Discussion on duel pricing in Cambodia. Is it fair ?
I really like a lot of Lina's posts on the Move to Cambodia site. But must say that I disagree about tourists/expats paying the same price to see local heritage. And it's not just Angkor Wat.
A lot of western countries give preferential prices to locals for transport or tourist parks and attractions. Most Cambodians don't earn as much money as westerners, so I think it's right that they pay less to access sites in their own country. Otherwise, they are excluded from their history and their environment because they're poor. That sucks IMO.
Elsewhere, for example, in Ratanakiri, it is cheaper for Khmers to go and picnic at the waterfalls and at Yaklom Lake than for westerners. 2000r compared to 4000r if I remember right. If you are earning more than 50c more than your Khmer friends, then I reckon you should suck it up and pay the barang price.
And if your friends buy you a beer then you're quits.

http://www.movetocambodia.com/expat-lif ... -debunked/

Someone was telling me that 'foreigners', i.e. NOT French, pay double at EuroDisney (its in France). That surprised me if true.
Angkor Wat etc? People that are on low incomes should get in free or at least at a reduced rate, wherever they come from (think the student card idea). The rest should pay a reasonable price. Does anyone think the AW prices are reasonable? (apart from the guy who makes the money) I remember when all the great sites of the world were free. Then some fucker had other ideas... What a f'ing mess they made of Angkor Wat :headslap: Was it archaeologists or American housewives that cleaned it up?

What do you think would happen if a black man went into supermarket in the Western world and there are price labels saying: "Americans $ 2.90, fuckin' Niggaz $ 9.90" ?????? Overpricing in this respect is pure racism and nothing else.

Advocatus Diaboli wrote:What do you think would happen if a black man went into supermarket in the Western world and there are price labels saying: "Americans $ 2.90, fuckin' Niggaz $ 9.90" ?????? Overpricing in this respect is pure racism and nothing else.

Or bigotry if it's other Asians as well. Racism / bigotry? or just xtreme pricing, as in xtreme sports.

Advocatus Diaboli wrote:What do you think would happen if a black man went into supermarket in the Western world and there are price labels saying: "Americans $ 2.90, fuckin' Niggaz $ 9.90" ?????? Overpricing in this respect is pure racism and nothing else.

Not at all comparable. I think that it is fair to have local prices for locals, that's all. Khmers who are foreign nationals should pay the same as all foreigners.
All local people should have affordable access to their heritage.
(I know, then we get into the stuff about who is a real cambodian - blood vs place of birth etc... sigh. )

@JSP
I don't think that french people get into EuroDis cheaper than other nationalities. And how can you compare THAT to Angkor Wat ? It is definitely not French heritage.

Well, it might, sort of, be cultural. Maybe.

The French did give the US the statue of liberty, and in return the US let them have a Disney franchise. [Disney franchises don't come cheap, you know]

Anchor Moy wrote: Not at all comparable. I think that it is fair to have local prices for locals, that's all.

Hell, why would you think that ?...just interested, you know. To me a product has a price, and that price has nothing to do with my complexion nor with my nationality.

ahhh not this again hahahah you seen the big discussion on facebook about this? me and Samouth have been "debating" it lol
https://www.facebook.com/groups/siemrea ... ment_reply

"ive always known the local prices as when i first came here i had a khmer gf for 8months, i know how much everything should cost, if they try charge more i tell them in khmer then they are happy to give local prices, i dont mind paying tourist prices sometimes, you expect it, if i ask for something in khmer, i always get the local prices, and when they do, ill often give them a tip or let them keep the change, but am i really going to argue with a poor woman in the market over $1?? pathetic, just like this article! 95% of my friends here are khmer, i see how they live and how most of them struggle, calling them racist because theyre trying to survive? if i go out with my local friends i dont get over charged, if i was alone maybe, im self employed, i work in construction, i work out my prices based on the customer, if i think i can get away with charging more for a job then i will give them a higher price, does that make me racist? does it fuck, they just see whats in you pockets, it happens all over the world, go to any touristy area in any country and you will see inflated prices, stop being butt hurt if you dont like this country im sure you can afford to leave..."

was my initial comment on the post, it has 220comments -_-

....and ? you are still standing for it ???

Advocatus Diaboli wrote:

Anchor Moy wrote: Not at all comparable. I think that it is fair to have local prices for locals, that's all.

Hell, why would you think that ?...just interested, you know. To me a product has a price, and that price has nothing to do with my complexion nor with my nationality.

Ok. IMO it is normal for local people to be able to afford the price of access to their natural treasures. ie. ruins, lakes, waterfalls, beaches, whatever, because I think that somewhere along the line they have a certain "ownership" of Cambodia's natural spots. I agree that it would be cool if we all paid 1000r entry, but that's not going to pay enough to empty the rubbish.
Because of the disparity in income, I don't mind paying (a little bit) more to go to these places. If i think it is too much then i will put on a khmer hat and sunglasses and "act my way in" with a "dirkdirk dikadika" attitude. (Team America F'k yeah.) Then, I will either get thrown out or I'll pay them a beer.

Seriously, when I go to a public park/reserve in Cambodia where Cambodians pay half as much as me - no, I don't like being treated differently, as a foreigner (poor me, hurt feelings), but i can more than afford to pay that when the people I'm with are earning $80-180 a month.
As long as it's written up there on big signs and it's the official price and it's reasonable, then it's ok. If your khmer is good enough for you to argument your way in at Khmer price, that's ok too.
So that's my reasoning AD.
@Jamie - sometimes it's a shame i don't do FB. LOL