Thailand considers tolls for roads used by cross-border motorists

 

BANGKOK: Thailand might collect tolls for roads used by motorists crossing the border from neighbouring countries, a senior government official said on Monday (Jun 26), China’s Xinhua news agency reported.

 

According to Wilairat Sirisophonsilp, deputy director of the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning, the agency is conducting a feasibility study on its plan to collect tolls for highways and roads on which motorists from the neighboring states may use while travelling by car in the country.

 

The tolls would primarily be used to fund repairs and maintenance of the roads which link Thailand with its neighbors as well as other expenditures related to the preservation of natural environment and the handling of possible road accidents, said the official.

 

Full story: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/thailand-considers-tolls-for-roads-used-by-cross-border-8981116

 

-- CHANNEL NEWSASIA 2017-06-27

Also help pay for sub maintenance.

Excellent idea.  Up here in Udon Thani more and more vehicles from Laos can be seen, some I have noticed on a regular basis doing their weekly shop in Macro in Nong Khai or Tesco Lotus in Udon.   Seems only right that those that use the Thai infrastructure on a regular basis contribute something to it.  Perhaps just a fee payable at point of entry would suffice.  In cash of course to the immigration police !!

I hope that means that Chinese people can drive to Thailand again?    They seriously stopped the growth from that market dead when a ban was introduced.  

 

Plus the banning of Chinese cars makes no sense, I'd much rather have tourists driving their own vehicle that they're familiar with and are careful with than just renting a Thai car.  (Or worse: a motorcycle)

2 hours ago, whatawonderfulday said:

Excellent idea.  Up here in Udon Thani more and more vehicles from Laos can be seen, some I have noticed on a regular basis doing their weekly shop in Macro in Nong Khai or Tesco Lotus in Udon.   Seems only right that those that use the Thai infrastructure on a regular basis contribute something to it.  Perhaps just a fee payable at point of entry would suffice.  In cash of course to the immigration police !!

So foreigners drive to Thailand and spend money on petrol and Thai goods which all contain VAT plus the sellers profits etc etc - then get asked to contribute to the road maintenance ?

What a dumb idea  

3 hours ago, whatawonderfulday said:

Excellent idea.  Up here in Udon Thani more and more vehicles from Laos can be seen, some I have noticed on a regular basis doing their weekly shop in Macro in Nong Khai or Tesco Lotus in Udon.   Seems only right that those that use the Thai infrastructure on a regular basis contribute something to it.  Perhaps just a fee payable at point of entry would suffice.  In cash of course to the immigration police !!

Yes, it's a very far-sighted move, similar to the way the new in-out rules basically now limit any expatriates in Laos to only two overland crossings per year. Before, most of them would make regular shopping trips across the border to Macro and various other shops in Nong Khai, Udon and Khon Kaen. Now they don't. Fortunately there's no more tearing up of the roads due to these callous shoppers. Just in case there still are, this new tax ought to put an end to it. Phew, another problem solved by the Junta!

No one in their wildest dreams could ever believe this tax would end up being spent on road maintenance. It would quickly disappear not far from the point of collection. Similar to the fees for National Parks.

gotta pay for those submarines somehow...oooh and the hi speed rail project.....

4 hours ago, whatawonderfulday said:

 Seems only right that those that use the Thai infrastructure on a regular basis contribute something to it.  Perhaps just a fee payable at point of entry would suffice.  In cash of course to the immigration police !!

Do other countries tax Thais in the same way ?  Maybe not, as Thais really do not like leaving Thailand.  Know women along the Cambodia and Lao borders.  Never occurred to them to have a look on the other side.   

39 minutes ago, Cadbury said:

No one in their wildest dreams could ever believe this tax would end up being spent on road maintenance. It would quickly disappear not far from the point of collection. Similar to the fees for National Parks.

So presumably you think that Brits should not pay any of the tolls on Autoroutes in mainland Europe when they take their car to the continent ?

2 minutes ago, whatawonderfulday said:

So presumably you think that Brits should not pay any of the tolls on Autoroutes in mainland Europe when they take their car to the continent ?

Presumably the countries in Europe don't have a toll policy based on identification of routes most used by Brits...

5 minutes ago, whatawonderfulday said:

So presumably you think that Brits should not pay any of the tolls on Autoroutes in mainland Europe when they take their car to the continent ?

Everyone pays those tolls including the native residents.

1 minute ago, whatawonderfulday said:

So presumably you think that Brits should not pay any of the tolls on Autoroutes in mainland Europe when they take their car to the continent ?

What on earth has road toll in Britain got to do with Thailand? Keep on topic please.

The subject is about road toll in THAILAND.

In any case I was talking about where the money was NOT likely to end up. I made no comment as to whether they should or shouldn't have a toll. Pay attention please!

 

Is this included in the ASEAN spirit the Thais has boosted so much about during the last couple of years?

50 minutes ago, whatawonderfulday said:

So presumably you think that Brits should not pay any of the tolls on Autoroutes in mainland Europe when they take their car to the continent ?

Nice valid comparison, not!

 

 

3 minutes ago, HiSoLowSoNoSo said:

Is this included in the ASEAN spirit the Thais has boosted so much about during the last couple of years?

Talking the talk is one thing for Thailand so far as ASEAN is concerned. Walking the talk is something completely different when it comes to opportunities to grab some easy moolah from your neighbours.

I would happily pay a toll to use a better/ safer road.... but not so happy to pay to use the existing ones.

 

this seems just another unwanted hand reaching into a travelers pocket... and undoubtedly it will be a two tiered payment system.

One more reason why a day trip to Siem Reap is probably never going to happen.

Make all roads toll roads, then give out more loans

7 hours ago, JCauto said:

Yes, it's a very far-sighted move, similar to the way the new in-out rules basically now limit any expatriates in Laos to only two overland crossings per year. Before, most of them would make regular shopping trips across the border to Macro and various other shops in Nong Khai, Udon and Khon Kaen. Now they don't. Fortunately there's no more tearing up of the roads due to these callous shoppers. Just in case there still are, this new tax ought to put an end to it. Phew, another problem solved by the Junta!

Lol

So foreigners drive to Thailand and spend money on petrol and Thai goods which all contain VAT plus the sellers profits etc etc - then get asked to contribute to the road maintenance ?

What a dumb idea  

Hmm, fill up the the tank while shopping in Thailand, good idea.

 

Also Germany is planning roadtolls for it's neighbours only and they are in the EU where they fight for open borders and open trade.

 

So Thailand can do the same to it's neighbours, why not?

 

Maybe many Myanmar citizens drive over the Thai roads when they want to drive south? I assume Thai roads will be better than the ones in Myanmar but i might be wrong, never been there.

The idea is idiotic, short sighted and xenophobic.... Its as disagreeable as the double pricing in national parks and potentially causes more PR damage than the financial reward offsets. 

 

Foreigners driving into Thailand spend money here which goes back into the economy.

 

Just so long as the vehicles are road worthy, insured and driven safely there is no detrimental effect to receiving foreign visitors on the roads in Thailand, quite the contrary. 

 

Thailand appears to be losing its charm in the way it once welcomed visitors with open arms.