Argument for dual pricing is flawed; parity is fair for tourists
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Ref: "Rich foreigners desperate for price parity", February 13.
I could only smile and shake my head at John Amone’s lame attempt to justify the double pricing custom in Thailand.
His position is that dual pricing is justified because there are poor Thai farmers who pay taxes and poor foreigners have credit cards and therefore, should accept a little gouging.
Maybe I missed it but to my knowledge poor Thai farmers don’t pay taxes. I have never seen one fill out a tax return. They do pay auto registration, driver’s licences, etc, but those are mostly fees and not a tax.
He speaks as if a request for fairness and parity is a bad thing and not to be expected by tourists. He should keep in mind that tourists pay VAT as well as the fees and taxes included in taxi, hotel, gift shop and restaurant bills.
Tourists should be treated as paying guests and fairness and parity are worthwhile goals whether by tourists visiting Thailand and Thais visiting other counties.
Paul Conley
Palmetto Bay, Florida
