ATTRACTING a lot of attention in Thailand is Laos’ #SaveLaoKip campaign to protect their currency with Laotian shopkeepers no longer accepting both Thai baht and other foreign currencies but if necessary they will give the foreigners a lower rate than that officially set, Naewna newspaper said this evening (July 13).
YouTube channel “Time to Share” revealed that many shops in Laos have kicked off this campaign to only trade in their currency kip and not accept Thai baht. An example is one shop announcing that they will not accept any foreign currencies with those coming in with Thai currency only getting 30,000 kip for 100 baht.
However the official rate for 100 baht is 61,318 kip. While the official rate for US$100 is 2.2 million kip, these shopkeepers will only give 800,000 kip.
This Laotian campaign has attracted both positive and negative responses from Thais. One person said no one can fault Laos’ campaign to protect their currency but to put up signs saying they won’t accept Thai baht means deliberately not welcoming Thais.
Another person said setting their own exchange rate and taking advantage of tourists is swindling.
A third person said he doesn’t know how to explain this setting of exchange rate at their own whim and fancy, if they won’t accept foreign currencies then say so and not just set whatever exchange rate they want.
A fourth person said there is no country in the world that does this sort of thing, how can it be done at all.
A fifth person said this is not an international practice and is funny.
CAPTIONS:
Top and Front Page: Signs put up at Laotian shops stating Thai baht is not accepted but if necessary buyers will get 30,000 kip per 100 baht.
Insert: A headline on YouTube Channel “Time to Share” stating the Laotian campaign to not accept foreign currencies. All photos: Naewna
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