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New Fees, Rules as Similans and Surin Aim to Sustain More Phuket Divers
By Chutima Sidasathian Friday, September 12, 2014
PHUKET: Fees for tourists visiting the Similan Islands and Surin, north of Phuket, are to rise as authorities attempt to protect the natural environment and more tightly control activities.
Tour groups and dive businesses learned of the daily fee increase to a maximum of 500 baht yesterday in a meeting north of Phuket with the Director of the Similans National Park, Nat Kongkesorn.
The new fees, to be charged from February 1, are 500 baht for foreign adults and 300 baht for foreign children, 150 baht for Thai adults and 50 baht for Thai children.
''A research study is now being undertaken into how many tourists the Similans and Surin can sustain and the new arrangements are aimed at better protecting the natural heritage,'' Khun Nat told Phuketwan today.
''We need a long-term solution that protects the Similans and Surin and offers a balance between nature and tourism.''
Access to the marine park, where some of the region's best diving can be found, resumes on October 15 - two weeks earlier than a couple of seasons ago, when the traditional November 1 resumption date was brought forward.
The park closes from April to October to allow reefs and beaches to recover. In any case, the monsoon season is dangerous and less suitable for snorkelling and diving.
Khun Nat said today that the new rates were necessary ''because the cost of maintenance is going up.''
He said that from now on, vessels dropping off tourists at Similan beaches would not be able to anchor off the beaches, but be anchored at a specific point away from the beaches.
Cooking is no longer allowed on the islands. Tourists will be able to be supplied with lunch boxes brought from Phuket or Phang Nga, the province north of Phuket.
All garbage will also have to be taken back with the diving and snorkelling groups, he said.
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Comments
Comments have been disabled for this article.
I think this two-price system across the country is very unfair. I think it's not too expensive, but everyone should pay the same. What Khun Thai say, when he pay in europe for a zoo visit 50Euro and not 10Euro as the europeans (only an example)???
Posted by
steve
on
September 12, 2014 12:43
Editor Comment:
The truth is, few Thais will ever be able in your lifetime to rise from poverty to be able to visit Europe. Only a person with no understanding of the difference in living standards between developed and developing countries would make such an argument. Give your salaries to poor Thais, make your incomes and living standards equal, then you will have a point. Stop behaving like Uncle Scrooge, please. When you open your wallet, open your mind and your heart as well.
"I think this two-price system across the country is very unfair."
I think it is fair that for national parks, where citizens already pay taxes, get a discount. Since these prices apply to citizenship and not nationality I think this system is fair.
Posted by
stevenl
on
September 12, 2014 13:31
At least Foreign residents paying taxes should pay Thai prices.
Posted by
resident
on
September 12, 2014 13:33
Editor Comment:
If you are earning Thai wages, that's certainly fair, resident. If not . . . then you should pay the foreigner rate.
In theory, each person should pay the same proportion from their wealth, but a division along the lines of non-Thais and Thais is as fair and equitable as possible for now.
There are lot of very poor Europeans who pay the same price as anyone else in their own country If other nationalities were charged double and even treble what a local paid it would be branded racist as is the case here
Posted by
rich
on
September 12, 2014 14:11
Editor Comment:
Racism is based on discrimination of a far worse kind, rich. You should understand that discrimination based on the color of your passport is nowhere near as bad as discrimination based on the color of your skin. I should tell you, as it appears nobody else has, which reflects poorly on your upbringing, that ''foreigners'' in every country in the world come in different shapes, sizes, genders and colors. Some of them even look remarkably like the citizens of the country. Only someone with no understanding of the word ''racist'' would brand discrimination on the basis of citizenship of one country or another as ''racist.'' Once you have an understanding of the nature issue based on facts, not fiction, feel free to comment.
@ resident...Most places (maybe not all) where there is a dual price system, you'll get the Thai price, if you have a valid work permit. Just bring it!
Posted by
Zenobiz
on
September 12, 2014 14:13
So, how much should a very rich Thai business man pay?
Posted by
sir burr
on
September 12, 2014 14:41
Editor Comment:
In theory, the same proportion as a rich person from anywhere else. As I said, in a perfect world, everyone would pay the same portion from their wealth. Practically, foreigners who come to Thailand to tour national parks clearly have more money to spend than the vast majority of Thais. To deny poor Thais the opportunity to access the most beautiful parts of their country would be a sin. Outsiders pay more because in general terms, they can afford to pay more. The cost of the potential damage caused by tourism is limited and it should never be left to the locals. I remember reading about a gorilla camp in Africa that was exclusively for the wealthy. Locals who could not afford the asking price were deprived of the chance of seeing their own country's native animals in the wild. That doesn't seem fair to me.
