webfact Posted June 27, 2017 Share Posted June 27, 2017 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quadperfect Posted June 27, 2017 Share Posted June 27, 2017 Also help pay for sub maintenance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whatawonderfulday Posted June 27, 2017 Share Posted June 27, 2017 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 !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WinnieTheKhwai Posted June 27, 2017 Share Posted June 27, 2017 (edited) 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) Edited June 27, 2017 by WinnieTheKhwai Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoePai Posted June 27, 2017 Share Posted June 27, 2017 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JCauto Posted June 27, 2017 Share Posted June 27, 2017 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! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cadbury Posted June 27, 2017 Share Posted June 27, 2017 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KIWIBATCH Posted June 27, 2017 Share Posted June 27, 2017 gotta pay for those submarines somehow...oooh and the hi speed rail project..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowboat Posted June 27, 2017 Share Posted June 27, 2017 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whatawonderfulday Posted June 27, 2017 Share Posted June 27, 2017 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 ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JCauto Posted June 27, 2017 Share Posted June 27, 2017 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... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
losername Posted June 27, 2017 Share Posted June 27, 2017 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cadbury Posted June 27, 2017 Share Posted June 27, 2017 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! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HiSoLowSoNoSo Posted June 27, 2017 Share Posted June 27, 2017 Is this included in the ASEAN spirit the Thais has boosted so much about during the last couple of years? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrissables Posted June 27, 2017 Share Posted June 27, 2017 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! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cadbury Posted June 27, 2017 Share Posted June 27, 2017 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farcanell Posted June 27, 2017 Share Posted June 27, 2017 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tilacme Posted June 27, 2017 Share Posted June 27, 2017 One more reason why a day trip to Siem Reap is probably never going to happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redline Posted June 27, 2017 Share Posted June 27, 2017 Make all roads toll roads, then give out more loans Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dumbastheycome Posted June 27, 2017 Share Posted June 27, 2017 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PoorSucker Posted June 27, 2017 Share Posted June 27, 2017 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fruitman Posted June 27, 2017 Share Posted June 27, 2017 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richard_smith237 Posted June 27, 2017 Share Posted June 27, 2017 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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