Thailand is similar to many other poorer countries (and even some wealthier ones) when it comes to dual pricing. Some may call this practice unethical and there are plenty of reasons both for and against the practice. With all arguments aside, in Thailand, it is the way it is and no logical argument is going to change that. So you need to either learn to live with it or head elsewhere.
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Top Bangkok HotelsWhat is Dual Pricing?
There are many forms of dual pricing, but they all come down to the same basic principal. If you are a foreigner, you will be charged more for goods and services than if you are Thai. This could be a small increase in price, twenty baht more or so, or a significant increase, think five times the price or more. That seems like a rather significant difference, and it is, but if you traveled here on a plane and are staying in a fancy resort, you can probably afford the higher price. At least that is the logic behind the practice.
You must now be thinking, wow, five times more than a local, I thought Thailand was cheap? If everything in the country cost more to you as a foreigner than it does to a Thai, then no, Thailand would not be cheap. However, the practice of dual pricing only takes place sometimes and mostly in places that you would expect it to take place.
The places that you will generally be charged a higher rate than Thai’s are at museums, parks, the kinds of places that tourists frequent. You’d probably think that the national government would be the least likely to discriminate with prices, but they are actually the worst offenders, although they do so with good intentions. These attractions are typically funded by visitors, so they need to charge enough money so that they can at least break even, and as I already mentioned, foreigners most likely can afford the higher rate. However, at these high prices, many of the locals cannot afford to visit the attractions right in their own backyards.
How terrible would it be to be born a Thai citizen into this beautiful country, but be unable to visit many of the places here because admission is too high? The beauty of your home country reserved for tourists and tourists alone. Try to remember that the average Thai makes around 6,000 baht per month, which is a figure close to what a typical tourist would spend in a day or two.
Other Forms of Dual Pricing
In addition to the government controlled forms of dual pricing, it also exists on a smaller scale amongst locals trying to earn a few more baht. This can occur at markets and Thai shops, where the vendor thinks that he or she can make a bit more without anyone being the wiser. Be careful of shops that don’t have stated prices, and if you want to always get the absolute best deals, be sure to let a Thai national do your haggling for you. You will generally get a better deal if the vendor doesn’t see you until a price is decided upon.
How to Avoid Most Dual Pricing
If you are living in Thailand on a long term Visa, there is a way to avoid the dual pricing in most locations. The trick is to go and get a Thai drivers license. Unfortunately you will need a long term Visa in order to apply for a Thai drivers license, sorry those of you on Tourist Visas. If you show this ID at any of the government owned attractions and ask for the Thai rate, they will give it to you. Of course I never knew about this for the first few years that I lived in Thailand and I was always forced to pay the tourist rate. Now that I know better, I save money all the time.
Is Dual Pricing Acceptable?
I think I’ve already made it pretty clear that I have no problem with the practice of dual pricing. What I do have a problem with is when it is practiced with deceit. Most of the places that offer dual pricing will display both prices for all to see, however, the Thai version will be written in Thai, numbers and all.
I was recently at the Phuket Zoo which clearly states that Adults are 500 Baht. Okay, fair enough. However, on the Thai side of the sign, they state that Adults are 100 Baht, although in Thai. What is deceitful about it, is that they don’t use the Arabic numbers 100, they actually spell out the words in Thai so you can’t directly compare the two prices. The Phuket Aquarium does something similar (check out the attached picture), they use Thai numbers instead of Arabic numbers because only Thai’s or those who study Thai can actually read them.
Dual pricing in Thailand is a practice that will not be going away any time soon. It can be deceitful and dishonest, but in the end, there are good intentions for it. Perhaps the Thai’s don’t intend to be dishonest, but rather they are just attempting to avoid any potential problems. Either way, it is what it is and nothing that we say or do as guests in this country will ever change that.
What do you think about Thailand’s policy on dual pricing? Is it justified because the average Thai makes much less money then your average tourist, or is it unethical to discriminate based on nationality?
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Lawrence – I used to have a big problem with dual pricing but nowadays I understand the logic behind it. You explain that rather well in your What is Dual Pricing? section. It would be terrible if I couldn’t afford to visit a beauty spot here in the UK because of the entrance fee. Believe me, we do have some…. honest.
One of the things I don’t understand is the amount of tourist places that are free to enter. There are lots of them about and they are really missing out on a good slice of income.
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Where are these free tourist places, I’ve never seen one. The only one’s I can think of off the top of my head are viewpoints, beaches and temples. Although I have been charged to enter some beaches (to cross the private land, not to be on the beach) and they tried to charge me to enter one temple in Bangkok (the actual building not the grounds). I think if someone isn’t charging you for some tourist attraction, it is probably illegal to do so or they are making a lot of money by some other means.
Although dual pricing naturally seems unfair I’ve always looked at it this way: what I’m seeing abroad would cost me a lot more than if I was to pay for ‘it’ back home. Also, I feel locals should be able to enjoy it and if that means lower prices I’m okay with that.
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I agree, but it also depends on the country you are in. When talking about Thailand, the average minimum wage worker makes about 6,000 baht per month, that is only like $200, in the states, the minimum wage is around $8/hr I think, so even they would be making about $1,200 per month before taxes. Of course, these minimum wage workers probably aren’t taking trips to Thailand, which only means that the people that are visiting here make significantly more than that. So is it okay that tourists have to pay $10-15 to see the same thing that a Thai can see for $2-3? I really have no problem with it. Thanks for commenting.
I once went to a small Thai restaurant with my Thai wife and my daughter, at the end of the meal the bill came, for the exact same dish I had to pay 50 baht more as I was a farrang, now thats just not right. As you say there are times when I dont mind but in places like restaurants etc then its more that dual pricing its Racism.
By the way, I’m on the genisis framework too!
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Let me get this straight. You ordered two of the same thing, and when the bill came, one of them was more expensive then the other one? That’s pretty stupid on the restaurants part as they are not even being sneaky about it, and you were probably paying the entire bill, so why not overcharge you on all the dishes. Did the dish have a price in the menu, or was it a place that you don’t order out of menus? Either way, that would have made me mad.
I would have low self esteem and would not expect from others a high level of self esteem if I charged them more based on their race