Tourism: An end to dual pricing? Tourism minister talks of stimulus measures

[Peterw42]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

In Chiang Mai, for example, tourists should be encouraged to get away to places such as Lampang, Lamphun and Phayao. 

Yes, TM30 certainly encourages "getting away"to other places.

[Fex Bluse]

1 hour ago, Genmai said:

Of course not, you’re Thai. Wouldn’t expect you to look past your own nose to show concern for someone else. Thais wouldn’t give a toss about something unless it concerns their own pocket. Obviously the only reason this is even in the news is because tourism is tanking.

 

Typical Thai logic. How about the guys on here who’ve lived here for decades? Are they not “local” enough for you?

As the Thais say
 

"Even the Farang born in Thai, him not have the Thai blood so him not Thai"

 

Blood Types

AB-negative

B-negative

AB-positive

A-negative

O-negative

B-positive

A-positive 

Thai Blood

[Date Masamune]

If it was eliminated officially (National Parks, Government Hospitals) "foreigners should pay more" is still completely ingrained in the psyche of those who have become greedy though interaction with tourists. Would take a generation or more to eliminate dual pricing. In the US we have open racists and white supremacists, never even heard of duel pricing supported by their ilk. A completely irrational idea.

[Fex Bluse]

22 minutes ago, neeray said:

The OP is a step in the right direction (a little one). It's never nice to see someone grovel but Thailand's time has come. I hope it's not too late.

Many of us hope it IS too late. 

 

And, it's lovely to see them grovelling.

 

Thailand has earned any bad fortune in its foreign tourism sector.

 

What other countries' ministries need to constantly tell its citizens things like:

1. "No more taking advantage of tourists"

2. "No more dual pricing and over charging of tourists"

3. "Our police love all tourists -- Thai and even foreign tourists"

 

Come on. Why would any foreigner feel sorry for these people? It's crazy.

[Cadbury]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Tourism minister talks of stimulus measures

The Tourism minister has already talked of stimulating inbound western tourism from Europe. 

He is the one who came up with bright ideas of massage and ganja to draw them in. 

Now he thinks that electronic gaming sports might be the answer.

Dual pricing is firmly entrenched and those who benefit are not going to give it up.

Casinos is the only way to bring in more tourists. But with casinos comes corruption and crime and bad people, however there shouldn't be any noticeable difference to what there is now. 

[LazySlipper]

1 hour ago, Yinn said:

Not everyone. I not piss off. 

So, you like dual pricing?

 

I have an igloo for sale in the north pole. I'll even throw in the refrigerator for free. 

 

How 'bout it?

[Fex Bluse]

3 minutes ago, Cadbury said:

The Tourism minister has already talked of stimulating inbound western tourism from Europe. 

He is the one who came up with bright ideas of massage and ganja to draw them in. 

Now he thinks that electronic gaming sports might be the answer.

Dual pricing is firmly entrenched and those who benefit are not going to give it up.

Casinos is the only way to bring in more tourists. But with casinos comes corruption and crime and bad people, however there shouldn't be any noticeable difference to what there is now. 

I think the VERY BEST way to get more tourists here is for the government to forget its Victorian false pride and to sell Thailand on its strengths.

 

1. Encourage more and prettier Thai girls into the massage I mean salon and beauty I mean sex trade.

2. Advertise these prettier, younger Thai girls everywhere they currently advertise the current tourism ads.

 

This is the country's only real tourism value.

[sturdyd]

Pipat sounds like an astute guy. Alas, such visionaries are rare and generally ignored. Too bad.

[Sonhia]

How about enforcing retailers to put prices on all products, clearly marked, give receipts and as with western countries, give the consumer rights unlike here whereby the consumer is normally given a much higher Micky mouse price for a product unmarked especially to a foreigner and when bought if the product is faulty, tough luck, the consumer looses out. I can recall many instances where Thai retailers cheated me in that disgusting manner.

[SoilSpoil]

1 hour ago, Matzzon said:

What´s wrong with dual pricing? It have worked for years, and all the money-buffed tourists that are visiting Thailand can afford to pay.

Everybody knows:If you can´t pay, there´s no play.

It clearly hasnt worked for years. Lots of people, including myself, feel offended by it. Whether people can afford it or not, is not an issue. The feeling of being ripped off is.

 

[tlandtday]

hey how about simply starting by breaking up the tuktuk mafia in phuket and the motorcycle mafia in pattaya that would be an easy solution if anyone has the balls to do it

[MRToMRT]

Something positive posted about ending an unfair practice and all you all do is whinge. 
 

IF I were Thai and considered TV posters are typical of Farangs in Thailand then I would want them all out. Nothing but whinging, know it alls who are bitter and twisted to the core. 

[drbeach]

2 hours ago, Happy Grumpy said:

Will happen just after Thailand agrees to become a province of Cambodia. 

