Thailand is moving forward with plans to levy an “entry fee” on foreign tourists, with the fee possibly exceeding 300 baht per person (approximately 36.45 ringgit). The proposal was first introduced in 2020, but has never been implemented.
On the 20th, Minister of Tourism and Sports, Sudhasa, revealed that the Thai government is accelerating the implementation of the “Thailand Tourism Promotion Fund Fee” (commonly known as the “entry fee”) for foreign tourists. The government is currently researching specific collection methods and reasonable fee standards, aiming both to increase tourism protection funds and to minimize the impact on the visitor experience.
He pointed out that the Thai government is currently focusing on two main collection methods.
He said that the first approach is to have the fee collected directly as part of the airfare. This would be the most convenient for tourists, as there would be no need for extra payment upon entry and would lessen the feeling of being “additionally charged.” However, current airline booking systems are unable to accurately distinguish between passenger types such as tourists, business travelers, Thai citizens, or foreigners, so implementation remains difficult. To tackle this, the government is considering developing a refund application, allowing Thai citizens and those who qualify for exemptions to apply for a refund within a specified period after entry.
He indicated that the second method would be collection via the immigration system, meaning travelers would complete payment via QR code/payment scan before entering the country. This method provides a clearer way to distinguish visa types and traveler identity, but increases the steps required prior to entry and offers lower convenience.
Regarding fee standards, Sudhasa revealed that 300 baht per person had been previously discussed, but current evaluations indicate that the future fee "may be higher than 300 baht."
He said the Thai government hopes to use part of this fee to provide truly high-quality insurance coverage for foreign tourists, including covering treatment costs in Thailand's high-end private hospitals, so current insurance costs are already higher than before. The government also hopes that, after insurance costs are deducted, a part of the funds can still be used for the development of tourist attractions and tourism infrastructure.
He emphasized that the government hopes that, in the future, foreign tourists will receive effective protection as soon as they arrive in Thailand, increasing their sense of safety and confidence in traveling, while also reducing the government's fiscal burden in dealing with tourist accidents, especially in cases where the tourist's own insurance is insufficient.
Sudhasa noted that such tourism taxes or tourist fee schemes are not unique to Thailand, as more than 40 countries and regions around the world have implemented similar measures, only with differences in their collection methods.