Thai parks more expensive

BANGKOK  Higher entrance fees came into effect, 1 February, for foreign visitors to Thailand’s 31 popular national parks according to the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation.
The department issued a notice on entrance fee increases, last August, mainly to give tour companies enough advance notice to include them in their 2015 quotes to overseas tour operators.
In the past, the parks were criticized for not giving tour companies enough notice on fee increases. In some instances the outcry forced the department to delay increases.
Foreign visitors pay the highest fee of THB500 to visit Ko Surin and Similan marine national parks. At the same parks, Thai visitors payTHB100 for Ko Surin and Similan marine national parks up from THB80.
inside no 7First-time visitors may not be aware of dual pricing as many attractions post the prices for citizens in Thai script rather than Roman numerals. Repeat visitors pick-up on the practice and often take their money elsewhere, while adding to the long list of complaints on websites and newspaper letter pages.
If there is justification for dual pricing then it is usually the argument that citizens pay tax and should therefore be entitled to a discount.
The more sensible approach would be to base discounts on other factors; youth, seniors, government servants, military rather than just race.
According to the department, the higher fees will be used to fund park services.

sourced:ttrweekly.com