Thailand is set to implement a 300 baht (S$11.40) tourism tax on foreign visitors by the end of 2025, according to Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong.
The tax scheme is expected to take effect during Thailand’s high season later this year, provided it receives official endorsement via publication in the Royal Gazette in March.
“The tourist fee may not be a large amount that would put tourists off, but if collection is complicated, it will be inconvenient. Our aim is to make the process as smooth as possible,” said Sorawong.
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How the Tax Will Work
Foreign travellers arriving by air will be charged 300 baht per person per trip.
Those entering Thailand by land or water will also pay 300 baht but will be entitled to multiple entries within a 30 to 60-day period.
The ministry is currently working to integrate the tax collection system with the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC), which will come into force on 1 May 2025, reported The Nation.
The tax collection process aims to be hassle-free, with the Thai government developing a one-stop service to facilitate travellers.
Benefits for Tourists
The collected funds will provide life and accident insurance coverage for all foreign visitors entering Thailand with a passport.
“Several embassies have confirmed that this scheme is a good plan as it will allow travellers to access insurance,” Sorawong added.
The minister does not expect the tourism tax to cause a decline in foreign arrivals due to the relatively small amount.
The 300 baht tourism tax was initially proposed and approved under the previous government led by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha in February 2023.
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However, the plan was shelved during Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s administration in hopes that tourism revenue would reach at least 3 trillion baht annually.
The tax proposal has faced opposition from private tourism businesses who warn it could negatively impact tourism flows and make Thailand less competitive as a tourist destination.
Global Trend in Tourist Taxes
Thailand joins several other destinations implementing or considering similar tourist taxes to manage the impacts of high tourism volumes on infrastructure and local resources.
The funds from the tax will be used to upgrade tourist sites and provide compensation for injuries and fatalities among foreign visitors.
About 70 percent of foreign arrivals to Thailand come by air. The country saw 40 million tourists in 2019, but numbers dropped to 11 million by 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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2024 is expected to show a recovery to about 36 million foreign travellers.
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