Double pricing system in Thailand

EDITORIAL
The two-tier pricing dilemma

Double pricing for foreign visitors is not unique to Thailand, but the
govt must do more to inform tourists

Here is the scenario: You are a foreigner on vacation in Thailand and
you have enjoyed your holiday, but then you visit a popular national
park one day. You see a Thai in front of you pay Bt20 for the entry fee
but the price for you is Bt200 because you are a foreigner. Outraged by
such double pricing, you ask questions of the fee collector, but all he
can say is that it is the park management's policy. Now you seem to
have only two extreme options - swallow your pride, pay the fee and
walk in, or turn back with your vacation mood spoiled.

When this same thing happens to Thai tourists during their trips to
foreign countries, their vacation is marred by the bad experience in a
similar way. Never mind the same double pricing practised in other
countries, such a policy sanctioned by national parks and other
government agencies in Thailand has been a cause of bitter complaint
among foreign tourists over many years. This negative feedback is
counterproductive to the Kingdom's great efforts to promote itself as
the region's leading tourist destination.

Thailand is not the only country in the world where foreigners are
charged extra for their visits to government-run attractions. Thais who
have travelled to other continents have confirmed that some countries
in Europe and Asia, despite having stronger economies than Thailand's,
also operate double pricing policies for foreign visitors.

This kind of practice must certainly have drawn complaints from foreign
tourists, particularly from countries where foreigners and locals pay
the same rates for entry to popular tourist attractions.

Agencies responsible for double pricing at Thailand's national parks,
historical sites and other government properties do have an explanation
for such a policy when questioned by the press. They often cite two
main reasons for charging a higher entry fee for foreigners - one is
that the baht is weaker than many other currencies, and the other is
that foreigners do not regularly pay taxes or give charity donations,
parts of which go towards the maintenance of those tourist attractions.
Such explanations, however, seem not to have been commonly made
available to foreign tourists through any form of official government
media. And even if the reasoning is provided, the question remains as
to whether it is acceptable to all.

In an ideal situation the controversial double pricing policy for
foreigners should be scrapped altogether in every country - regardless
of currency value or economic status. But without a conventional
obligation by international agreements or laws, the matter rests
entirely on individual nations' discretion, depending on how they judge
its priority and significance. For disgruntled tourists, being able to
see the whole world without annoying double pricing can only be wishful
thinking for now.

For Thailand in particular, the official stance on double pricing
depends on how seriously and sensitively the government and
tourism-related agencies take foreign tourists' complaints. The problem
is that they may not take this as seriously as their efforts to cash in
from tourism. If they maintain that the double pricing policy is here
to stay, foreign visitors should be kept well informed of the practice
and the reasons behind it. For foreigners who arrive at parks or
historical sites they have long dreamed of visiting, only to be caught
off guard by an entry fee 10 times higher than Thais, they must feel
they are being ripped off. This kind of impression is certainly not
conducive to a pleasurable atmosphere for valued tourists.

Agencies concerned can work more professionally and effectively in
keeping foreigners informed of existing double pricing in Thailand. To
name a few from the ample choices of publicity, the information can be
noted on an immigration form, printed in an official guidebook or tour
ad brochures, or placed on announcement boards at airports, embassies,
tour companies, tourist information centres, etc. An even smarter way,
in the era of worldwide Internet links, would be to post information on
the Websites of Thai government agencies, tour agents and other public
organisations. More channels to access such information will help
prospective foreign visitors decide how they will react to double
pricing in Thailand. As long as Thai authorities cannot afford to forgo
the practice, they should at least give foreign visitors a better
chance to choose to pay or not to pay.