LOL. Unlikely that will happen since Cambodia is already becoming a province of China.

[Fred white]

2 hours ago, holy cow cm said:

So many times I have seen red being charged more than the locals. I even stopped going to parks because of this atrocity of being raped. It would be a good direction to go. They could have discounts to seniors and students and such, but as average human beings, same same, not different. 

Alot of places do have discounts or free entry for students in uniform

[Yinn]

2 hours ago, 4MyEgo said:

Ah equality at its best, something Thailand is lacking, especially when it comes to tourists and their own women.

I read you say your wife “whore” before on other thred. Not nice!

But you wrong again. Thai women number 1 in world!!!!!!

 

https://www.thailand-business-news.com/news/top-stories/29585-thailand-has-most-women-in-top-management.html

 

More than farang woman.

 

2 hours ago, 4MyEgo said:

 

Now I won't bother explaining myself as one would have to take off their blinkers first, or go out of the country to see how others are treated as equals in most western countries, including tourists, but this could be like losing face for some, as the truth can hurt ????

You say you block me! I think frial ego.

 

But you answer!!! 555555555 you lie!!!

 

[Fred white]

53 minutes ago, Fex Bluse said:

Agree the ugly ones are cheaper but the industry is looking rather dull lately. 

Maybe the government can even encourage some of the pearl skinned women into the trade.

Sorry don't like the pearl skinned girls they look like ghosts

[Lemonltr]

Some things are cheap in Thailand, many not but Thais (an upper middle income country even when the baht was much lower) think everything is cheap for farang. A UK based Thai I know had not been back here for 15 years. I was interested in her views on any changes. Only one word "expensive"! 

[drbeach]

Very pleased to read this. I hope the tourism minister follows through on this. The time has come to address this issue. Thailand isn't poor anymore. Nothing irks me more than seeing families of well off Thais driving their pickup trucks and sedans into places like Sukhothai historical park, meanwhile backpackers on their bicycles, with their limited traveling budgets are expected to pay 5 times more. It's offensive and ridiculous. Even in Vietnam, a poorer country where few locals can afford cars, relatively few tourist sites charge foreigners more than locals. If Vietnam can do it, Thailand can too. I also wonder how many Burmese and Cambodians and other "Thai looking" people get in for the local price, which makes farangs feel cheated and racially discriminated against; even more so if Thai speaking expats are still denied the local price.

Ironically enough though, in countries like Laos which also employ dual pricing, they are more reasonable because they actually take the whole differential pricing by nationality seriously - thus Thais, Vietnamese and Chinese have to pay the foreigner price. They don't assume because you share the same skin color as a local that you are a local.

 

I suggest they phase this in gradually, starting with all privately owned tourist attractions, which should be forced to implement a one price policy immediately. Essentially charge foreigners the Thai price, don't bring up the Thai price to the foreigner price as that may be too expensive, besides, most tourist attractions rely primarily on Thai visitors anyway. Or what they could do is if the Thai/foreigner price is currently 300/900 Baht, then make the single entry fee 400 Baht for all. Something like that.

 

Then go for historical sites. Perhaps about the only places that might retain dual pricing (which I would still disagree with but can see them retaining it for some time to come for national heritage reasons) would be the Grand Palace. However, I would suggest that expats be allowed in for free, like Thais are. It's like this in Vietnam. The Hue Imperial Palace is one of the few tourist attractions that retains an official dual pricing policy. It's probably an equivalent (of sorts) of the Grand Palace in Bangkok.

[Yinn]

2 hours ago, Genmai said:

Of course not, you’re Thai. Wouldn’t expect you to look past your own nose to show concern for someone else. Thais wouldn’t give a toss about something unless it concerns their own pocket. Obviously the only reason this is even in the news is because tourism is tanking.

 

Typical Thai logic. How about the guys on here who’ve lived here for decades? Are they not “local” enough for you?

 

2 hours ago, BobbyL said:

I agree it is. I also think tourists should be charged more, that is part of a holiday.

 

What really makes me annoyed is the fact that each year I pay around 156,000b / year in tax to the Thai economy and I am never allowed to enter places at a reduced rate. Sometimes it is 6 - 8 times the price what is scandalous for someone who actually lives here full time. 

 

3 hours ago, Pumpuynarak said:

I live here.....

If you show the driving liscence and ask in thai, most time will get a discount.

sure.

[drbeach]

2 minutes ago, Lemonltr said:

Some things are cheap in Thailand, many not but Thais (an upper middle income country even when the baht was much lower) think everything is cheap for farang. A UK based Thai I know had not been back here for 15 years. I was interested in her views on any changes. Only one word "expensive"! 