I work in the Park and see several problems. 1/ The park fees are centralised in Bangkok then redistributed throughout the NP network. The budget for the Similans is nothing compared to the wealth it generates and needs to be addressed.
2/When the dive/tour operators leave during the closed dates the fishing fleets move in. Another big problem that needs to be addressed.
3/An audit into the amount of park fees taken and the amount that actually reaches Bangkok would also be worth looking into!
I have no problems with raising the fees but we need to make sure the money is spent actually protecting the park and its wonderful marine life.
Posted by
Concerned Citizen
on
September 12, 2014 15:05
I wish some of this money would go to actually patrolling the national park. Illegal fishing is still the norm. The only time the tralwers stay away from protected areas is if a dive boat is nearby because they know we will photograph and report them. This means in the low season when the Similan and Surin national parks are closed, illegal fishing flourishes. Even then, many don't care about the laws that are there to protect the future of fishing in Thailand.
Posted by
Nomadjoe
on
September 12, 2014 15:12
In theory national parks should be free for everyone regardless where they come from or how much money they have as nature in itself has come for free. In case of necessary upkeep a small contribution could be reasonable which in this regard I think should be the same for everyone and low enough for anyone to afford. unfortunately entrance fees, the world over, are too often spend on anything but the intended purpose, the Similan park is a prime example.
Posted by
Anonymous
on
September 12, 2014 15:48
There is not one developed country that has double pricing. Therefore if Thailand is ever going to upgrade this is one practise they will have to stop but Thailand is so far away from being a developed country. This is not slander this is fact and acts like this only confirm it. I wonder the effect this has on tourists when they know they pay more? Next year not Thailand perhaps, if the authorities are double pricing they might think who else is? In Phuket it is in so many places.
Posted by
Feisty Farang
on
September 12, 2014 16:05
I have no problem with there being different rates for nationals and non-nationals. It's the Thai government's prerogative to make decisions like that just as it would be if other countries did the same. What concerns me more is the comment by Concerned Citizen, a Park employee, who along with his other two valid points "from an insider" says what is needed is "3/An audit into the amount of park fees taken and the amount that actually reaches Bangkok would also be worth looking into!" Also I have visited a waterfall in a national Park where the fee is charged only for Thai families with kids and picnic boxes in tow walking through without paying while I and other foreigners were queueing to pay. When I asked the park employee "why they no pay?", he replied "They Thai, you farang." Me, "But Thai are supposed to pay as well, aren't they?" Him "Thai no pay here!" when the charges for all visitors were clearly displayed on the board near the pay point.
I wonder just how much income comes from Thai visitors. I think proportionately very little. I would prefer it to be free for Thai people if it encouraged them to visit and value their country's own natural attributes and attractions more rather than exploit the foreign visitors.
Posted by
Alan
on
September 12, 2014 20:05
No matter how someone tries to sugarcoat it, dual pricing is discriminatory. I do not use any services that apply such a policy. The fact that it is socially not only acceptable but officially endorsed reveals the uglier side of Thai society and mentality.
Posted by
Herbert
on
September 12, 2014 20:13
Editor Comment:
Of course it's discriminatory. But there's positive discrimination and negative discrimination. Positive discrimination aims to correct the effects of generations of the wrong kind of discrimination. Once Thailand no longer is poor by comparison with western countries, there will no longer be a need for dual prices.
There are millions of foreigners in Thailand that can be considered far poorer than your average Thai. Try Burmese, Cambodian or Laotian for starters. There is nothing good about dual pricing policy nor is there no such thing as good discrimination. Two wrongs does not make it right. Sorry, no support for your justification from me.
Posted by
Herbert
on
September 12, 2014 20:52
Editor Comment:
From Wikipedia: ''Affirmative action or positive discrimination . . . is the policy of favoring members of a disadvantaged group who are perceived to suffer from discrimination within a culture.''
So positive discrimination seems to exist, despite your denial, Herbert. You'll find workers from Burma, Cambodia and Laos are allowed in to Thailand's national parks at the same entry fee charged for Thais. Entry fees to national parks is what this article is about.
I am retired here in Phuket and I don't participate in any sports event or visit any park that has the two price system. I have been to the aquarium many times because with my drivers license I pay the same entry as every one else. I have never been able to figure out the logic of foreigners with work permits getting the same price as Thai's and retired foreigners being charged the higher price as tourists. By the way many countries charge tourist higher prices they are just better at hiding it as ad on taxes.
Posted by
mike
on
September 12, 2014 21:25
Editor Comment:
The principle of equality for all is clear-cut and if the aquarium can manage without double-pricing, so much the better.But there are reasonable grounds for double-pricing at tourist attractions, and I agree that expat residents should be grateful for the discount.
