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[Mujjiman]

I wont pay it, the money matters not its the principle that the governments is stating.

"Rip of Falangs"

I will not return to Los I have had enough

[yamaharr1]

I know this would never happen but why doesn't foreigner's with a business start to do the same thing in reverse? Start to charge the Thai's 400% more than the foreigners.

If one thing I have learned here is Thai's will never change anything unless you show them the way and a great way would be to charge them in the same fashion they charge foreigner's.

After all they say what are the foreigner's going to do anyway? 98% will pay the fees, so now ask the same question what is the government going to do? Stop giving company registrations or work permits? or maybe they will pass a law that doesn't allow foreigner's to charge Thai's in that way showing to the world the true Thai way of greed.

My choice is just stop going to the places and tell your friends to stop going.

[Bagwan]

If I ever experience an overwhelming need to pay to see water flow downhill, I'll go stand in the shower for 10 minutes. After the Victoria and Niagara Falls anything that Thailand has to offer would be distinctly underwhelming.

[dotcom]

400 baht= pay just once per visit - I went out to the pharmacy & back no probs.

[sonnyJ]

As it says (in the translation) Thanks to Meadish, Students don't require a uniform only a student card.

But what about foreign student in Thailand as me? Am I in Foreign or Thai child category?

Before I have always just paid the Thai adult fees. Or nothing.

[Dakhar]

Never seen anything in Thailand worth the increase in price for me the "falang."

So I always make the "u-turn" my policy.

[JetsetBkk]

I think the majority of tourists who go to national parks pay a tour guide to get in and don't see the price list. If they do see it, they don't read Thai, don't understand why there are two sets of prices and probably don't care. So they pay up - and the government know they will.

Us regular visitors and expats are p1ssing into the wind if we think moaning about it here will do any good.


P.S. I haven't been to a national park for 4 1/2 years, on principle.

[llz]

sriracha john, on 2007-11-28 11:23:39, said:

Kinda funny that there are NO parks listed for Group 4 (free)

The free ones should be :
North :
4.   Doi Wiang Pha National Park   Chiang Mai
6.   Khun Khan National Park   Chiang Mai
7.   Mae Takhrai National Park   Chiang Mai
8.   Mae Tho National Park   Chiang Mai
9.   Mae Wang National Park   Chiang Mai
10.   Op Khan National Park   Chiang Mai
16.   Lam Nam Kok National Park   Chiang Rai
21.   Doi Chong National Park   Lampang
23.   Tham Pha Thai National Park   Lampang
26.   Mae Ngao National Park   Mae Hong Son
29.   Tham Pla - Namtok Pha Suea National Park  Mae Hong Son
31.   Khun Nan National Park   Nan
32.   Khun Sathan National Park   Nan
34.   Nunthaburi National Park   Nan
36.   Tham Sakoen National Park   Nan
37.   Doi Phu Nang National Park   Phayao
38.   Mae Puem National Park   Phayao
40.   Khao Kho National Park   Phetchabun
43.   Kaeng Chet Khwae National Park   Phitsanulok
52.   Khun Phra Wo National Park   Tak
55.   Namtok Pha Charoen National Park   Tak
59.   Phu Soi Dao National Park   Uttaradit
  Central/East/west
2.   Khao Sip Ha Chan National Park   Chanthaburi
8.   Lam Khlong Ngu National Park   Kanchanaburi
10.   Thong Pha Phum National Park   Kanchanaburi
17.   Chaloem Phrakiat Thai Prachan National Park   Ratchaburi
21.   Namtok Chet Sao Noi National Park   Saraburi
25.   Namtok Khlong Kaeo National Park   Trat
  Northeast
12.   Phu Suan Sai National Park   Loei
15.   Phu Langka National Park   Nakhon Phanom
17.   Phu Pha Lek National Park   Sakhon Nakhorn
24.   Na Yung - Nam Som National Park   Udon Thani
  South
6.   Hat Khanom - Mu Ko Thale Tai Nation Park   Nakhon Si Thammarat
8.   Khao Nan National Park   Nakhon Si Thammarat
11.   Ao Manao - Khao Tanyong National Park   Narathiwat
13.   Namtok Sipo National Park   Narathiwat
14.   Namtok Sai Khao National Park   Pattani
18.   Mu Ko Ra - Ko Phra Thong National Park   Phangnga
26.   Mu Ko Phayam National Park   Ranong
32.   San Kala Khiri National Park   Songkhla
38.   Than Sadet - Ko Pha-ngan National Park   Surat Thani

[markg]

The expat community are pissing into the wind if we think we can change this.
The tourists who are here on a 'once in a lifetime' type trip are not likely to do a U-turn because of 200 baht.
The only time i've seen foreigners have an impact directly on Thailands laws has been the (hilarious) government U-turn on the foreign investment act. But we are talking big money here. If all the expats in Thailand refused to ever go to a national park, the government would lose nothing at all.

I chip away as best i can by trying to educate students as to the meaning of 'racism'. Being as this rule hinges on discriminating against someone solely on their appearance then i think we can safely call this racism.

