The Privilege Of Being Double-Priced

See? I’m positive! A friend sent me a link the other day. In Hua Hin’s main forum HHAD they’re debating another kind of double-pricing for farangs. The double-pricing of more exclusive farangs. And I’m not swearing.

Obviously some golf courses in the Hua Hin area are asking higher prices for tourists – and “official” green fees in Hua Hin are really high -, while Thais receive “unpublished” prices. Now what’s the problem with that!

Whoever can play golf can afford the little luxury of helping out the people of this beautiful country. It may be true that most Thais playing golf are richer than the average tourist, but hey, as a local you enjoy the birthright to set the rules.

Rules around the world are, a poster wrote, that locals get preferred treatment in their own country. I can only endorse that. The difference with the Thai version of double-pricing though is that even a Thai from Chiang Rai is considered a local.

That’s locality by ethnicity and therefore downright racism, another poster writes. Well, again, if you can afford your flight ticket over here and golfing per se, why won’t you come to the aid of the rich Thai people who also suffer greatly during this crisis.

Hardly a Benz they drive is fully paid off. The houses they live in are mortgaged over several life cycles – and now there’s the serious decrease in tourism. How on earth can a Thai investor finance a golf course.

Now … think positive. Don’t even think about double-pricing for Thai tourists in your own country, as this would be hyped up in the Thai media as blatant racism. On the contrary, assume you’re being double-priced is for a good cause for the betterment of Thai society as a whole.

Be it Pattaya’s Underwater World, a national park or whatever attraction, enjoy the privilege of paying more. If you pay taxes over here and have the Thai driver’s license or even residency, just show your Thai identification paper and most likely you’re asked the Thai price.

If none of the above applies to you, try to look like a poor Thai.

If you still have a problem with two-tier pricing, well, just don’t go. Boycott the place. And if you really have to drop names, well, why don’t you list the places you boycott in a comment.

But don’t accuse me of not trying to stay positive.

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Comments

6 Responses to “The Privilege Of Being Double-Priced”

Mark Lamerton on February 16th, 2009 12.16 pm

Only “double” pricing? That’s not bad at all. Consider the 20 baht entry fee for Thais to the Koh Samed National Park compared with 200 baht for foreigners. If you want to get on the island you have to pay the fee, 10 times more! The irritating fact is that once you’ve driven through the park on your way to your resort, it’s clear that none of the entry fee money goes towards the park itself. It’s kept by the police. Fair is fair though – if you show your work permit or something similar, they will charge you the Thai rate.
laura on February 16th, 2009 12.30 pm

This topic’s as old as tourism in Thailand. Am I wrong or didn’t the Thai authorities just lower the national park entrance fees for foreigners?

As I can recall they were 10 times or so higher …
Roland on February 16th, 2009 1.11 pm

@laura

I think you’re wrong. I remember seeing the news story that they said they were going to reduce the prices charged foreigners, but in the end they never did change the policy. Actually, we should be grateful they didn’t raise the price for foreigners, which is the usual response to falling sales.
rikker on February 17th, 2009 11.25 am

This is indeed an old topic, but I also wonder if someone can confirm whether National Park rates were ever lowered.

Last time I went it was 40 for Thais/400 for foreigners to get into the NP we stayed in (price of bungalow not included, of course), and Thai 20/foreigner 200 apiece for a nearby waterfall and hiking trail. Each. This was about a year ago.

Anyone been to an NP recently? Is the 10x price difference still in effect?
mark on February 17th, 2009 11.39 am

I found that showing up my social security card is an effective way to get the Thai prices in everyplace that has a double pricing system. “I am paying taxes and I deserve the thai price” is my argument. It always worked.
'Pong on February 18th, 2009 4.29 am

When I was back in Thailand, I could not be exempted for VAT as a tourist even though I do not live in Thailand or pay tax either.

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