MINISTER of the Prime Minister's Office and chairman of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Adisai Bhodharamik, has stepped in to solve the problems over national park entrance fees that were increased from Bt20 to Bt200 recently. He met with tour operators in Chiang Mai earlier this month to sound out their opinions on how to resolve the issue.

There is growing tension between the northern tour operators and the Forestry Department over what they claim are exorbitant national park entrance fees. Tour operators told the minister the fees were killing their business and damaging prospects for eco-tourism.

Recommendations and comments from the industry will be forwarded to Forestry Department director, Plodprasop Surasvadee, and it is very likely that the minister will seek a top-level meeting to discuss the problem next month.

Chiang Mai Tourist Business Association's Aurawan Nimannanda said: "I want the Forestry Department to consider the impact that these fees have on the tourism market." 

At present, tour operators in Chiang Mai say they can no longer sell adventure or eco-tourism tours since the entrance fee was increased from Bt20 to Bt200 per person without prior warning. Agents said they dropped the tours because they would not be able to pass on the cost to their overseas customers.

Jame Travel and Supatchai Tours, both in Chiang Mai, reported they had lost 50% of their business after the national park fees were increased.

Travel agents in the Northeast said most of their business had been whittled away by incessant flooding that has inundated towns throughout the region, including the roads leading to Pha Taem and Khao Phra Viharn National Park near Ubon Ratchathani.

Agents in Nakhon Ratchasima reported that the fee to visit the historic site of Khao Phra Viharn had increased to Bt400, divided equally between the Thai and Cambodian authorities. They warned that business would drop.

Ubon Sakda Travel managing director and president of Ubon Ratchathani Business Association said: "After the admission fee was increased at Pha Taem in Ubon, we had to absorb the increase because we had already signed contracted rates with overseas travel agents for a year. He said that one group of 40 people costs Bt8,000 which was not covered."

"Business dropped to almost zero due to flooding and the economic crisis. The fee increase hasn't helped."

Marine national parks increased their fees last month to Bt200 per visit for foreign adults and Bt100 for children. Previously adults paid Bt40 and children Bt20. Entrance for Thais remains unchanged at Bt20.

Popular marine parks for tourists are Samet, off the east coast of Rayong province, and the Similans in Phang Nga province.

National parks under the Forestry Department also charge Bt200 for foreigners and Bt20 to Bt30 for Thais, depending on the individual park. 

TRAVEL TRADE REPORT, Vol 23 No 37, September 25-1 October, 2000