Foreigners given a say on tourism fee
The government is conducting an online public hearing for both Thais and foreigners on the proposed 450-baht tourism fee for foreign tourists and the fund's budget usage, insisting the procedures must be transparent and open to assessment.
The Thai government is seeking input from both Thai nationals and foreigners on a new proposed 450-baht tourism fee for foreign tourists. The fee, along with its budget usage, will be subject to public scrutiny during an online hearing that runs until September 28. Weerasak Kowsurat, an advisor to Deputy Prime Minister Suphajee Suthumpun and head of the working group on creative economy and visitor economy development, emphasized the need for transparency and openness in the assessment process.
The draft proposal is available for online public comment at www.law.go.th. Respondents can either agree or disagree with the fee rate and collection methods, as well as provide feedback on the definition of a foreign tourist, which is any individual entering Thailand temporarily for tourism or other non-income-generating purposes.
The Ministry of Tourism and Sports plans to host an offline discussion panel in the near future, following initial public feedback. The tourism fee was first proposed in 2020, but previous administrations have struggled to find a viable collection method. If implemented, it would mark the first time the sector generates more than 10 billion baht annually through its own funding, aside from the general budget.
In 2022, Thailand welcomed approximately 33 million foreign tourists, which could result in a tourism fund worth 14.8 billion baht. The fund is intended to cover foreign tourists' insurance and finance tourism infrastructure upgrades. Open channels for fee collection, including a dedicated website and airport kiosks, are seen as the most feasible approach.
Airlines may receive processing fees as incentives, while less tech-savvy travelers can pay at an airport kiosk. Despite concerns about price sensitivity, Thailand aims to position itself as a high-value tourism destination, and many private operators support the idea. The government is also considering mandating additional insurance for high-risk activities and third-party coverage for vehicle rentals, as unpaid medical bills by foreign visitors cost Thai hospitals around 2.5 billion baht annually.
Written by urgent.news from Bangkok Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
Also reported by 1 other outlet
- Foreigners given a say on tourism fee bangkokpost.com
