I agree with the 2 last posts - what is the official law, and how is the law practically applied are 2 different questions.

However, as a FYI; in response to the question about hotel concierges - I believe the JW Marriott hotel concierge had no idea how or if the law was applied - that is why she called the HKT customs official. The BKK Novotel Hotel concierge claimed there was no such law!

The question is whether hotel concierges, who advise the hotel guests about the country, should or should not know these practical details. If the answer is yes, how do they learn about these details - without coming to this type of forum on FlyerTalk. Even if I would send them the link to this thread (and I am actually thinking of doing that), this thread is not the authoritative source they can use to advise the hotel customers; the only authoritative source is the HKT customs official!


Here is the link to the BKK customs page on the web site:

http://suvarnabhumiairport.com/en/1002-customs-services

See section on Buddhas (does the Thai government of antiques or artifacts encompass souvenir Buddha trinkets, or not):


Export of Buddha images outside the country
Antiques or artifacts, whether or not they have been registered, are prohibited to be exported or dispatched from Thailand, unless there is a permit from the Fine Arts Department’s director general according to the criteria, procedures and conditions specified in the ministerial regulations no. 5 in B.E. 2539 (1996).

In case the antiques or artifacts permitted to be exported or dispatched from Thailand are religious Buddha images or icons, the person who receives the permit must clarify the purpose of the export of such antiques or artifacts. Only Buddha and religious images which are intact and are for the purpose of worships, researches, or exhibitions are permitted to be exported or dispatched from Thailand. Export or dispatch of parts of such items is not allowed.