Over the years there has been many debates
about the pros and cons of the two priced system that is used at many
tourist attractions around Thailand. Some people defend it by saying
that everything is so cheap here in Thailand and that we “rich”
Westerners should do our part to support the country. Others say that
they chose Thailand as it is billed as a “cheap” holiday and that they
are unwilling to pay the same prices as back home for tourist
attractions. For myself, it hasn’t really bothered me that much.
Usually if I smile and explain politely that I am a teacher and have
been in the country for a long time they then usually let me in with
“Thai price”. Sometimes they need a bit more convincing and I then show
them my Thai driver’s license or my income tax card. These show that I
am living here and paying tax. Mini Siam in Pattaya didn’t really care
I was a tax payer. Many places like this insist on you showing a work
permit if you want to pay Thai price. But, that document is not always
that easy to carry around. And if you lose it then there is a lot of
paperwork to be done. I didn’t argue my point with the people at Mini
Siam. I don’t like getting angry because they are only the ticket
seller and not policy maker. However, before I could walk away they
offered a compromise of “foreign child price”.
Some places I don’t even try to get Thai prices. Like temples which
usually cost only 20 baht. I am happy to help wherever I can. In theory
I can get in for free at the Grand Palace if I bring along a letter
from the school. But, I never do. However, I do object to places that
charge more for foreigners and then just pocket the difference. The
Crocodile Farm in Samut Prakan is a good example. If I remember right,
the Thai price is 80 baht and foreigners 300 baht. What do you get for
your extra entrance fee? Nothing. The shows are still in Thai with the
odd words in English. What do the animals get out of it? Nothing. They
are cruelly treated and locked up in small concrete cages. As far as I
can see, the owners do nothing with the entrance fee to make the
environment better for the animals.
For many years, the nearby Ancient City maintained the same entrance
fee for Thai people and foreigners. This was a very cheap 50 baht until
it was put up to 100 baht about a year or so ago. Still, the price was
good value for money and I always recommended it to all our visitors.
However, late last year they started a two-priced system where
foreigners have to pay 300 baht. This will probably be a shock to
readers of the Lonely Planet because their last edition said only 50
baht and the new edition that came out last month says 100 baht! I am
sure many people coming from Bangkok are shocked to see this price
jump. I am sure many of them argue with the ticket seller as even
before I had finished parking the car someone came up to me shouting
“300 baht. You pay 300 baht”. Luckily I have been there many times and
I know the ticket seller. So, she let me in at 100 baht. To be fair to
the Ancient City they have actually done something with this extra
revenue. They paved all of the roads inside the park and have started a
massive renovation of all of the buildings. Also, the admission fee for
foreigners includes rental of a bicycle.
The reason I am bringing this subject up now is that the other week
I went to watch a Thai Boxing matching at Lumphini in Bangkok. I have
been there several times before and I was vaguely aware that there was
a two price system. However, I didn’t pay for my ticket the last time
because my Thai hosts paid for me. So, I was unaware of how much it
would cost. When I arrived at the boxing stadium I was steered by the
ticket touts to a box office window that had the price 2,000 baht above
it. I was shocked. Then looking to the left I noticed some more
windows, though this time the numbers were written in Thai numerals. I
had wanted to buy a 2nd class seat which is basically concrete slabs
high above the action. The Thai numerals said 460 baht. Expensive for
Thai people (and for me a Thai tax payer) but I was willing to pay that
for a night out. Just so that you know, 120 baht will give you a luxury
seat at a movie theatre. I approached the window and asked the guy in
my best Thai for two tickets. He just folded his hands and refused to
listen. Obviously he had heard this before. I got out my income tax
card but again he was not interested. Then one of the ticket touts came
to his rescue and dragged me away. “You pay foreigner price over there.
Only 1,500 baht.” Yeah, right.
That day I chose not to pay foreigner’s price and not to watch the
boxing match. I just decided that the inflated price was more than what
the event was worth. I didn’t shout. I didn’t get angry. I just chose
not to go. And that is basically the point of this blog. Fair enough,
they can have inflated admission prices for foreigners if they like. It
is their entertainment venue after all and it is up to them if they
want to change the price according to the colour of my skin. However, I
am going to object to the sly way they go about this. All prices marked
in shops and tourist attractions are almost always written with the
familiar Arabic numbers which all tourists can read. However, whenever
they choose to have a two priced system they always write the cheaper
price in Thai numbers. Why is this? Are they ashamed of having two
prices? Don’t they want their foreign guests to know that they
sometimes have to pay 10 times more than Thai people for the same
thing? Don’t they realize that if the foreigner finds out afterwards
that he is more likely to harbour strong feelings of resentment against
his Thai host for ripping him off?
I don’t think we should start a campaign outlawing the two price
system in Thailand. It would be like hitting your head against a brick
wall despite the fact that China has already outlawed duel pricing.
However, I think we should start campaigning for a “right to choose”.
The prices should be clearly marked in the widely used Arabic script.
Foreign tourists should be allowed to see how much everyone is paying.
Then it would be up to them whether they choose to pay the inflated
price or not. All I am asking is for a “right to choose”. The right
for them to say that they don’t want to pay 200 baht to see a waterfall
when a Thai person driving a Benz is paying only 20 baht. The right to
choose to pay 300 baht for a crocodile show that is all in Thai even
though they fully know that other people pay only 80 baht. Please give
us a right to choose.
I do agree that signs should be up-front about the difference. Even if you don't speak Thai (I don't), I recommend learning the Thai numerals so you'll be able to spot these.