Anything imported, including food and beverages imported from other countries is expensive in Thailand. Ditto for cars, even locally built ones are more expensive than the same vehicles sold in western countries. This is true even when these vehicles are imported - in Australia, a country that no longer manufactures cars, a Toyota Corolla (probably manufactured in Thailand) is absurdly enough cheaper than a Toyota Corolla sold in Thailand (maybe not that much cheaper, but still). This makes zero sense given that the cost of shipping has to be added to the final sales price, plus things like land rental and labor costs in Australia are higher than in Thailand hence there are higher costs associated with getting the car into Australia, into a showroom and selling it to a customer than in Thailand.

 

Not that Thais are poor anymore (they aren't), but I am still amazed by how Thais on 15,000-20,000 Baht monthly incomes can afford to buy new cars or even any car. Back home, one would probably only buy an old clunker on such a salary. Something is amiss here.

[BobbyL]

4 minutes ago, Yinn said:

 

 

If you show the driving liscence and ask in thai, most time will get a discount.

sure.

Sadly, not true for me and all my friends here.

 

It used to be a DL or WP would entitle you to the reduced rate. Over recent years every place I have been has refused it and said only PR is allowed. My thinking is it was an order from the government to stop allowing it as I did used to get a reduced rate maybe 4 - 5 years ago. 

 

In the last year I have had to pay the full rate in Ayutthaya, Koh Chang and the national park near Hua Hin with the temple in the cave (forgot its name). I think Ayutthaya it was 40b for locals and 320b for foreigners. That is outrageous. 

[Yinn]

1 hour ago, Fex Bluse said:

Many of us hope it IS too late. 

 

And, it's lovely to see them grovelling.

 

Thailand has earned any bad fortune in its foreign tourism sector.

 

What other countries' ministries need to constantly tell its citizens things like:

1. "No more taking advantage of tourists"

2. "No more dual pricing and over charging of tourists"

3. "Our police love all tourists -- Thai and even foreign tourists"

 

Come on. Why would any foreigner feel sorry for these people? It's crazy.

 

[gunderhill]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

but their families and friends who would stay in hotels, go to restaurants and visit tourist attraction.

no  way  are  they  staying  with  me and  lumbering  me  with  the  tm90 b.s

[Jane Dough]

2 hours ago, LennyW said:

Nothing more than a throw away line to grab the headline, the article has a lot more to say.

 

Not that important anyway, a few of the perpetual whingers about dual pricing on here makes no difference in the grand scheme of things.

Sanook thought it was important enough. They, along with Thaivisa, made the issue of dual pricing their headline amid Pipat's many other comments. 

 

Rooster

[Fex Bluse]

6 minutes ago, Yinn said:

 

If already have so many, why government cry cry about the tourist ?

[Yinn]

18 minutes ago, MRToMRT said:

Something positive posted about ending an unfair practice and all you all do is whinge. 
 

IF I were Thai and considered TV posters are typical of Farangs in Thailand then I would want them all out. Nothing but whinging, know it alls who are bitter and twisted to the core. 

I know 95% of farang ok good people. Happy and polite. Welcome to Thailand sure.

 

But only maybe 70% of thaivisa poster ok. 5555555

some the guy weird people. Angry. 

 

Many marry sex worker, and complain, criticize, ridicule and mock thai people everyday. And still want live here! 

 

 

[Yinn]

4 minutes ago, Fex Bluse said:

If already have so many, why government cry cry about the tourist ?

He not cry.

 

just more promotion.

reduce plastic, update website. 

Make tourist happy. 

He do the good job I think.

Very successful (look at graph) see. 

If you want successful must hard work and always improve= more successful!!!

 

[Fex Bluse]

15 minutes ago, Yinn said:

I know 95% of farang ok good people. Happy and polite. Welcome to Thailand sure.

 

But only maybe 70% of thaivisa poster ok. 5555555

some the guy weird people. Angry. 

 

Many marry sex worker, and complain, criticize, ridicule and mock thai people everyday. And still want live here! 

 

 

I know 95% of Thai people like Thai people. But maybe not like Farang.

[sammieuk1]

Even TAT should be able to get this right 1st stop killing them 2nd stop rinsing them 3rd the best bit make more money????

[from the home of CC]

3 hours ago, Genmai said:

Of course not, you’re Thai. Wouldn’t expect you to look past your own nose to show concern for someone else. Thais wouldn’t give a toss about something unless it concerns their own pocket. Obviously the only reason this is even in the news is because tourism is tanking.

 

Typical Thai logic. How about the guys on here who’ve lived here for decades? Are they not “local” enough for you?

These guys that have been here for 'decades' -  so what. Do they work for a dollar a hour? IMO they're not even close to being local enough. If people don't want to pay a premium price for something then don't, it's very simple. Why should Thais care about whether the price is too much for a tourist when their main concerns are feeding their families and providing shelter and education for their children. All these cheap bastards could go back tomorrow and Thailand will carry on just fine without them no matter how much whining they do.