Thailand's National Parks-- Avoid Them!
 

I have spent a great deal of time in Thailand &amp; find the country and the Thai people to be amazing! However, there is one big drawback-- the national parks in Thailand cost foreigners 10 TIMES-- yes, that's right 10 TIMES the rate charged to Thai nationals! (Mind you, the fee is not that much for Americans-- but it's the principal of the thing: everyone should pay the same price!) The national parks are typically not really that spectacular-- so you're not missing that much-- but it is my suggestion that you forego the national parks. When the Thai government starts seeing lower numbers of foreigners &amp; less cash in the till, they'll get the message that this practice is unacceptable!<BR><BR>Enjoy the rest of Thailand-- it is spectacular-- just boycott the Thailand National Parks!

UHHH... since you've spent a great deal in thailand and in asia. you should have realized that you almost always get quoted more then the locals on everything.. <BR><BR>that is one fact that does drive me nuts about thailand .. like you said it's the principal...

Did you go to the National Park on Phuket? I plan to go in a few weeks. Please give your opinion on this one. Is it worth the visit? I have read there is a gibbon rehabilation center there which would interest me. True?

It's common practice to charge more to people who are not locals, who do not support the parks (or whatever) with their tax dollars. Thailand is one of many countries that does this. Personally, I don't mind paying more than the locals. It only seems fair.

I agree, Kathie - Of course we should pay more - isn't the Thai tax dollar that goes to maintain national parks? so in fact, they should charge us more -we don't pay taxes in Thailand. Think of it as Thai taxpayers getting a break. they've already paid for the parks, we haven't. if it's not paid for by Thai tax money, it still makes sense to charge us proportionately - I don't mind - I make a lot more money here in Canada than most Thais do.

I've heard many Taiwanese and Malays get away with it, appears to be Caucasians who pay. <BR>In fact I reckon that all foreigners who are richer than the average American should pay extra to see the sights in the U.S, brilliant idea. I say let a poor family from Georgia go in free, middle class family from Illinois can pay say $5, but any rich Japanese or Swiss people should pay $50. Excellent idea!<BR><BR>How many Thai do you think pay any tax whatsoever?

Please remember that Thailand is not a &quot;fair&quot; society with a democratic government. The country is ruled by a very powerful and corrupt king, and the government does not care a lick about fairness for you, in fact the Thai government ranks with the most corrupt in the world. Just don`t mention this while in the country, you could face severe penalties. As far as the parks, they are a very worthwhile visit, if you like parks. I was happy to pay the dues and felt we always got our money`s worth.

Err.. Thailand is a Constitutional Monarchy like England. How can a king be corrupt? You think you can bribe a king Dan? <BR><BR>About the tax thing. All employed Thais earning above 7,500 baht per month pay taxes. Thais also have VAT(value added tax) and other form of taxation and some of the money does go to the national park service.

<BR>For heaven's sake! It's ten times as much, but still not much? So you pay $3 instead of 30 cents? Or $5 instead of 50 cents?<BR>Whatever it is, the supply/demand forces are still at work.<BR><BR>That poor person from Georgia is going to spend 50+ hours and $900 to go to/from Thailand. There he is in Thailand, at the Bangkok Hilton, nursing a $3 bottle of Bud and whining &quot;No fair, I'm not going to pay an extra $2.70 for something that costs 30 cents!&quot; (or extra $4.50, or $9, or $18)<BR><BR>

<BR>If a king has power, especially absolute power, then he can be corrupted. Absolutely.<BR>

What a cheap-skate. Pay the poor Thais for the privilege of seeing their parks. They have so little money, what is an extra $1 or so when you go on a trip like this.

The parks are fantastic - they are landmarks..how can you skip those??<BR>It's like saying you are going to Paris, but not seeing the Louvre, etc.<BR>I think it's worth the $0.50 to enter the parks.<BR><BR>Ingrid :-)

Ingrid,<BR>I've been meaning to post on here to ask about the parks. I am very interested in animal and bird viewing: in the parks, near Chiang Mai and Chaing Rei or other locations. I have been to Africa and the Park fee are much more there, but well worth it.

