Thailand raises prices for foreign tourists

The Thai government has approved a proposal to increase entry fees for foreign tourists to historic sites.

With many foreigners complaining about double pricing in Thailand, the government decided to raise prices for foreign tourists at historic sites at a meeting on 25 July.

Dual pricing is also used in national parks, which are on average 5 times more expensive for foreignersHowever, in October 2022, some parks decided to increase their prices for foreigners.

See : Double pricing in Thailand: 5 national parks raise prices for foreigners by 100%

The new revised rates apply to registered historic sites and 72 national museums.

Thai nationals will continue to pay the same rates as in 2008.

Historic parks and archaeological sites

Buddha head between the roots at Wat Phra Mahathat in Ayutthaya.

Historic parks

• For Thai nationals: 20 baht per person.
• For foreign nationals: 120-200 baht (previously 100 baht).

Archaeological or important sites

• For Thai nationals: 10-20 baht per person.
• For foreign nationals: 80-120 baht (previously 50-100 baht).

National museums

Bangkok National Museum. Photo: Joyofmuseums

The new rates for admission to national museums are as follows:

Small national museums

• For Thai nationals: 10 baht per person.
• For foreign nationals: 80 baht (previously 50 baht).

Medium-sized national museums

• For Thai nationals: 10-20 baht per person.
• For foreign nationals: 120 baht (previously 50-100 baht).

Major national museums

• For Thai nationals: 20-30 baht per person.
• For foreign nationals: 200 baht (previously 100-150 baht).

For highly visited national museums

Like the National Museum in Bangkok.

• For Thai nationals: 30 baht per person.
• For foreign nationals: 240 baht (previously 200 baht).

Free audio guides

In addition, four other registered historic sites and national museums that previously charged for the hire of foreign-language audio guides will no longer do so.

These sites are as follows:

• Historical park - Sdok Kok Thanom, Khok Sung district, Sakaeo province.
• Wat Kudi Dao, town of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, province of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya.
• Nakhon Nayok National Museum, city of Nakhon Nayok, province of Nakhon Nayok.
• Surin National Museum, town of Surin, province of Surin.

Government spokesman Tipanan Sirichana said:

"Entry fees for Thai nationals will remain unchanged in order to promote learning, preserve cultural heritage and encourage a sense of national identity across all generations without increasing the financial burden of tourism on Thai citizens".

To avoid offending visitors, prices for Thai customers are generally displayed in Thai characters.

Sign with dual pricing, prices for Thai are marked in Thai characters.

See also : Learn to write Thai numbers

This kind of price increase, aimed solely at foreigners, is always frowned upon by many travellers.

Source:  All of Thailand