National Park entrance fees to be hiked

[buksida]

The National Parks Office, which is under the supervision of Mr Damrong, has recently decided to increase entrance fees for the country's most popular national parks by a whopping 150%, effective Oct 1.

Admission fees for Thai adults will increase from 40 baht to 100 baht while fees for Thai children will jump from 20 to 50 baht.

But foreign visitors will bear the brunt of the increase, with fees going up from 400 baht to 500 baht for adults and 200 baht to 300 baht for children.

The parks office claimed the fee hike is necessary to meet the cost of managing the parks, as funding from the government is insufficient.

However, the massive increases are unjustified and will affect the parks themselves, as the number of visitors, especially foreigners, is likely to fall.

Yutthachai Sunthornrattanavech, president of the Domestic Tourism Business Association, said the sharp increase in admission fees will have a psychological impact on visitors, especially Thai nationals.

He said the parks office should boost services at the parks, such as the number and cleanliness of toilets, and improve garbage collection and security for visitors, before increasing fees.

As the new rates have not yet come into force, the National Parks Office must take this opportunity to improve facilities and services first.

The fee rises themselves also should be reconsidered as they are too high.

More importantly, the two-tier rate for locals and foreigners should be abolished simply because it is discriminatory.

SOURCE: Bangkok Post

[brianks]

Makes all kind of sense for us farangs. Up the Thai fee 60 baht but farang fee 100 baht. 500 baht to now enter a national park? I purchased a lifetime pass for all the National Parks in the U.S. for less than that. Haven't paid those discriminatory fees yet and don't ever plan to. Just will miss the "exotic" scenery of the park.

[dtaai-maai]

^^I don't know what you're complaining about. Before the rises farang were paying 10 times as much as Thais; after the rises, the farang price will be only 5 times as much. The Thai price has been increased by 150%, while the farang price will only rise by 25%. I'm surprised this obvious move towards price equality wasn't highlighted by the parks department...

[Takiap]

The only time I've been to Sam Roy Had or whatever it's called, I was the poorest person there, but I was charged the highest entrance fee. Once inside, both my wife and I decided that it's the park that should be paying visitors. Maybe we went on a bad day, but it was the filthiest beach I've ever seen in Thailand.


I agree with some of the comments in the original post.........


Sort out the amenities within these parks before upping the price. If I have to pay 400 baht more than a wealthy Thai from Bangkok, then I should get a special pass to use a clean toilet, and food I order, which I pay extra for, should be served on a ceramic plate rather than in a plastic bowl.


Maybe they should use the extra revenue to send management to SA so they can learn a bit about park management. I'm not trying to be funny, but since arriving here in 1997, I have not come across a park that's worth paying 500 baht to enter.

In fact, even the captive deer breeding center has slipped downhill......what a shame.

[Big Boy]

I thought as a long term resident of Thailand that you could get away with Thai prices providing you showed some proof such as a driving licence. Or have i mis-understood ............ again?

[HHTel]

You're absolutely right BB. Anywhere there is a dual pricing system, I have showed my Thai driving licence and paid the Thai price. I and my kids have never paid the higher price.
It is of course not shown at the gates but has always worked for me.

[Pleng]

Haven't paid those discriminatory fees yet and don't ever plan to. Just will miss the "exotic" scenery of the park.

Sound's like your cutting you nose of to spite your face there.

It's not like national parks are something you visit every day so firstly 500bt is hardly going to break your bank and, secondly, nobody in 'the system' is going to hear your silent protest - even if they did nobody would take any notice of it. Seem to me like there's really only one person loosing out in this situation....

[GLCQuantum]

The only place I have ventured to that has a dual pricing system is Pala U waterfall. Took the motorbike up there from Hua Hin with the ex (didn't realise how bloody far it was at the time!). I think it was something like 40 baht for Thai's and 400 for foreigners. I told the chappy at the gate that I was a teacher here and used a little bit of Thai with him and he waved me through at the Thai price.

[Spitfire]

I've been to a national park or two but have paid the local price by showing my work permit, so can't really complain. Although, this subject does make me chuckle a bit privately when I think about what would be said in the UK if Buckingham Palace was declared free for English people and 20 pounds for foreign people/tourists (including the Scottish).

[bsdk1960]

I never paid farang price, i wait outside and drink a couple of beer while my thai gf and family
take the tour inside,no way it gonna happens i will pay 10 times what a thai paid,even that i can afford it.

[brianks]

^^I don't know what you're complaining about. Before the rises farang were paying 10 times as much as Thais; after the rises, the farang price will be only 5 times as much. The Thai price has been increased by 150%, while the farang price will only rise by 25%. I'm surprised this obvious move towards price equality wasn't highlighted by the parks department...

Oh yes, I forgot--Price Equality HUH! Up Thai price 60 baht and farang price 100 baht is price quality? Someone seems to be a spokesman for the government and all of its double speak. I am not losing anything since I have and will never visit one of those parks at those prices since coming here 5 years ago.

I will send a letter to the U.S. and recommend that they charge citizens $10 and Thai foreigners $50 to see the Grand Canyon. Now that would be true price equality Thai Style.

As is mentioned in the article it is discrimination any way you cut it.

[Frank Hovis]

Although, this subject does make me chuckle a bit privately when I think about what would be said in the UK if Buckingham Palace was declared free for English people and 20 pounds for foreign people/tourists (including the Scottish).

Veering off topic a bit but I think that's how Scottish universities work - free for Scottish people and anyone from the EU but English, Welsh and NI students have to pay the same price as those from non-EU member states.

I think dual-pricing is quite a sensible way for a government to act - it's tax paying citizens (regardless of origin which is partly the trouble) already pay toward things like National Parks and major infrastructure so why shouldn't they get a break when visiting/using those facilities. A Thai driving license and the ability to talk Thai a little, certainly helps.

[Spitfire]

I think that's how Scottish universities work - free for Scottish people and anyone from the EU but English, Welsh and NI students have to pay the same price as those from non-EU member states

That's Alex Salmond for you.

Sorry folks.....we should get back to topic before some other entity tells us to do so as this and the last post is 'Current Affairs'.

[migrant]

Mrs M always talks to the entrance guard also. She tells them we live in BKK but I forgot my license, always got Thai price.

BTW here in Southern California the mighty Disneyland has promotions where residents get discounts if they show a local drivers license

[dtaai-maai]

^^I don't know what you're complaining about. Before the rises farang were paying 10 times as much as Thais; after the rises, the farang price will be only 5 times as much. The Thai price has been increased by 150%, while the farang price will only rise by 25%. I'm surprised this obvious move towards price equality wasn't highlighted by the parks department...

Oh yes, I forgot--Price Equality HUH! Up Thai price 60 baht and farang price 100 baht is price quality? Someone seems to be a spokesman for the government and all of its double speak. I am not losing anything since I have and will never visit one of those parks at those prices since coming here 5 years ago.

I will send a letter to the U.S. and recommend that they charge citizens $10 and Thai foreigners $50 to see the Grand Canyon. Now that would be true price equality Thai Style.

As is mentioned in the article it is discrimination any way you cut it.

Brianks, I was kidding. I'll try to make it more obvious next time.