Just one comment for ignorant Dan. Don’t come to Thailand with that attitude. If you made a remark like that about His Majesty in Thailand you could end up dead very quickly indeed. He is loved and admired by all of his people and has devoted his life to Thailand.<BR><BR>If you want to take on the Government then that is fine.<BR><BR>Back to the original postings. It seems to depend on the individual involved, but if you can produce a Thai driving licence, implying tax-paying status, then some will charge you the 20 Baht local rate, rather than the 200 Baht ($5) foreign rate. <BR><BR>

Universities in the U.S. charge foreign students for their tuition fees 3-4 times what the 'locals' pay. I guess it's by the same double standard. <BR><BR>Say what you want about the entrtance fee for Thai National Parks. We're just too glad ignoramuses are boycotting them.

In the States, amusement parks often charge &quot;locals&quot; less than tourists. I know this is true of Disneyland. <BR><BR>

Dan &amp; Bill<BR><BR>You've got no clue about Thailand and its people.<BR>The King is much loved and admired by Thai people because he is a great person who helps his country in every way he can. He devotes his life for Thailand and makes a lot of difference in his country.<BR>I'm not saying that the government is not corrupted, but definitely not the King.<BR>Again, with this kind of attitude, please just stay where you are and do not travel anywhere.

Hotel accommodation in Hawaii for locals is less than for non-residents - not 10x, but Hawaiians are not so much poorer than other Americans.<BR>This at least used to be very common practice across Eastern Europe as well.

My first experience with this practise (which is very common all over the world) was camping in American State Parks.

Many countries levy surcharges on to non-locals. Even countries some counries in western Europe. It makes a great deal of sense. I don't know why the British don't do the same.

Troll alert!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

To Dee. I don't think you could compare the cost of a University course to the entrance fee to a National Park. A large percentage of our taxes goes to education. Therefore a foreign student, who's parents do not pay taxes in this country, have to pay the cost of the education. We don't charge you 10 times the going rate.

Just returned from 3 weeks in Thailand. The biologist we went with to Doi Inthanon commented that the extra cost to enter the parks for foreigners was really a problem in that many of the tour companies (which operate on a very thin profit margin) will just drop the parks from their itinearies. The cost really isn't huge for most of us (200 Baht per person in Doi Inthanon plus 200 Baht for the guide for the 3 of us)--but could be for someone on a budget. We met backpackers in Chiang Mai who were staying for 250 Baht a night per person(350 Baht on up is the going rate for AC). For the poster interested in birding near Chiang Mai--Doi Inthanon was beautiful. Go early to catch more birds. We saw silver pheasants and the green-tailed sunbird.

Not only is it fair to charge us more -- because we don't pay the taxes the locals do -- but in the end, yes, it's a question of supply and demand. The only real question to consider is this: is $3 worth it to you to see the park? If so, then pay up and shut up. Furthermore, recognize that 30 cents may be worth as much to a local in terms of buying power as $3 is to an American.

KellyF is absolutely right - how is this different from the exorbinant hotel taxes that every major US city charges? Almost every tourist attraction in Hawaii has special discounts for &quot;kamaainas&quot; (locals). Get off your high horse and realize that if airlines, hotels, cell phone companies, and countless other industries can charge differential pricing, then so can the Thai National Parks.

This is not a question of fair or unfair, in many developing countries it is a question of land use for national parks versus land use for development.<BR><BR>As has been seen in the Amazon, the land comes under a great deal of pressure in a society that is in a development stage when locals view the development of that land as an economic benefit that provides immediate satisfaction versus the longer term benefits of things like eco-tourism. <BR><BR>One way to make the locals support the need to preserve forests, jungles, wildlife, etc. is to give them access to these parks so that they understand the natural beauty, fight to preserve it, and view the land as a part of their national identity. <BR><BR>In places like Kenya, for example, WWF programs that are designed to bring young Kenyans to National Parks like Masai Mara, have helped in the battle against poachers. Without high park fees from tourists, and without low cost access to fairly poor locals, much of the remaining African plain would likely be gone within 15 years.<BR><BR>