So are Canadians racist? Tiresome whingeing farangs!!!
Canadian Sport Fishing License fees snapshot:
Non-Resident $106.05
Resident $22.05
Posted by
david
on
September 13, 2014 07:35
The Similans are a cash cow for the Government and the mainly foreign visitors (only very few locals visit the islands anyhow) are terribly milked and heavily overcharged, if you look at what they get for paying the fees - overcrowded places and poor marine life, thanks to the policy of the people in charge.
I see Ed's comments today extremely nationalist and radical. Many tourist are not aware of the unfair, dual pricing, otherwise the outcry would be much bigger.
Posted by
Resident
on
September 13, 2014 08:22
Editor Comment:
As the previous comment notes, two-tier fees are applied everywhere. There's nothing racist, radica or nationalistic about acknowledging the difference in the size of the wallets between Thais and non-Thais. Most people get it, Resident, hence the lack of an outcry.
Mike retired expats pay the same price as Thai's at a lot of places if they show a Thai driving license which all expats should have if they drive here
As far as entrance fee's changing because of personal wealth that's a load of bollocks, there are more wealthy Thai's around by far than wealthy farangs here but they still pay Thai price, a lot of tourists save all year for their once a year holiday and are not wealthy
The govt makes a lot of money from tourists and expats already without dual pricing which is wrong in any country
If they want to save money on cleaning up the national parks they should use prison labour, plenty of it and more free labourers in the future
Posted by
Peter allen
on
September 13, 2014 10:23
Editor Comment:
Anyone who can afford to leave their home country and fly to another country for a holiday is wealthy by comparison with the average Thai, Peter.
Prisoners working as park rangers is a novel concept that probably should be tried in your own country first.
I never said prisoners should be used as park rangers Mr Editor, I said to be used as free labour to clean and maintain the national parks
In western Australia people convicted of minor offences are regularly required to spend a certain amount of time working for free with local govt and other organizations for cleaning and maintenance work(like collecting rubbish) instead of serving time in prison
Posted by
Peter Allen
on
September 13, 2014 14:41
The Similans ...the mainly foreign visitors (only very few locals visit the islands anyhow)
===
It is not true:
when I went to Similans and another day to Tachai with LoveAndaman last Songkran, I was put evey time on a boat full exclusively with Thais, mostly middle-class Bangkokians.
Ye, it was Songkran - so number of Thai visitors were certainly higher than on average - but appr.half of queue to WC at Tab Lamu pier were Thais, same - by observation - was about boats at snorkeling points and at lunch locations.
Even more, LoveAndaman FaceBook page is only in Thai, and it has almost half million (Thai) followers.
Moreover , LoveAndaman is in premium sector, and it targeting middle-class Thais - so statement that there very few Thais on tours to Similans is not correct nowadays anymore.
Another day around Songkran I went to Surin is. - the standard of facilities provided by operators were far fry from LoveAndaman, it was strangely cheaper than Similans tour, and it was full with obnoxious nervous foreign visitors with only 20% of the group being Thai - in comparison with LoveAndaman Sabai'n'Sabuk crowds.
Posted by
Sue
on
September 13, 2014 14:47
" Most people get it, Resident, hence the lack of an outcry. "
Not true. Most people don't get it because the signs are almost always in Thai numerals on purpose so non-Thais can't figure out they are being overcharged. If the Government was so sure what they do is perfectly correct, why the need to try to hide the real pricing ?
Posted by
Herbert
on
September 13, 2014 15:42
Editor Comment:
That may have been true some years ago but most everywhere, double-pricing is difficult to hide. The point should be made that guests at any resort, if they compare notes, may find they are being charged totally different rates. Most people get it.
I am still not getting the fact Thailand has teaching Job's ETC that require the foreigner to be paid more than the Thai but then they are given many Benefits 5 year Drivers License lower entry fees at sporting events ETC that retired Foreigners do not receive. Seams a little strange people who are not allowed to work have to pay more than those that work, but that is the system.
Posted by
mike
on
September 13, 2014 20:33
The NP fees system may be distasteful to some but it's not the only place where this is practiced. Malaysia has similar two tier pricing as does the Philippines. You cannot measure this practice against European, American or any western laws and to do so is futile. Simply put if you don't like it don't go.
There is a far greater problem with the fees and that is the massive corruption that occurs during every high season with the receipt and payment of those fees. I have from three seasons working in the dive industry in Thailand seen first hand how that corruption works. And it all starts with the dive centre owners. As an example, let's say there are 20 divers on the boat. The owners take the NP fees from each diver but only send cash payment for only 16 divers, pocketing the extra for themselves. Upon arrival at the Similan or Surin Islands that money is then handed over to the Park Rangers. There are no receipts and whilst I cannot state for fact that the park rangers keep a portion of that cash, I have no doubt that they do.
