2015 - 15:30, said:

elviajero, on 05 Oct 2015 - 13:17, said:

Publicity seeker! Having 5,000 "friends' tells us that!!

He does look farang and if he didn't (unknown) show his ID card to prove otherwise the attendant had every right to charge him the going rate.

I've visited many parks in this country and if I show my Thai drivers licence I get in for the Thai price!

And whats the problem with dual pricing anyway. Western tourists can afford to pay more. Would the foreigner still visit if Thais were made to pay the same? It's 200 baht, take it or leave it.

I don't think its the actual financial burden that is the issue here. Its the principle of it. If you accept the dual price system you are actually buying into and tacitly supporting the idea that using race or ethnicity to determine a pricing policy is correct. The fact other countries also follow a similar policy (often put forward as a counter argument) doesn't make is any less wrong or less immoral.

But the wider implications are; What message does this send to the wider population about pricing? It embeds dual pricing in the wider social psyche as an acceptable method to make money.

I think this IS about the money.

[Peter Strand]

That only tells us that foreigners get massively overcharged in Thailand. Nothing new by the way as this is a part of Thai culture and religion. They cheat you wherever they can and if you tell them that you know and do not pay the announced or walk away they mostly getting angry ( I like to make the angry by the way ).

[nontabury]

<deleted> Racism here. I am absolutely sick of it. Applies in every corner of this land. I refuse to pay the additional and if they insist I walk away.

Well go home where there is no racism.

I hope you're not a Yank where they segregation of blacks and whites only 60 years ago. Couldn't sit together on a bus, separate waiting rooms even separate drinking fountains and you have the nerve to say Thais are racist just because little takes offence to locals getting discount. Look at Florida, where foreigners are asked to pay more. Look at the UK where Thai students, EVEN my DAUGHTER who has a British passport and Citizenship has to pay more than residents.

Thais get local discount, it happens all over the world.

You advise people to go home,as there is no racism. If I were to return to my own country because I disagree with the blatant racialism, would my Thai wife and our two children also be expected to leave Thailand as they also think it's very wrong.

I do agree with you that the British government are wrong in discriminating against British people who happen not to live in the Uk, just ask the British pensioners residing in Thailand.

[Nomyai]

Same sh%t different day.

Dispicable a western man try to circumvent the system. Shame on him. Fake name, fake id card. hahahahaha!

[Nomyai]

Same sh%t different day.

Dispicable a western man try to circumvent the system. Shame on him. Fake name, fake id card. hahahahaha!