Good News! 300 Baht Tourism Fee Postponed Until End of 2022

The Tourism and Sports Ministry announced that the enforcement of the THB 300 tourism fee will be delayed until the end of 2022, while the revocation of the mandatory Thailand Pass requirement is likely to take effect on July 1.

Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Tourism and Sports Minister, said that fee collection for tourists arriving by land needs further study, such as assessing if the fee amount should be less than THB 300 since the average length of stay for these visitors is short with an average of 1 to 2 nights.

The tourism fee was originally on the table for this week’s Cabinet meeting, but the plan was withdrawn by the ministry in order to address fee collection for land arrivals.

The ministry will present the proposal to the cabinet within 2 months with fee collection commencing 90 days following publication in the Royal Gazette.

Mr. Phiphat anticipated that the tourism fee will be postponed from August or September until the end of 2022 or the first quarter of 2023.

The ministry will also propose to the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) will remove the Thailand Pass registration requirement for foreign tourists starting July 1.

“The removal of the Thailand Pass system will eliminate the travel insurance requirement, making travel easier”

Yuthasak Supasorn said that the agency would meet with tourism operators this coming Friday 10 June to handle other priority inquiries before the next CCSA meeting.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand organized Thailand Travel Mart Plus 2022 on June 8-10 in Phuket for the first time in over 2 years. The event expects to produce THB 1.29 billion in tourism revenue.

There are 264 local businesses, including 229 hotels, and 276 foreign buyers from 45 countries, of whom 45.7% are first-time attendees.

Mr. Yuthasak said that TAT  prepared a plan to stimulate the domestic market by extending the ‘We Travel Together’ hotel subsidy program, which includes 1.5 million room nights subsidized by fourth-phase budget surpluses. The system should be available for new reservations by July 1, and local visitors will be able to travel between July 8 and October 31.

Mr. Phiphat mentioned that the decision of the Finance Ministry would determine whether the fifth phase with an extra 1.5 million room nights would be implemented.

SOURCE: Phuket News

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