B500 annoyance?

Re: “Operators fret over B500 tour fee,” (BP, Oct 5).

Most foreign tourists will not baulk at paying an additional 500-baht fee so long as they feel confident that the money is well spent on legitimate improvements of tourism infrastructure and services, or environmental protection. If, however, the funds are poorly spent or simply become another slush fund for politicians to play with, the collection of the fee will become yet another turn-off to visitors.

The additional amount collected may seem small relative to the overall cost of a visit to the country by well-heeled tourists, but the irritation becomes amplified if the funds are not spent in a meaningful and transparent manner. Sometimes it’s those little annoyances that pile up to collectively that make a country less attractive as a tourism destination.

SAMANEA SAMAN