This e-mail went to Lonely Planet, cc TAT (18th July 2000)

Dear Editor,

Thai National Parks increased foreigner entrance fee to 10x the local fee

Dear Editor,
want to share my grief with you.

Yesterday morning, at the gate of Khao Chamao National Park in Thailand's Rayong Province:
I'm asked to pay B200 entrance fee. I think something must be wrong and ask again, and again and again, but the boy insists on B200. After 5 minutes I usually lose my temper, so I decide to pay B200 before the 5 minutes are over. In return, I receive 10 pcs of entrance tickets.
Looks like a bad deal and I head straight for the Visitors' Center and find staff speaking a few words of English. What I understand is that she feels very sorry for this but nevertheless, I have to pay B200. Well.
I push the thoughts aside and start up the trail to the waterfalls. It is indeed a well managed park. Clean, safe trails, helpful park rangers who speak a few words of English. Plus very few visitors, for a Sunday. Probably due to the steep entrance fees.
The tiers are not tremendous in size but very scenic, still accessible. The water is very fresh and the pools have plenty of fish. I am surprised how tame these fish are, I touch so many of them while swimming.
As I come down, more and more visitors make their way up - I've been early. Back to the parking lot, I find it pretty crowded. Again I wonder if I paid too much.
Next is a portion of Papaya Salad at one of the restaurants. Talking with some of the local visitors, I learn that the park entrance fee is B20. I'm rightaway off to the Park Headquarters. There, the Park Management confirms that foreigners pay B200, starting this month. So I eventually believe it is true.

This morning, at the Krathing Falls in Chanthaburi Province:
Heavy rain as I approach the gate in my car. I spot the sign that displays the entrance fees. B20, it says.
I open the driver's window just a little gap (to prevent the downpour from entering my car) and pass out a B50 bill.
The face at the counter appears unhappy and seems to have a reason not to give me a ticket.
I pass out a B500 bill, her face brightens up and I observe heavy activity behind the glass.
She returns me a bundle of paper: 10 admission tickets and change for B200.
A visit to the HQ reveals: Foreigners are now charged B200 admission at all Thai National Parks !
A word about the falls themselves: It's the rainy season, now. A heavy torrent of brown water came down with thunder. The water washed over parts of the trail and limited access to the upper half of the falls. It wasn't possible to cross the water safely at any point along the falls.


Folks from the TAT,
I strongly suggest that you charge the local Chinese 5x the national park entrance fee of the Thai. This policy works very well in Indonesia and contributes a lot to the racial harmony that this country enjoys.
Best Regards,
Martin

Over a month later, the reply from TAC came in:
August 23, 2000

Dear Mr. Martin,
Thanking for your e-mail dated July 18, 2000 copied to us.

We already noted the contents contained therein with understanding and then forwarded this matter to the attention of the authority concerned for their consileration.

Your kind recommendation in respect of entrance fee is greatly appreciated and really useful for us to look for ways and measures to accomplish our aim of providing tourism services for the benefit of everyone travelling in our kingdom.

Yours sincerely,
PORNTHIP ONNOOM (Mrs.)
Director
Tourist Assistance Centre

BD/wt

While TAC / TAT are "consilerating", I put my Thai National Park page on the WWW, "for the benefit of everyone travelling in" .. this .."kingdom."

Have fun,
Martin