AMID social media criticism of the entrance fee for visiting Tham Luang cave where the 12 “Wild Boars” youth football team and their coach were trapped for 17 days in 2018 park officials defended charging Thais 950 baht and foreigners 1,500 baht per visit as appropriate because this covers going through chambers two and three, Amarin TV said this afternoon (Dec. 18).
Tham Luang–Khun Nam Nang Non National Park had on Friday Dec. 15 opened chamber three to visitors, limiting it to two rounds a day with 10 people per round at the separate fee for Thais and foreigners they had set.
Those interested were told to book a visit at least a week in advance at the national park’s Facebook page as materials and equipment had to be prepared.
However this led to netizens questioning whether this fee is too high.
Park administrators today explained that the 950 baht fee for Thais and 1,500 baht for foreigners is for touring chambers two and three which must be supervised by officials and requires additional equipment.
They added that this fee does not cover equipment rental cost and accident insurance premium.
Tourists will have exciting experiences, including walking on the cave floor scattered with rocks, ducking down holes, climbing large boulders. Along the route, they will see reflective stones, stalactites and stalagmites.
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Top: Tourists snapping photos of Tham Luang cave. Photo: PA/ Chiang Rai Provincial Public Relations Office and published by BBC
Front Page Interior of Tham Luang cave. Photo: Thai Rath
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