Tourism Minister Sorawong Thientong has announced the reintroduction of the 300 baht tourist tax for all visitors to Thailand. The tax had been abolished under the previous government of Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. Once the regulation takes effect, all tourists, regardless of their mode of entry (air, sea, or land), will be required to pay the tourism fee upon arrival.

About the tourist tax in Thailand

This tourist tax model has been discussed for several years as a way to both boost the economy and combat overtourism in Thailand. It was even approved by the Thai cabinet in 2022, but was not published in the official gazette due to protests from the private sector.

However, Mr. Sorawong wants to change this, explaining: “I believe that collecting the tourism fee will benefit the tourism industry, as the revenue can be used to develop infrastructure and attractions, as well as to ensure tourist safety.”

Although Mr. Sorawong is pushing forward with the introduction of the Thai tourist tax, he has also emphasized that more time is needed to test the system's viability and to establish a collection procedure that does not negatively impact tourism. Once these concerns are addressed and the Thai tourist tax is published in the Official Gazette, tourists will be subject to the following taxes:

  • 150 THB (arrival by sea and land)

    • To answer the question of whether these figures were too high and would deter tourists from visiting Thailand, Surawat Akaraworamat, Vice President of the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT), explained that the tourist tax was quite reasonable. Compared to countries like Bhutan, where tourists pay over US$100 per night, the tourist tax in Thailand is significantly lower.

    How the revenue from the tourism tax is used

    Mr. Sorawong has pledged to increase tourism revenue to at least 3 trillion THB by the end of 2024, from both domestic and international sources. This is to be achieved through various events such as marathons, Loy Krathong, and the New Year's Eve countdown. The revenue from the tourism tax will be used for the following purposes:

  • Infrastructure development: This includes transport networks, public facilities and tourist attractions.
  • Second-order urban development: This includes developing second-order cities into popular tourist destinations so they can accommodate more tourists, allowing overcrowded destinations to recover and at the same time allowing tourists to explore other regions of the country.
  • Tourist safety: The proposed measures include improved emergency services and optimized security infrastructure at key tourist locations.

    • Reasons for Thailand's tourist tax

    As mentioned previously, one of the goals of the Thai tourist tax is to counteract overtourism by directing tourists to other regions of the country and allowing overcrowded destinations to recover.

    Before the COVID-19 pandemic, when travel restrictions were still minimal, Thailand had closed several popular beaches for extended periods to prevent lasting damage to ecosystems. Cities like Phuket also suffered from heavy traffic and water shortages due to overtourism.

    With the pandemic over and the government introducing the DTV visa for Thailand, as well as extending visa exemptions to other countries, Thailand is experiencing a resurgence in tourism. By introducing the Thai tourist tax, Thailand hopes to address these challenges and offer incoming tourists more opportunities to discover and experience the country in all its diversity. At the same time, the tax aims to improve business opportunities for locals and strengthen the economy.

    Who will be affected by the Thai tourist tax?

    Further details regarding exactly who will be affected by the tourist tax have not yet been released. However, it is assumed that those entering Thailand on a tourist visa or using the Visa Exemption Scheme or Visa on Arrival program will be required to pay the fee, while Thai residents and long-term visa holders will be exempt.

    However, no concrete date has yet been set for the implementation of the tourist tax, as the ministry is still reviewing the details and gathering feedback from stakeholders. Reports indicate that the government is considering starting collection no earlier than the last quarter of 2024 or waiting until 2025.