Park fee hike cancelled

Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation announced the cancellation of the park fee hike. The DNP issued an announcement, dated 30 October, cancelling the earlier entrance fee increase at 29 popular national parks that was due to start 1 January. It said the cancellation would alleviate the burden on the private sector and would support the government’s tourism policy to achieve a revenue of Bt2 trillion in 2015. The decision is in response to a deluge of criticism from various travel industry associations. Originally announced back in August for an October start date, tour operators raised objections because they had already agreed on contracted prices for winter season tours and in some cases through to October 2013. In response, the DNP postponed the new fees to January. However, the private sector was still not satisfied. On this website, travel executives suggested the DNP lacked transparency over its budget spending and fee collection accusing it of poor management. Apart from giving very little notice to the travel trade, the fee hikes were as high as 150% at some of the most popular parks. It prompted the private sector to call for clear justification on why such big increases were needed. The new fees were set at Bt100 for a Thai (Bt50, for a child) and Bt500 for a foreigner (Bt300, child). Last increased 1 December 2007, the present fees will remain valid until further notice. Thais pay Bt40 at the listed national parks except for Mu Ko Surin and Mu Ko Similan, which costs Bt80. Foreigners pay Bt200 except for Mu Ko Surin, Mu Ko Similan, Pha Hom Pok, Inthanon, Thung Salaeng Luang, Phu Kradung, Khao Yai, Lanta and Hat Noppharatthara-Mu Ko Phi Phi that charge Bt400.