PHUKET: Dual pricing has been raised as an issue again, this time in relation to the Laguna Phuket Tri-Fest, scheduled for Phuket in November.
One of Thailand's top bloggers, Richard Barrow, has started the debate in a lively column at his site.
He happens to think that Laguna Phuket should have declared what they were doing with entry fees, and he's probably right.
Here's what Mr Barrow and a couple of others have to say on his site:
Richard Barrow: I can understand to an extent dual pricing at tourist attractions. This has been going on for a while. But, is it really necessary to do this at marathons and triathlons as well? This is what is happening at the upcoming Challenge Laguna Triathlon and The Laguna Phuket Triathlon. The former is 3000 Baht for Thai nationals and 7750 Baht (plus 5% fee) for foreigners. The later race is 2,500 Baht for Thais and 6000 Baht for foreigners. Obviously they are ashamed that they are charging foreigners more money as on their website they hide the real price by using Thai numerals. This is mainly used when business people want to hide dual pricing. Normally, prices in shops use the more common Arabic numbers.
This was brought to my attention by Vincent who had this to say: ''The Bangkok Triathlon have been thoughtful in the fact they give expats the same entry fee as Thai nationals, allowing lower income earners who pay tax in Thailand to participate. For Challenge and Laguna Phuket, I have many expat friends (mainly teaching) who find this fee to be out of their price range.'' What do you think about this? Is it fair to have two prices based on the colour of your skin?
Roman
Dear Richard,
As the race director of the Challenge Laguna Phuket Tri-Fest I would like to clarify a few points about our pricing policy. It's actually not that the foreign athletes are paying more, it's that the locals are paying less or a discounted fee. The entry fee is in line with other Challenge races in the world and so is the service and standard of race organization and hence the cost of putting on the event. If we were to charge the full entry fees to locals we would price 90% of them out of the race and we would have a very hard time receiving the local support from the government, police and other agencies to put on the race. If we charged everyone the local rate, there wouldn't be an event because there wouldn't be enough income to cover the costs.
I know a lot of the local guys and many are my friends so I know that they got into the sport because of having an event of the stature of the Laguna Phuket Triathlon now the Challenge Laguna Phuket Tri-Fest on their doorstep. Many of their friends and family volunteer for the event. They work in the hotels or as taxi drivers and they don't ride the fancy bikes that everyone else has. If they had to pay the full entry fee they wouldn't race. How do you think they will feel about the event in their own backyard pricing them out?
You may think you are advocating equality while you are actually advocating elitism, an image that triathlon unfortunately already has to some degree and which would be reinforced if we did what you suggested.
I have had discussions with many athletes over the years about this very issue and the large majority accepted the reasons I gave them which were the same reasons I gave you.
Best regards,
Roman Floesser
Race Director
Challenge Laguna Phuket Tri-Fest
Alan (Morison) How can you ask ''Is it fair to have two prices based on the color of your skin'' when it's nothing of the kind. ''Foreigners'' are of all colors. Perhaps your mindset doesn't acknowledge Koreans, Japanese, Indonesians and others who come from non-Caucasian countries. Perhaps your mindset doesn't acknowledge that Britons, Americans, Australians etc come in all colors and shapes and sizes these days,too. Putting your bigotry to one side, in an ideal world, all individuals would pay the entry fee that they they could afford, based on their income and living standards. In an imperfect world, two prices - one for the relatively poor locals and one for the relatively rich overseas competitors - isn't such a bad idea.
There have been more worthwhile comments and it's a debate that should be continued, for all kinds of good reasons.
Check it out at richardbarrow.com
One of Thailand's top bloggers, Richard Barrow, has started the debate in a lively column at his site.
He happens to think that Laguna Phuket should have declared what they were doing with entry fees, and he's probably right.
Here's what Mr Barrow and a couple of others have to say on his site:
Richard Barrow: I can understand to an extent dual pricing at tourist attractions. This has been going on for a while. But, is it really necessary to do this at marathons and triathlons as well? This is what is happening at the upcoming Challenge Laguna Triathlon and The Laguna Phuket Triathlon. The former is 3000 Baht for Thai nationals and 7750 Baht (plus 5% fee) for foreigners. The later race is 2,500 Baht for Thais and 6000 Baht for foreigners. Obviously they are ashamed that they are charging foreigners more money as on their website they hide the real price by using Thai numerals. This is mainly used when business people want to hide dual pricing. Normally, prices in shops use the more common Arabic numbers.
This was brought to my attention by Vincent who had this to say: ''The Bangkok Triathlon have been thoughtful in the fact they give expats the same entry fee as Thai nationals, allowing lower income earners who pay tax in Thailand to participate. For Challenge and Laguna Phuket, I have many expat friends (mainly teaching) who find this fee to be out of their price range.'' What do you think about this? Is it fair to have two prices based on the colour of your skin?
Roman
Dear Richard,
As the race director of the Challenge Laguna Phuket Tri-Fest I would like to clarify a few points about our pricing policy. It's actually not that the foreign athletes are paying more, it's that the locals are paying less or a discounted fee. The entry fee is in line with other Challenge races in the world and so is the service and standard of race organization and hence the cost of putting on the event. If we were to charge the full entry fees to locals we would price 90% of them out of the race and we would have a very hard time receiving the local support from the government, police and other agencies to put on the race. If we charged everyone the local rate, there wouldn't be an event because there wouldn't be enough income to cover the costs.
I know a lot of the local guys and many are my friends so I know that they got into the sport because of having an event of the stature of the Laguna Phuket Triathlon now the Challenge Laguna Phuket Tri-Fest on their doorstep. Many of their friends and family volunteer for the event. They work in the hotels or as taxi drivers and they don't ride the fancy bikes that everyone else has. If they had to pay the full entry fee they wouldn't race. How do you think they will feel about the event in their own backyard pricing them out?
You may think you are advocating equality while you are actually advocating elitism, an image that triathlon unfortunately already has to some degree and which would be reinforced if we did what you suggested.
I have had discussions with many athletes over the years about this very issue and the large majority accepted the reasons I gave them which were the same reasons I gave you.
Best regards,
Roman Floesser
Race Director
Challenge Laguna Phuket Tri-Fest
Alan (Morison) How can you ask ''Is it fair to have two prices based on the color of your skin'' when it's nothing of the kind. ''Foreigners'' are of all colors. Perhaps your mindset doesn't acknowledge Koreans, Japanese, Indonesians and others who come from non-Caucasian countries. Perhaps your mindset doesn't acknowledge that Britons, Americans, Australians etc come in all colors and shapes and sizes these days,too. Putting your bigotry to one side, in an ideal world, all individuals would pay the entry fee that they they could afford, based on their income and living standards. In an imperfect world, two prices - one for the relatively poor locals and one for the relatively rich overseas competitors - isn't such a bad idea.
There have been more worthwhile comments and it's a debate that should be continued, for all kinds of good reasons.
Check it out at richardbarrow.com
Accepting that there may be an income gap between international and local particapants, that doesn't address the costs incurred by foreignors, for accommodation and travel, which are likely to be substantial. One race, one fee. Make a statement for equalism Phuketwan.
Posted by Phil on June 20, 2013 20:48
Editor Comment:
We have said what we think, Phil. Please read the article again.