--The Nation 2007-01-01

wrote:
EDITORIAL
The two-tier pricing dilemma

Double pricing for foreign visitors is not unique to Thailand, but the
govt must do more to inform tourists
snip

Here in the Philippines, westerners call it "Skin Tax". If your skin
is not the same color as the locals, you pay more.

wrote in message
ups.com...
EDITORIAL
The two-tier pricing dilemma

Double pricing for foreign visitors is not unique to Thailand, but the
govt must do more to inform tourists

Here is the scenario: You are a foreigner on vacation in Thailand and
you have enjoyed your holiday, but then you visit a popular national
park one day. You see a Thai in front of you pay Bt20 for the entry fee
but the price for you is Bt200 because you are a foreigner. Outraged by
such double pricing, you ask questions of the fee collector, but all he
can say is that it is the park management's policy. Now you seem to
have only two extreme options - swallow your pride, pay the fee and
walk in, or turn back with your vacation mood spoiled.

I don't see a problem with this in principle.

Local's pay other taxes to their national government which
is then used to subsidise their entry into the attraction.

Tourists don't, so their contribution to the local economy,
for the use of subsidised sevices that they enjoy whilst
they are there, is to pay a tax on entry tickets.

WTP?

tim

tim..... wrote:
wrote in message
ups.com...
EDITORIAL
The two-tier pricing dilemma

Double pricing for foreign visitors is not unique to Thailand, but the
govt must do more to inform tourists

Here is the scenario: You are a foreigner on vacation in Thailand and
you have enjoyed your holiday, but then you visit a popular national
park one day. You see a Thai in front of you pay Bt20 for the entry fee
but the price for you is Bt200 because you are a foreigner. Outraged by
such double pricing, you ask questions of the fee collector, but all he
can say is that it is the park management's policy. Now you seem to
have only two extreme options - swallow your pride, pay the fee and
walk in, or turn back with your vacation mood spoiled.

I don't see a problem with this in principle.

Local's pay other taxes to their national government which
is then used to subsidise their entry into the attraction.

Tourists don't, so their contribution to the local economy,
for the use of subsidised sevices that they enjoy whilst
they are there, is to pay a tax on entry tickets.

WTP?


The presumption is that those local attractions are subsidized by the
government. Invariably, they are not, and what should we do with places
that are subsidized by the UN?

CKSF

So you are saying that foreigners should only pay RM2.00 to get treated
in tax-payer subsidized hospital in Malaysia?


Boracay Bill wrote:


wrote:
EDITORIAL
The two-tier pricing dilemma

Double pricing for foreign visitors is not unique to Thailand, but the
govt must do more to inform tourists
snip

Here in the Philippines, westerners call it "Skin Tax". If your skin
is not the same color as the locals, you pay more.

Why be a tourist in Thailand , why be treated like
a idiot, a 'robert' or 'chye tao'.


wrote in message
ups.com...
EDITORIAL
The two-tier pricing dilemma

Double pricing for foreign visitors is not unique to Thailand, but the
govt must do more to inform tourists

Here is the scenario: You are a foreigner on vacation in Thailand and
you have enjoyed your holiday, but then you visit a popular national
park one day. You see a Thai in front of you pay Bt20 for the entry fee
but the price for you is Bt200 because you are a foreigner. Outraged by
such double pricing, you ask questions of the fee collector, but all he
can say is that it is the park management's policy. Now you seem to
have only two extreme options - swallow your pride, pay the fee and
walk in, or turn back with your vacation mood spoiled.

When this same thing happens to Thai tourists during their trips to
foreign countries, their vacation is marred by the bad experience in a
similar way. Never mind the same double pricing practised in other
countries, such a policy sanctioned by national parks and other
government agencies in Thailand has been a cause of bitter complaint
among foreign tourists over many years. This negative feedback is
counterproductive to the Kingdom's great efforts to promote itself as
the region's leading tourist destination.

Thailand is not the only country in the world where foreigners are
charged extra for their visits to government-run attractions. Thais who
have travelled to other continents have confirmed that some countries
in Europe and Asia, despite having stronger economies than Thailand's,
also operate double pricing policies for foreign visitors.

This kind of practice must certainly have drawn complaints from foreign
tourists, particularly from countries where foreigners and locals pay
the same rates for entry to popular tourist attractions.