So of the 16 paid for perhaps only fees for 12 divers is paid up the line to Bangkok. I seam to recall following the strandings in recent years that there was a 'cap' on daily visitors to the Islands. I cannot recall what the number is but from articles, the people stranded and rescued by the navy far exceeded the daily visitors allowed. Simply put, if the Similans have a daily allowance of 4000 visitors then Bangkok would only expect fees up to that maximum. Anything over and above is available to be skimmed and kept. I know that tickets can be bought but when that was done on a few occasions the Park Rangers got quite upset. Don't mistake me, I think that the Park Rangers do a great job but when temptation and a weakness in the fees system is there to be exploited it will be.
As to the sustainability of the Islands, I can tell you that the Similan Islands has deteriorated year on year. The main causes is over use by divers, snorkelers, visitors and over fishing. During low season the fishermen go in and take everything. And I mean everything. At the start of the season it's like a desert and it's only about two to three months later that the marine life starts to recover. 70-90% of the corals are dead or dying and the whole Eco system is on the verge of collapse.
Incidentally, Fantasy Reef which has been closed to divers for over 10 years at least is one reef that is in good health.
What is the solution? With regards park fees, I don't think that any dive centre or tour operator should be collecting money and then paying the park rangers. This should be removed from them and put into the hands of the NP authorities.
A system should be put in place whereby each departure point should have a ticketing office, where the divers/snorkelers/visitors buy their own tickets prior to departure. Different ticket types for each type of visitor and different passes for number of days, so that covers day trip divers and liveaboards. For divers the tickets should be attached to the BCD and for others they can attach to their wrists. This way the park rangers can check that people have paid. By having ticket offices it negates cash payments to rangers etc and allows for a tighter system. Prior to boats being loaded an inspector can check each passenger has a ticket. It will also identify anyone who is working illegally as instructors/guides/divemasters are exempt paying the fees. Simple.
Furthermore, by having a centralised ticket office at each departure point the true number of visitors can be identified. That way if necessary a limit can be set in the future if needed, after monitoring the situation it becomes apparent that limits have to be put in place.
If the system is tighter and more honest, the money collected can be better used for the protection and maintenance of the Islands and having ticket offices and inspectors at each and EVERY departure point would offer employment for Thai's. Phuket is cleaning up it's image, so why not this as well?
Posted by
Scuba Juynkie
on
September 14, 2014 13:44
Could the editor tell me if the Similan/Surin Marine Park fee is for 1 day (24 hour) only or how many days in a row you can you stay for THB 500 adult price. This is a little relevant for those who stay more than 1 night.
Posted by
Wildking
on
September 16, 2014 14:48
Editor Comment:
Perhaps a reader can answer.
"Could the editor tell me if the Similan/Surin Marine Park fee is for 1 day (24 hour) only or how many days in a row you can you stay for THB 500 adult price. This is a little relevant for those who stay more than 1 night."
This is entrance fee for unlimited stay. Only if people are diving there is an additional fee of 200 Baht per day (I don't know yet whether this 200 Baht has changed now).
Posted by
stevenl
on
September 16, 2014 16:17
Thanks - This is what a Speedboat operator told me lately. However Marine Park authorities on the islands did in the past collected NP Fee Day by Day from foreign overnight stayers. All this "hanky panky" should be somthing from the past now.
Posted by
Wildking
on
September 16, 2014 18:49
BTW maximum number of visitors who can stay overnight on is.Nr.4 and is.Nr.8 is 340.
Just curious how many overall entrance fee ticket have been booke don average.
As if they would book say only 400 visitors, that's why they should claim now that only 250 are allowed - as optical impression is that current visitors flow is too big to cope.
That's why they introduce such unrealistic number of 250 that is more related to state of accounting internal control systems than to ecological impact.
Posted by
Sue
on
March 24, 2015 05:46
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I think this two-price system across the country is very unfair. I think it's not too expensive, but everyone should pay the same. What Khun Thai say, when he pay in europe for a zoo visit 50Euro and not 10Euro as the europeans (only an example)???
Posted by steve on September 12, 2014 12:43
Editor Comment:
The truth is, few Thais will ever be able in your lifetime to rise from poverty to be able to visit Europe. Only a person with no understanding of the difference in living standards between developed and developing countries would make such an argument. Give your salaries to poor Thais, make your incomes and living standards equal, then you will have a point. Stop behaving like Uncle Scrooge, please. When you open your wallet, open your mind and your heart as well.