Making a scene at the ticket booth never works. The staff are not empowered to give discounts really, just to follow rules. There is no benefit for the staff to give a discount (it's not their business). They dont really care if you come in or not. They still get their salary.

There's only 2 ways of getting round this.
1. Dont go.
2. Get a Thai to buy the tickets and then just walk in. The muppet in the booth is unlikely to chase after you.

Still makes you feel like a criminal though.

[seri thai]

markg, on 2007-11-29 07:00:04, said:

The expat community are pissing into the wind if we think we can change this.
The tourists who are here on a 'once in a lifetime' type trip are not likely to do a U-turn because of 200 baht.
The only time i've seen foreigners have an impact directly on Thailands laws has been the (hilarious) government U-turn on the foreign investment act. But we are talking big money here. If all the expats in Thailand refused to ever go to a national park, the government would lose nothing at all.

I chip away as best i can by trying to educate students as to the meaning of 'racism'. Being as this rule hinges on discriminating against someone solely on their appearance then i think we can safely call this racism.

Making a scene at the ticket booth never works. The staff are not empowered to give discounts really, just to follow rules. There is no benefit for the staff to give a discount (it's not their business). They dont really care if you come in or not. They still get their salary.

There's only 2 ways of getting round this.
1. Dont go.
2. Get a Thai to buy the tickets and then just walk in. The muppet in the booth is unlikely to chase after you.

Still makes you feel like a criminal though.

To paraphrase Groucho Marx: My son is only half fahrang is it OK if he only goes in up to his knees?
The discrimination is not on race but nationality so its natioalist, not racist.
I think we all know about nationalism in Thailand. Come to think of it its present in most countries.
Most of the contributors sounding off here wouldn't move so far from their beer to visit a national park anyway.
Mostof the fahrangs here can afford it if they choose to visit a site of national interest or beauty. They already pay over the odds for a beer in walking street anyway.
So what price to see a hornbill or pangolin outside of a chinese restaurant?
I do get fed up with fahrangs whingeing about their special status. If you live here, you're special, better get used to it!
I do hope the revenue goes where it will be of appropriate use.......................

[timekeeper]

dual pricing is not exclusive to Thailand, in UK if you go to York, you pay for parking, the locals don't, when you go in the museums, it costs about a fiver, locals get in free. if you own a house in Florida USA you get reduced price concessions at all the theme parks. i am sure there are many more examples of dual pricing tourist/resident worldwide. its not just a Thai issue.

[coalminer]

For what it's worth, the "double pricing" is applied in almost ANY country.
It is only applied in a different way as the Thais do it.

In my country, for example, showing your resident ID-Card at any entrance booth of a zoo, National Park, or whatever, gives you a discounted fare.
Any other person who cannot show his resident ID-Card is automaticly priced as a tourist (higher fare).
Special "price reducement cards" are also supplied by the governement in my country for 60+ citizens, students, retired citizens, orphans, etc... which includes important price reductions on public transport and other (public) services.
Bearing such a card gets you a lower entry price everywhere you go.

Not sure about other countries, but I've read/witnessed about the same things in the US and other parts of the worlds such as France (Disney World) as well.

The SIMPLE solution:

If you dont like the double pricing, just dont go in there.
The overall impression wether a national park (waterfall) is worth a visit or not is left to the individual.

The odd's that the higher fare will end at the right place and will help to sponsor other places is as high as the odds that this world is going to change tomorrow into a peaceful world for everyone.

As a concluding note to this:

I hear so many complaints about this "dual pricing" which is almost the only places in Thailand where a price will be displayed upfront.

But when anyone goes to a "national park" and pay excurbirant prices for his consumption, only to watch a boy or a girl "dance" around a chrome pole, nobody complains.

When someone goes shopping anywhere in Thailand and ends-up paying for the goods of his choice 10 or 20 times the selling price (YES, I've seen this happen many times), nobody complains.

Coalminer

[sriracha john]

llz, on 2007-11-29 03:22:35, said:

sriracha john, on 2007-11-28 11:23:39, said:

Kinda funny that there are NO parks listed for Group 4 (free)

The free ones should be :

Thank you for going to the trouble of going through the process of elimination to generate your list.
Shame the government didn't see fit to do the same.

btw, great news about #26....

[toptuan]

I just struck Thai National Parks off my list of places to visit in the future. Principle. When my Thai friends invite me to go, I'll just be honest and tell them. The price for foreigners is so outrageously high, and my teacher's wage is so marginal, they'll immediately understand.

[sriracha john]

astral, on 2007-11-28 22:59:18, said:

It is a slap in the face for all Western tourists, as no doubt those
with Asian faces will still continue to get in at local rates.

seri thai, on 2007-11-29 07:21:20, said:

The discrimination is not on race but nationality so its nationalist, not racist.

The aspect of this issue described above is what makes it racist.
Simple to eliminate. Check everyone at the gate for a Thai National ID card. If no have, charge foreigner rate.

Edited by sriracha john, 2007-11-29 08:29:50.

