The double pricing system is common in Thailand, but it has been criticized by foreigners and foreigners alike Thailand’s tourism industry, which never tires of finding new ways to squeeze extra revenue from foreign tourists, has come up with a new idea that’s likely to spark controversy. Thai government spokesman Traisuree Taisaranakul said in a statement that Thailand’s tourism ministry plans to require hotel operators to implement a double-tariff structure under which foreign tourists may be charged similar prices to pre-pandemic rates, while locals may continue to Enjoy discounted prices. July 6th. “This is……
Thailand’s tourism industry, which never tires of finding new ways to squeeze extra revenue from foreign tourists, has come up with a new idea that’s likely to spark controversy.
Thai government spokesman Traisuree Taisaranakul said in a statement that Thailand’s tourism ministry plans to require hotel operators to implement a double-tariff structure under which foreign tourists may be charged similar prices to pre-pandemic rates, while locals may continue to Enjoy discounted prices. July 6th.
“This is to maintain our rates and service standards for foreign tourists, which affect perceptions of the country’s tourism brand,” Traisuree noted, adding that Thais will maintain reduced rates during Covid-19 “to maintain Momentum for domestic tourism.”
Still offering Covid-19 discounts
Hotels in tourist hotspots like Bangkok, Phuket, Krabi and Koh Samui continue to offer huge discounts to lure tourists after the pandemic pushed room occupancy to about 30%.
According to Traisuree, while the hotel operator did not immediately respond to the proposal, the Tourism Ministry and the Tourism Authority of Thailand said they would soon be negotiating a dual pricing scheme with the Thai Hotels Association.
However, it remains to be seen whether this strategy will be popular with potential tourists.
In the eyes of critics, the scheme is an extension of Thailand’s dual-price strategy, which is widely implemented across the country, whereby foreigners are sometimes charged as much in national parks, various cultural sites and other places of interest to tourists The cost is ten times the entrance fee for Thais.
Double price system angers foreigners
While most Thais never think about this issue, it can make foreigners angry or taken advantage of. In fact, pricing in Thailand is almost always written in Thai letters and numbers, so that tourists who don’t speak Thai don’t even know they’re paying higher prices. But it also raised suspicions that the operator of a Thai travel website might be trying to hide something.
Knowing tourists and long-term expats – who also have to pay higher fares – criticise the double pricing strategy as “racist” and spark outrage among tourists. It would also damage Thailand’s reputation as a tourist destination, they said.
There are even websites devoted to this phenomenon. a popular website, 2PriceThailandadvocates abolishing the double pricing system and teaching foreigners about Thai numbers so that they will have a better understanding when entering places where the double pricing system is adopted, either overtly or secretly.
While Thailand has lifted all Covid-19-related travel restrictions, tourism still shaky Huge losses accumulated during the pandemic. The country expects 9.3 million foreign tourists to arrive this year, a fraction of the 40 million visitors in 2019.
