Ayutthaya Park Waives Fee After Tour Group Dispute
Ayutthaya Historical Park initially demanded an extra 1,000 baht from a tour group planning a walking visit, claiming the fee was for possible social‑media posts. After park officials said the charge was a misunderstanding and not required, the organizers agreed to pay anyway out of sympathy for the paperwork already done. The park’s subsequent Facebook post reignited the dispute, prompting the organizers to threaten their own clarification.
On October 9, 2069, the Facebook page Ayutthaya Revised, together with the pages Lalith‑Kamai (pen name) and Pananthaphat Khanue, announced they were organizing a ‘Leg‑Stretch Palace Tour, Sharing Stories’ event on October 17, expecting 65 participants. They had sent a letter to Ayutthaya Historical Park requesting permission to bring the group onto the grounds. Later, the park called and told the organizers they must pay an additional 1,000 baht. The organizers questioned why, noting they would only be walking around and would not fly drones or record video. Park officials explained that posting photos or clips on personal social media such as Facebook, TikTok or Instagram is considered non‑commercial as long as there is no intent to earn money from the footage, and therefore no fee is required; only commercial shoots need prior permission. The organizers and online community questioned how the park decides what counts as ‘commercial’, noting many people now earn income as creators on social media. Officials replied the decision rests on their discretion, sparking the dispute. Subsequently, a senior official from the Department of National Parks called the organizers, clarified that there had been a misunderstanding, said the organizers had done nothing wrong and that the 1,000‑baht fee was not required. However, feeling sympathetic toward the paperwork the park had already processed, the organizers agreed to pay the amount. The senior official then asked them to delete their post so the matter would not become news, saying it could be resolved quietly. Later, the Ayutthaya Historical Park’s Facebook page posted a statement that upset the organizers, made them feel harmed, and led online observers to believe the organizers were exaggerating the issue. The organizers called the senior official again to ask why the page continued posting; the official said the post was made according to regulations. The organizers replied that, if that is the case, they would post their own clarification to set the record straight.
