Foreign visitors to pay flat 450 baht tourism fee under new Thailand plan
Thailand eyes flat 450-baht tourist entry fee, air arrivals to pay first Foreign visitors to Thailand may soon pay a flat 450 baht (about US$13.50) to enter the country, after a national committee backed a revised version of the long-delayed tourism fee and cleared it for public consultation. The proposed rate would apply to everyone … The story Foreign visitors to pay flat 450 baht tourism fee…
Foreign visitors to Thailand could soon be required to pay a flat fee of 450 baht (approximately US$13.50) for entry into the country, according to a plan endorsed by a national committee. The proposed flat rate would apply to all travelers arriving by air, land or sea, marking a departure from the initial proposal which had set different fees for air arrivals and land/sea entries.
Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun, who chaired the committee meeting, announced that members had approved the draft principles and the notification outlining the fee collection process. Following a 30-day public hearing, the committee will review the proposal before it can be submitted to the Cabinet for final approval. If approved, the fee collection is expected to commence in the first quarter of 2027, around April.
The government aims to use the revenue generated from the fee to fund tourism infrastructure, safety standards, and other initiatives aimed at boosting the sector's growth without solely relying on government funding. The 450-baht figure is based on an economic model, with one study suggesting a base rate exceeding 490 baht.
The fee will be introduced in two phases to minimize strain on border checkpoints. Phase 1, focusing on air travel, is set to commence 180 days after the notification is published in the Royal Gazette. Phase 2, covering land and sea travel, will follow approximately 360 days later. Officials are also exploring the possibility of a multiple-entry option tied to insurance for frequent travelers, which could allow certain individuals to pay once for multiple entries and exits during a specified period.
Authorities emphasize the importance of making the payment process convenient for tourists. Potential methods under consideration include bundling the fee into the cost of airfare, online payments through an official website, mobile app transactions, and self-service kiosks at entry points. Other methods approved by the tourism fund committee may also be considered.
Written by urgent.news from The Thaiger's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
