National Park entrance fees to be hiked

[Pleng]

I'm amazed at the amount of people (well 2 in this thread, but I'm guessing it's a representation of a certain percentage of expats living in Thailand, anyway), who have lived here long enough to know the score, will deprive themselves of enjoying some of the beauties of the national parks on some kind of 'principle'.

[dtaai-maai]

You can make it 3, and I suspect many more, if the full price had to be paid.
Not as a matter of principle though.
Like most others on this thread I can get in at the Thai price, but I'd balk at 500 baht unless it was somewhere I was extremely keen to see.

[Big Boy]

It is all relative I suppose. OK, I'm still new here (and convert everything back to my parent currency), but if you're going to get a days entertainment out of it, is £10 really a lot to pay? Its not something you're going to do every day of the year, but for a one off, why deprive yourself of the experience for the sake of £10? How much would you pay in your home country to watch 90 minutes of football?

However, having said the above, if it is somewhere you are going to be in and out of in a couple of minutes, then yes, it is a lot of money.

In my many visits to Thailand together with my current residency, I could probably count on my fingers how many times I've paid the money. Even when I have paid the money, my wife has often gone to the ticket office, and claimed back her 'introducers' fee, which significantly reduces what I've paid. IMHO there is so much to see and do that is free, on the odd occasion when I've had to pay, I've not grumbled (for long ).

I suppose paying the money on those rare occasions makes it feel more like you're treating yourself.

[Super Joe]

i wait outside and drink a couple of beer while my thai gf and family
take the tour inside

Think I've seen you, but this different pricing isn't dual-pricing at all, it's just the same as you would find in, for example, Disney World... if you visit many times throughout the year you get heavily discounted entry via a season ticket. Because of the Westerly migrating patterns of the Hornbill, essentially in that they're the only one's who do not, it goes without saying that Thai National Parks can not, exactly, start issuing season tickets. Thus, the current system. It's obviously not a perfect system, and you can certainly sympathise with the Thai families that visit half a dozen times a year, they're clearly not receiving fair value. Is this fair and right, 'no', I don't even think it's real.

At least we only have to endure this torment very occassionally if at all, imagine your town centre back home was suddenely taken over by marauding foreigners to the extent that you and your mates could no longer enjoy your traditional pie and a pint (read bottle Sangsom from 7)... in the middle of your own town Being turned away, adjudged a waste of the space you'll occupy based on the small amount you'll be spending on mixers Different form of financial discrimination ofcourse.

It's swings & roundabouts a lot of the time. Imagine being in a bar back home and suddenely the owner throws your wife and kids out onto the street because they're only drinking sprites... be 'kin great wouldn't it

SJ

[Nereus]

National Parks seem to be the most prevalent places with dual pricing, but there are other places, such as ancient ruins.
It would probably never happen with Thai logic, but for me if they were to charge the same price for everybody, then erect a sign in English inviting foreigners to make a donation of however much they thought was appropriate, they may be surprised how well such a move would be received.
I remember seeing a similar sign, I think at the Grand Palace in Bangkok, over 20 years ago, where it listed how much the restoration was costing and where the money was being spent.

Another reason the dual pricing gets up peoples noses is the use of the old ancient number symbols to display the price. That, to me, tells me a lot about just what the thinking is behind the two tier pricing.

[Big Boy]

erect a sign in English inviting foreigners to make a donation of however much they thought was appropriate, they may be surprised how well such a move would be received.

Maybe I'm a tight git, but that would never work with me. I'm a person who likes to pay the asking price - I don't give additional donations (not just Thailand). I always work on the principal that if they want more, then they should be up front and for what they want.

I always fear 'additional' donations might not reach the intended recipient i.e.:

100 people @ £10 each - that's easy. The boss will expect £1000. However, how would the boss know that everybody donated an extra £10 - turnstile operator walks home with a nice little earner.

[Nereus]

I always fear 'additional' donations might not reach the intended recipient i.e.:

And you beleive that does not happen now??????

Yes, I know what you mean, but the donation box would need to be like the many other that can be found, such as the at the airport.

[HHTel]

I'm always amused at the dual pricing in 'public toilets'. At many tourist attractions there will be a sign charging 5 baht for the toilet. On the same sign will be a charge for Thai's of 2 baht but so as not to upset foreignors, the 2 baht is in Thai numerals.

[Frank Hovis]

Sometimes after I've been in a public toilet, 100 baht wouldn't be enough.

[bsdk1960]

Sometimes after I've been in a public toilet, 100 baht wouldn't be enough.

[Winkie]

Dual Pricing exists in UK and Europe and everywhere.

I don't think it needs to be a subject of complaint, and guys, you really are using up a lot of energy, feeling bitter over something that is quite normal

[GLCQuantum]

You are quite right Winkie...

It's fairly simple. If you live here and/or work legally the nice 'Ol Thai folk will charge you the Thai price. If you are a tourist (where a great deal of their money comes from and... let's not forget the salary difference between tourists and locals) then you will be charged the tourist price.

Imagine that in your Lonely Planet guide...

'Come visit all the national parks (and waterfalls, ruins, etc etc.) in Thailand for 2 quid or less.'



Makes sense to me.

[bsdk1960]

looks like people lives in thailand think its ok with dual fee ,maybee because they only have to pay thai fee themselves.

[Pleng]

I live here. Since living here I have not had a chance to visit a national park. When I do, I will pay the full fee. It's 500bt. And it's something I'm likely to do, what, 3 or 4 times a year at most? I piss more money than that up Bintabaht or Hi4 in a single evening, and none of the Bahts in Binta are going towards preserving areas of outstanding natural beauty (10 points to everybody who resists the urge to make a poor pun!)