Double pricing system in Thailand

[thaiexpater]

I would like to share some of my opinion regarding this topic. I am Thai and was born in Thailand, I was fortunate enough to have a hard working parents who was able to send me to the UK for boarding schools and universities since I was 12.

During my experience abroad, I have always questions why there was double pricing in Thailand which I though was quite unfair until I found out that the UK, and all European countries have exactly the same system. Now you may wondering why so, but take a look at the Education industry it self. If you are are an international (non European) student paying for tuition fee for a university in Europe, you have to pay more than double compare to what the European student pays. So please, before you complain about being cheated, why don't you put your self in the Thai person's shoe who studied abroad. They faces the same situation of "Why do I have to pay 24k pound to study at imperial college while my British and European friend only pay 8k to 12k pound for the same education?".

From this you may ask "So why do you study abroad then if you don't want to pay the price?", well this question also applies to you, and of course the answer is "its your choice"

So if you don't like it, don't bother coming, and please don't bitch about it because Europe and most countries in the world have exactly the same system, just that for Thailand it applied to the tourism industry.

[impact]

Thaiexpater. I think you will find it has to do with taxes. You see, in the USA the people of say Illinois pay taxes, some of which are earmarked for the state Universities. If you are from Indiana you will also pay more but it is less based on the theory that some of your taxes to the US government went to the Universities in Illinois, too. If you are from out of the country you paid no taxes to support the University so you pay the most. It's a triple system! Simple.

Now let's compare other things. If you go to a private university you may or not pay a difference depending on what that university has funded through special state and federal programs paid for by taxes. Foreign student, you paid no taxes again.

So why people pick on education I will never know. The system is simple. So let's go to apples vs apples. If you go to a fish aquarium which gets no state money you will pay the same fee as everybody else. You will not be charged more because you are a foreigner like the blatant charges at the fish aquarium at Paragon. You will not be charged more in the US because you don't look American (let's say white and overweight, but I am not sure what an American looks like) at the museum.

State supported by taxes I won't argue with you. Not supported by taxes, then why the difference? Oh and many of us foreigners in Thailand pay more in taxes than many of the visitors to some Thai locations, but that is another point.

So when I go to a restaurant I expect to pay the same price as a Thai in this private restaurant. Most of the time I do, but once in a while they try something funny.

Tourist, well tourist beware no matter what country you are in. Whatever the confusion, education is a straightforward affair. People should stop trying to use education charges as a comparison for everyything else under the sun.

[thaiexpater]

@impact

I disagree with you totally. I am now working in Sweden and for my existing salary I pay 50% income tax and 25% in Vat (more than the average Sweds). If I am to take educational leave and do another Master degree here I would still have to pay the Foreign students fee of 70,000 to 80,000 kronor ($9,500 to $11,000) per year whereas the Swedish or Europeans students get it for free?

link: http://www.thelocal.se/25092/20100219/

Do you think that is fair? And if your argument is base on the person accumulated future tax, then the same would applies for state funded education or tourist attraction.

For private like paragon aquarium cases that is the exploitation of the price mechanism and cannot be compared. If you want to blame, blame paragon and not the whole system.

[impact]

Educational leave? Gee, that must be nice. I don't think I can get that here. That is not fair. But I guess you should just take your own advice and come back to Thailand for further education if it would be cheaper for you. Foreigners pay more for advanced degree programs than Thais do, you know.

[thaiexpater]

@impact

Correct, but for the same degree abroad Thai will have to pay a lot lot more.

So you can have cheaper education in your country just like how Thai can visit state tourist attraction at a cheaper price. Right?

So if you are not satisfied, save your money and visit your tourist attraction instead of complaining.

You have a choice just like I do.

[impact]

Wow. I am not complaining. You are. And your advice is for anybody complaining to go home where it is cheaper. I am explaining/showing you comparisons that are not educational. Please reread.

I can't argue with you if you think I am seeing things your way. I tell you about education prices for Thailand and you tell me to go home and get a cheaper one. So in response I will say once again, if you have a problem with education prices overseas, you should return home. I think you are agreeing with me but you you don't see it.

Finally, I would have to pay the same foreigner fee you do if I went to Sweden to study wouldn't I? So, how does it feel to be 'farang' in Sweden? Let me ask you, do you receive government benefits in Sweden? Medical care? Are you building a retirement fund in Sweden? Can you buy property? Well stop complaining and leave that place! There are lots of issues you ignore, but I am not interested. All I said was leave education out of it.

[thaiexpater]

please don't take it the wrong way, I have no intention of being disrespectful. All I am saying is that every country proposes different policies and regulations, and when you choose to live or travel in that country it is purely your choice. If you don’t like the policies and feels that you are cheated, best is for you to make another choice and leave or find a substitute which fit your needs.

my argument was based on examples of price discrimination in different countries.

Thailand = Tourist attraction which is funded and maintained by the government (Tax payer' money)
Sweden / UK / Europe = Educational system which is funded and maintained by government (Tax payer' money)

[paulc]

From one farang to another, there is a very simple answer
"IF YOU DO NOT LIKE IT, STAY IN YOUR OWN COUNTRY"!

I find that my aquaintances who complain, cannot afford to live a decent life in their own
country on the income that they have. Fortunately, I have found many persons who
readily admit that life is great in Thailand.
Moreover, All those who have an adequate income at home, are TOTALLY PLEASED
to pay the price in Thailand as they have double or triple the lifestyle.

It annoys me that the complainers wish to take advantage of the poor working
people (pay 5 instead of 10 baht for the bus, no tip to waitresses etc.)

Have the COMPLAINERS thought about the millions of poor Thai's who are being taken
advantage of by the many RICH Thai's? My conscience will not allow me to contribute
to this malaise.

The old "love it or leave it" works every time! It's not a question of who has more money, who is poor, who can afford the premium but a simple situation of discrimination. There are many Thais who make more money, pay less taxes and tip less than I do but only the Caucasians are pulled aside to pay the premium. The staff are only trained to identify the white faces.
I can hear the screams if a Thai were pulled from line to tour Buckingham palace and directed to a special line to pay a 400% premium foreigner surcharge. stop rationalizing and call it what it is.
My spirits are elevated every time that I pass out money to help a needy person.
GIVE IT A TRY .

[vally]

oh amazing Thailand!!!!!!!!!!we will not accept anyone to paint you black...why dont we complain when our salaries as teachers quadruples that of fellow thai colleagues???when will a Thai citizens start earning more than American citizens for the same or lesser job done in America???hahahaha

[sibley]

My wife went to by some Bananas she was charged 25 Bart, I went to the same market stall a week later, there was a sign saying bananas 25 Bart, on giving me the bananas the women said 35 Bart. I explained in Thai that my wife had bought bananas from her last week for 25 Bart and the sign says 25 Bart so why charge me 35 Bart, she looked a little embarrassed, I gave her the bananas back and left, it is the little things like that, that annoy me about Thailand.