(Bangkok, 16th) – The Thailand National Tourism Policy Committee has approved, in principle, a draft to levy a 450 baht (approximately RM55.59) tourism fee on foreign visitors; according to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, the fee may be implemented as early as April next year.
According to The Nation, the proposed levy applies to all foreign visitors entering by air, land, or sea, with a uniform charge of 450 baht per person. This rate is higher than previous proposals of 300 baht for air travelers and 150 baht for those entering by land or sea. The Ministry of Tourism and Sports notes that the new fee structure was determined based on studies and models reflecting current economic conditions.
The scheme will be rolled out in phases. Initially, only air travelers will be charged, and the fee will take effect 180 days after publication in the Royal Gazette; land and sea travelers will start paying the fee about 360 days after the first phase begins, allowing authorities time to address border checkpoint issues, particularly congestion at the Malaysia-Thailand border.
For travelers who frequently enter and exit Thailand, authorities are also considering a multiple-entry arrangement based on the validity period of insurance. For example, visitors purchasing one month of insurance may only have to pay the fee once if making multiple entries within the period. To facilitate payment for foreign tourists, possible payment methods include adding the fee to the ticket price, paying via website or mobile app, or using payment kiosks.
The government will launch a 30-day public consultation before submitting the measure to the National Tourism Policy Committee and the Cabinet for review. Revenue from the tourism fee will go into a Tourism Development Fund, to be used for visitor safety and medical insurance, development of attractions and new tourism experiences, as well as supporting research, conferences, and workforce training in the tourism industry. The government hopes this will support the development of tourism, reduce reliance on the limited national budget, and enhance Thailand's competitiveness.
The scheme will be rolled out in phases. Initially, only air travelers will be charged, and the fee will take effect 180 days after publication in the Royal Gazette; land and sea travelers will start paying the fee about 360 days after the first phase begins, allowing authorities time to address border checkpoint issues, particularly congestion at the Malaysia-Thailand border.
For travelers who frequently enter and exit Thailand, authorities are also considering a multiple-entry arrangement based on the validity period of insurance. For example, visitors purchasing one month of insurance may only have to pay the fee once if making multiple entries within the period. To facilitate payment for foreign tourists, possible payment methods include adding the fee to the ticket price, paying via website or mobile app, or using payment kiosks.
The government will launch a 30-day public consultation before submitting the measure to the National Tourism Policy Committee and the Cabinet for review. Revenue from the tourism fee will go into a Tourism Development Fund, to be used for visitor safety and medical insurance, development of attractions and new tourism experiences, as well as supporting research, conferences, and workforce training in the tourism industry. The government hopes this will support the development of tourism, reduce reliance on the limited national budget, and enhance Thailand's competitiveness.