Double pricing system in Thailand

"Polar Bear" wrote in message
...

the fact that so many plane loads of Singaporeans going to thailand for
vacation
everyday is proof that they give value for money.


That proves nothing idiot. It proves you have singled mind. There could go
because of a special package deal (Who will not want to pay less?) Now go
wash my feet idiot!



Komin = #1 Idiot

Check the arrival figures and SIA marketing....the
booking for Bangkok has dropped drastically ...
up to 15%.
It there is bombing again....airlines will be forced
to curtail flights to Bangkok.

Thailand is in the **** now....thanks to the military junta.



"Polar Bear" wrote in message
...

the fact that so many plane loads of Singaporeans going to thailand for
vacation
everyday is proof that they give value for money.

On Sat, 6 Jan 2007 15:35:07 +0800, "baldeagle"
wrote:


How is the national park worth 10 times more than...
say the Singapore Zoo with Safari night tours or Sentosa....

How do you arrived at such ludicrous conclusion.

Care to justify your wild claim !

"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

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
egroups.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

You are talking to that faked Komin. That one is two times dumber than me.

I am the real Komin, right here.

Komin = #1 Idiot

"." wrote in message
...
Singaporean males **** most is Komin arse
because everybody is entitle to **** Komin.

"Komin" wrote in message
ups.com...
Singaporean males go to Thailand for fukkings,

Singaporean males go to Vietnam for fukkings,

Singaporean males go to Cambodia for fukkings .




Polar Bear wrote:
the fact that so many plane loads of Singaporeans going to thailand for
vacation
everyday is proof that they give value for money.

On Sat, 6 Jan 2007 15:35:07 +0800, "baldeagle"

wrote:


How is the national park worth 10 times more than...
say the Singapore Zoo with Safari night tours or Sentosa....

How do you arrived at such ludicrous conclusion.

Care to justify your wild claim !

"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

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
groups.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

Shame on Polar Bear, he might be behind the bombing, who knows.



"baldeagle" wrote in message
...
Check the arrival figures and SIA marketing....the
booking for Bangkok has dropped drastically ...
up to 15%.
It there is bombing again....airlines will be forced
to curtail flights to Bangkok.

Thailand is in the **** now....thanks to the military junta.



"Polar Bear" wrote in message
...

the fact that so many plane loads of Singaporeans going to thailand for
vacation
everyday is proof that they give value for money.

On Sat, 6 Jan 2007 15:35:07 +0800, "baldeagle"
wrote:


How is the national park worth 10 times more than...
say the Singapore Zoo with Safari night tours or Sentosa....

How do you arrived at such ludicrous conclusion.

Care to justify your wild claim !

"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

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
legroups.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

First I think every country can have his own rules. If you don't accept, don't go there.
Thailand I think is still ok, at least usually you don't have to pay more than the locals for food or transportation.

And if a Thai buy a western product he has to pay ten (or more) times for the western wages, than we have to pay for Thai wages on
their products.
If we are still the winner on this big trading cheat, I don't complain if I get a little bit cheated there.

And then I think, in Thailand there are still a lot of nice places were you don't have to pay the 200 Baht.

Günter


schrieb im Newsbeitrag 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

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

Also the same here in World Class Standard Singapore. Go to Sentosa and
visit the Water World Park (or something like that), show identification
that you are a Singaporean, and you will be charged less.

"Ventura" wrote in message
reenews.net...
wrote in message
ups.com...
EDITORIAL
The two-tier pricing dilemma



--The Nation 2007-01-01

Also the same here in World Class Standard Singapore. Go to Sentosa and
visit the Water World Park (or something like that), show identification
that you are a Singaporean, and you will be charged less.

Yep, happens in Europe too.

I go to the local Cathedral, show my residents ID and get
let in free.
Everyone else get's charged five pounds.

(Presumably there are different arrangements for services).

ISTR I've lived in other places where they operate a similar
scheme.

tim

cheapskate!

baldeagle wrote:
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

Irrelevant!
What has such figures got to do with the worth of National park.

baldeagle wrote:
Check the arrival figures and SIA marketing....the
booking for Bangkok has dropped drastically ...
up to 15%.
It there is bombing again....airlines will be forced
to curtail flights to Bangkok.

Thailand is in the **** now....thanks to the military junta.



"Polar Bear" wrote in message
...

the fact that so many plane loads of Singaporeans going to thailand for
vacation
everyday is proof that they give value for money.

On Sat, 6 Jan 2007 15:35:07 +0800, "baldeagle"
wrote:


How is the national park worth 10 times more than...
say the Singapore Zoo with Safari night tours or Sentosa....

How do you arrived at such ludicrous conclusion.

Care to justify your wild claim !

"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

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
legroups.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

"Guenter Marsen" wrote in message
...
First I think every country can have his own rules. If you don't accept,
don't go there.
Thailand I think is still ok, at least usually you don't have to pay more
than the locals for food or transportation.

And if a Thai buy a western product he has to pay ten (or more) times for
the western wages, than we have to pay for Thai wages on their products.
If we are still the winner on this big trading cheat, I don't complain if
I get a little bit cheated there.

And then I think, in Thailand there are still a lot of nice places were
you don't have to pay the 200 Baht.

Günter

Yes.....European will be charge more....Taxi drivers,
restaurants, charged them more and called them fat
meat....or 'fatten pig' (ready for the slaughter).
Even old prostitutes is in the game of charge them
many times more....