[p1p]

seri thai, on 2007-11-29 07:21:20, said:

The discrimination is not on race but nationality so its natioalist, not racist.

I fear you are wrong with your assessment here. I tried to enter a park with a group of friends from Malaysia and Hong Kong. They were all charged Thai rate despite not understanding or speaking a word of Thai. The man in the booth tried to charge myself and my (half) Thai children, who have Thai citizenship, the full Farang rate.
When asked about this, the guy in charge said they regarded Asians as Thai, Farangs were Farang even when they had Thai ID. We only succeeded in getting in, all of us paying Thai admission, after a long discussion and calling his boss.

The discrimination is based on appearance, (I don't like your face,) not nationality.

[ding]

A thorough job OP. I wish there was jouralism like that in America!

Speaking of which, imagine this happening in America. No way. But TIT.

[PeaceBlondie]

State parks in some US states charge more for foreigners, such as Oklahomans who use Texas parks.

I don't go to a park just to see one major attraction. I go for many hours, to enjoy the waterfalls, trails, forest, beach, concessions, hot springs, etc. I paid entrance fees back home, and felt that domestic residents (Texans, for example ) should pay less than the Okies paid.

[Jai Dee]

Interview - Preecha Chansiritanon, Deputy Director General, National Park, Wildlife & Plant Conservation Department



Interview for Andaman News TV11 (VHF dial) 8.30am + maybe FM90.5 Radio Thailand 6pm, both broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket provinces, FM108 Mazz Radio 7.30pm in Phuket & Phuket Cable TV Channel 1 at 7, 10.30 or 11pm, Wednesday 28 November 2007 & http://news.prd.go.th

To see or download mini-video, go to its VDO Clip page, then click on white camera button at top of page

Our interview is with Pree-cha Chan-si-ri-ta-non, Deputy Director General, National Park, Wildlife & Plant Conservation Department, through an Interpreter, Peeranuch Dul-kul, who is also a Technical Forest official, during a meeting held at the Merlin Hotel Phuket yesterday on revising park fees and limiting numbers plus safety. As she explains with effect 1 December 2007, some fragile marine park fees go up, some smaller ones go down, but first talks about the meeting:
…….
Current fee: foreign child: 200 baht, adult 400 baht
Marine park: Thai child 40 baht, adult 80 baht;
Land park: Thai child 20 baht, adult 40 baht.
------
Contact: www.dnp.go.th/index_eng.asp

Source: ThaisNews.com

[sriracha john]

For most Americans, Texas IS a foreign country.

[cali4995]

When they begin setting precedents like this, it never stops. Even sitting down at a local "Thai" restaurant
they will often have a discussion on how much to charge the foreigner. Apartment rates, taxi charges, there
is no end to the list. I initially didn't care to pay a little extra but it's starting to get offensive on principle.

[billrose]

Last week my sister was visiting from England, so I took her to Doi Inthanon. When we got to the gate I wound the window down and showed my Thai drivers licence, and my wife (from the back seat) said "we live in Thailand". They charged us all 40 Baht

One up for the Farangs

[Old Man River]

cali4995, on 2007-11-29 08:51:52, said:

When they begin setting precedents like this, it never stops. Even sitting down at a local "Thai" restaurant
they will often have a discussion on how much to charge the foreigner. Apartment rates, taxi charges, there
is no end to the list. I initially didn't care to pay a little extra but it's starting to get offensive on principle.

I totally agree. I don't ever remember sitting in the US and discussing how much to charge an American vs a non American. This is outright, blatant discrimination and Thai's would never have to deal with this in the US. OK, we are in Thailand now and it isn't the US, but that doesn't make it right. I remember going to Chiang Mai and they had three prices quoted in one place (not a national park). One was for Thai's, one was for farangs and the third and highest was for the Japanese.

I imagine tourists to Thailand don't know the costs as their tour guides take care of it and it is all included in the cost of coming here. They should be told that they are contributing to the same discrimination that they decry as offensive when people from their own country do this to foreigners.

[victor15]

sriracha john, on 2007-11-29 08:26:59, said:

astral, on 2007-11-28 22:59:18, said:

It is a slap in the face for all Western tourists, as no doubt those
with Asian faces will still continue to get in at local rates.

seri thai, on 2007-11-29 07:21:20, said:

The discrimination is not on race but nationality so its nationalist, not racist.

The aspect of this issue described above is what makes it racist.
Simple to eliminate. Check everyone at the gate for a Thai National ID card. If no have, charge foreigner rate.

If you go in the parks with Thai's (family) and have Thai driving license, show it when you go in and 9 times out of ten you will get in at Thai prices, especially if you joke that you are falaang Lao and not falaang tourist.

Also at some parks the driver go's in free. That always upsets the person collecting the fees when the driver is a falaang.

[Seneque]

Clean up the parks first ... rubbish everywhere ... and then i might pay !

I wished the national park administration would set up some trails where we could actually enjoy trekking for possibly, days (chiangmai-Maehongsong accross the forest)... as i did when in europe (France is a good example with their network of trails in national parks ... free of charge!)