If things go to plan, it won’t be long before you will be able to buy tickets for all 148 national parks in Thailand at your local 7-Eleven. The National Parks, Wildlife and Plants Conservation Department is presently in talks with 7-Eleven and hope that they will start issuing tickets in November of this year. The store will charge a small service fee much the same as for water and power bills. At the moment, it is not known whether expats working in Thailand will be able to buy tickets at Thai prices. On 1st October, ticket prices are expected to rise to 500 Baht for foreigners and 100 Baht for Thais (see here). At present, it has been up to the discretion of officials at each park as to whether they accept a work permit or drivers license as proof of residence. Some expats have reported that they haven’t always been able to get Thai price even if they turn up with their Thai family. Hopefully, if 7-Eleven starts selling national park tickets that there will be a clear and transparent policy which is fair to everyone.
Yes, those seven eleven employees will have to be trained in a special class called “Paying Attention” so that they are able to double price ticket purchases to farang. Unfortunately that might mean putting their cell phones down for a second or two.
How bout Asian non-Thai, is Farang only the target for prize increasing and the mindset to charge more from white ppl seen at many places, sometime make the tourists aware with the ch’…Asian.
Asians are regarded as foreigners and will need to pay the higher price. Unless you look and act like Thai and you might get away with it. I’m not sure how well this policy will sit when the ASEAN countries open up in 2015. Will they be allowed to continue this two price policy?
The dual pricing system leaves a bad impression on Thailand. It defeats the efforts to bring in more tourists to visit Thailand. If the Thai government wants to help its own (poor?) people by offering cheaper prices, I think there are other better ways to do so. What about those rich Thais? I believe not all Thais are poor. And to be fair, not all foreigners are rich. Give these people a fair chance!