Thailand “Tourist Tax” Will Take Effect In 2023

Tourists entering Thailand by flight will be required to pay a fee of 300 baht upon arrival starting next year. The so-called “tourist tax” was supposed to be implemented this year, but its implementation was postponed to help the country’s tourism sector recover from the pandemic.

According to Minister of Tourism, Phiphat Ratchakitprann, the tourist tax will be implemented starting next year. 

Tourists entering Thailand by plane must pay the fee upon their arrival regardless of their visa status. The ministry said that foreigners who will stay in Thailand for less than 24 hours are not required to pay the said fee.

Citizens and holders of Thai passports will be free from such charges. Foreigners with employment permits, foreign diplomats, and infants under two years old are also excluded from the tourist tax but this information needs to be verified by the Ministry of Tourism.

The Ministry of Tourism remains undecided whether the fee will also apply to foreigners entering Thailand by sea and land or whether the fee will decrease for sea and land arrivals.

It still remains unclear how the government will collect “tourist tax”. According to the Ministry of Tourism, the collected tax will be used to fund the development of tourist sites in the country. However, the ministry also mentioned that the tax will also serve as accident insurance for visitors who run into problems during their stay in Thailand; however, specifics on the accident coverage or insurance policy have not yet been disclosed.

The tourism tax plan has been in the works since 2020, but the idea has been faced with opposition from some groups, which is one of the contributing factors to its implementation delays.

The Hatyai Songkhla Hotels Association criticized the government-imposed tourism fee on Saturday. Sitthiphong Sitthiphatprapha, president of the association, said that the tax would bring additional cost and hassle for tourists, especially if it is imposed on those entering the Kingdom through the land border.

The association is also concerned that tourists entering southern Thailand by rail, bus, or car may only plan to stay in the country for a few days and discourage them to stay longer.

The Ministry of Tourism clarified that the implementation of tourism tax is studied and only affects foreigners arriving in Thailand via plane.

SOURCE: CH3

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