Over 10,000 tourists flock to Erawan waterfall to celebrate Songkran



BANGKOK: -- Over 10,000 local and foreign tourists visited Erawan waterfall on Thursday to celebrate Songkran after the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plants Conservation opens 147 national parks for free public entry since April 7.

The free entry for a family of five at maximum was in response to the government’s tourism promotion policy and to promote unity in families.

Erawan national park chief Mr Poraboot Waiwong said on Thursday that altogether 11,248 people visited the Erawan waterfall. On top of that, there were 118 motorcycles, 2,042 cars and three buses.

Despite the free entry, the park managed to collect over 340,000 baht in entry fees.

Earlier on Wednesday, 5,482 tourists visited the waterfall. The park however made 627,860 baht in revenue in ticket and accommodation rental fees.

Meanwhile on Koh Chang off Trat province, most of the famous beaches were thinly populated due to the hot weather as most tourists chose to stay at their resorts.

Tourists visiting Klong Plu waterfall were visibly disappointed as the creek has almost dried up exposing its bottom of rocks and boulders.

Other waterfalls on the island have also almost dried up.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/159564

-- Thai PBS 2016-04-15

Despite the free entry, the park managed to collect over 340,000 baht in entry fees.

Good on those 1700 farangs for making sense of this nonsensical sentence.

The entrance fee is 300 THB for foreigners (children 200 THB).....despite the free entry

https://www.thainationalparks.com/erawan-national-park

Edited April 15, 201610 yr by Boycie

Thought so, the first that came to mind when I saw free entry was "not farangs".

The main comments about the cost for entry is not the real issue. The issue is 10000 people in a small national park just trash the place. Reality is when people have to pay for somethings they appreciate it more. Any place that has free entry for Thais ends up completely ruined with noise and trash everywhere

Edited April 15, 201610 yr by Time Traveller

I have always been able to pay the Thai price to enter at Erawan and Mae Kamin waterfalls by showing my Thai drivers license. One time I just told them I was Thai and they gave me the thai price. As for trash at Erawan they do not allow anything except for plastic water bottles beyond the second tier and you have to pay a 20 baht deposit on them which you get back when you return with the bottle.

I have always been able to pay the Thai price to enter at Erawan and Mae Kamin waterfalls by showing my Thai drivers license. One time I just told them I was Thai and they gave me the thai price. As for trash at Erawan they do not allow anything except for plastic water bottles beyond the second tier and you have to pay a 20 baht deposit on them which you get back when you return with the bottle.

When was the last time you visited and paid the Thai price?

A farang friend took his Thai family at Christmas time to Erawan Waterfalls and he was charged the foreigner price even thou he showed his work permit and driving licence. He said he'd never visit a Thai NP again.

Why not show a photo of the actual waterfall? Hmmm, could it be because now it's nothing more than a hill?

They won't be able to see the forest for the garbage.

I have always been able to pay the Thai price to enter at Erawan and Mae Kamin waterfalls by showing my Thai drivers license. One time I just told them I was Thai and they gave me the thai price. As for trash at Erawan they do not allow anything except for plastic water bottles beyond the second tier and you have to pay a 20 baht deposit on them which you get back when you return with the bottle.

When was the last time you visited and paid the Thai price?

A farang friend took his Thai family at Christmas time to Erawan Waterfalls and he was charged the foreigner price even thou he showed his work permit and driving licence. He said he'd never visit a Thai NP again.

early February this year at Mae kamin and also erawan museum I paid the Thai price.

I have always been able to pay the Thai price to enter at Erawan and Mae Kamin waterfalls by showing my Thai drivers license. One time I just told them I was Thai and they gave me the thai price. As for trash at Erawan they do not allow anything except for plastic water bottles beyond the second tier and you have to pay a 20 baht deposit on them which you get back when you return with the bottle.

Are you white?