Agencies responsible for double pricing at Thailand's national parks,
historical sites and other government properties do have an explanation
for such a policy when questioned by the press. They often cite two
main reasons for charging a higher entry fee for foreigners - one is
that the baht is weaker than many other currencies, and the other is
that foreigners do not regularly pay taxes or give charity donations,
parts of which go towards the maintenance of those tourist attractions.
Such explanations, however, seem not to have been commonly made
available to foreign tourists through any form of official government
media. And even if the reasoning is provided, the question remains as
to whether it is acceptable to all.

In an ideal situation the controversial double pricing policy for
foreigners should be scrapped altogether in every country - regardless
of currency value or economic status. But without a conventional
obligation by international agreements or laws, the matter rests
entirely on individual nations' discretion, depending on how they judge
its priority and significance. For disgruntled tourists, being able to
see the whole world without annoying double pricing can only be wishful
thinking for now.

For Thailand in particular, the official stance on double pricing
depends on how seriously and sensitively the government and
tourism-related agencies take foreign tourists' complaints. The problem
is that they may not take this as seriously as their efforts to cash in
from tourism. If they maintain that the double pricing policy is here
to stay, foreign visitors should be kept well informed of the practice
and the reasons behind it. For foreigners who arrive at parks or
historical sites they have long dreamed of visiting, only to be caught
off guard by an entry fee 10 times higher than Thais, they must feel
they are being ripped off. This kind of impression is certainly not
conducive to a pleasurable atmosphere for valued tourists.

Agencies concerned can work more professionally and effectively in
keeping foreigners informed of existing double pricing in Thailand. To
name a few from the ample choices of publicity, the information can be
noted on an immigration form, printed in an official guidebook or tour
ad brochures, or placed on announcement boards at airports, embassies,
tour companies, tourist information centres, etc. An even smarter way,
in the era of worldwide Internet links, would be to post information on
the Websites of Thai government agencies, tour agents and other public
organisations. More channels to access such information will help
prospective foreign visitors decide how they will react to double
pricing in Thailand. As long as Thai authorities cannot afford to forgo
the practice, they should at least give foreign visitors a better
chance to choose to pay or not to pay.

--The Nation 2007-01-01

even when one is paying a different rate from the locals, it is still value for
money compared to Singapore's attractions

On Sat, 6 Jan 2007 11:18:39 +0800, "baldeagle" wrote:

Why be a tourist in Thailand , why be treated like
a idiot, a 'robert' or 'chye tao'.


wrote in message
oups.com...
EDITORIAL
The two-tier pricing dilemma

Double pricing for foreign visitors is not unique to Thailand, but the
govt must do more to inform tourists

Here is the scenario: You are a foreigner on vacation in Thailand and
you have enjoyed your holiday, but then you visit a popular national
park one day. You see a Thai in front of you pay Bt20 for the entry fee
but the price for you is Bt200 because you are a foreigner. Outraged by
such double pricing, you ask questions of the fee collector, but all he
can say is that it is the park management's policy. Now you seem to
have only two extreme options - swallow your pride, pay the fee and
walk in, or turn back with your vacation mood spoiled.

When this same thing happens to Thai tourists during their trips to
foreign countries, their vacation is marred by the bad experience in a
similar way. Never mind the same double pricing practised in other
countries, such a policy sanctioned by national parks and other
government agencies in Thailand has been a cause of bitter complaint
among foreign tourists over many years. This negative feedback is
counterproductive to the Kingdom's great efforts to promote itself as
the region's leading tourist destination.

Thailand is not the only country in the world where foreigners are
charged extra for their visits to government-run attractions. Thais who
have travelled to other continents have confirmed that some countries
in Europe and Asia, despite having stronger economies than Thailand's,
also operate double pricing policies for foreign visitors.

This kind of practice must certainly have drawn complaints from foreign
tourists, particularly from countries where foreigners and locals pay
the same rates for entry to popular tourist attractions.

