Is Thailand a paradise for browsers and bargain-hunters?
If you enter Thailand on a tourist visa you are entitled to a refund of the 7% VAT you paid on goods purchased at shops and department stores displaying the ‘VAT Refund for Tourists’ sign. For more information, please visit www.rd.go.th/vrt/engindex.html. In areas catering primarily to tourists you will find: • Boutiques and stores selling everything from international brands and designer clothing to souvenirs, handicrafts and artwork • Supermarket chains such as Tesco, Makro, Carrefour, Tops and Foodland that accommodate most European and Asian tastes • Familiar High Street chains like Boots, Watsons, Subway and the usual fast-food restaurants Important Note: In Thailand, ‘copyright’ means the ‘right to copy’ and unless you made your purchase in a reputable department store the odds are pretty high that’s it’s a counterfeit, a trend that extends from innocuous items like polo shirts, CDs, purses and precious stones into more dangerous areas like brand-name liquors that can be harmful