Agencies responsible for double pricing at Thailand's national parks,
historical sites and other government properties do have an explanation
for such a policy when questioned by the press. They often cite two
main reasons for charging a higher entry fee for foreigners - one is
that the baht is weaker than many other currencies, and the other is
that foreigners do not regularly pay taxes or give charity donations,
parts of which go towards the maintenance of those tourist attractions.
Such explanations, however, seem not to have been commonly made
available to foreign tourists through any form of official government
media. And even if the reasoning is provided, the question remains as
to whether it is acceptable to all.

In an ideal situation the controversial double pricing policy for
foreigners should be scrapped altogether in every country - regardless
of currency value or economic status. But without a conventional
obligation by international agreements or laws, the matter rests
entirely on individual nations' discretion, depending on how they judge
its priority and significance. For disgruntled tourists, being able to
see the whole world without annoying double pricing can only be wishful
thinking for now.

For Thailand in particular, the official stance on double pricing
depends on how seriously and sensitively the government and
tourism-related agencies take foreign tourists' complaints. The problem
is that they may not take this as seriously as their efforts to cash in
from tourism. If they maintain that the double pricing policy is here
to stay, foreign visitors should be kept well informed of the practice
and the reasons behind it. For foreigners who arrive at parks or
historical sites they have long dreamed of visiting, only to be caught
off guard by an entry fee 10 times higher than Thais, they must feel
they are being ripped off. This kind of impression is certainly not
conducive to a pleasurable atmosphere for valued tourists.

Agencies concerned can work more professionally and effectively in
keeping foreigners informed of existing double pricing in Thailand. To
name a few from the ample choices of publicity, the information can be
noted on an immigration form, printed in an official guidebook or tour
ad brochures, or placed on announcement boards at airports, embassies,
tour companies, tourist information centres, etc. An even smarter way,
in the era of worldwide Internet links, would be to post information on
the Websites of Thai government agencies, tour agents and other public
organisations. More channels to access such information will help
prospective foreign visitors decide how they will react to double
pricing in Thailand. As long as Thai authorities cannot afford to forgo
the practice, they should at least give foreign visitors a better
chance to choose to pay or not to pay.

--The Nation 2007-01-01

Why are you complaining about price variation Tim?

You see, in your country Asians are treated as 2nd rank to Black Americans.
You hired your own people first, then if you got extra work no one want it
you gave to us. You made yourself look "Non-discriminated" but deep inside
your heart we know. So now you got the same
"unjust feelings" like you gave it to us back in your home.

What goes around comes around.

Komin = #1 Idiot


"Tim" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 5 Jan 2007 23:13:18 -0000, "tim....."
wrote:


I don't see a problem with this in principle.

Local's pay other taxes to their national government which
is then used to subsidise their entry into the attraction.

Tourists don't, so their contribution to the local economy,
for the use of subsidised sevices that they enjoy whilst
they are there, is to pay a tax on entry tickets.

WTP?

tim

Nice theory but in Thailand tourists pay value added tax just like
Thais. In fact, many tourist pay more in Thai taxes in a few weeks
than a large percentage of Thais pay all year. If by other taxes you
are referring to property tax (laughable amount), or income tax (for
most of the population negligible), I believe you are mistaken.

The only possible excuse is it is their land, their rules. You got
money, they want it. There is no rationalization, it is just gouging
because they can.


Tim


I wish I didn't know now
what I didn't know then.

"Polar Bear" wrote in message
...

even when one is paying a different rate from the locals, it is still
value for
money compared to Singapore's attractions



Then go die there Idiot

your rudeness proves nothing but lack of proper upbringing on your part.

On Sat, 06 Jan 2007 05:06:48 GMT,
"Komin******************************************** ************************************************** ************************************************** **********************************************\"ve akrin*gmail.com
X-Complaints-To:\" " wrote:


"Polar Bear" wrote in message
...

even when one is paying a different rate from the locals, it is still
value for
money compared to Singapore's attractions



Then go die there Idiot