Thailand again delays its tourism tax
The Thailand Tourism Fee, initially planned for June 2023, has been pushed to September 2023. This tax aims to fund healthcare and accident insurance for tourists while supporting environmental and cultural heritage protection.
Thailand has agreed to delay the rollout of its Thailand Tourism Fee (TTF) until September 2023. We previously reported an implementation date of June 2023 in an earlier article. This is the second time the Thai government has postponed the decision.
This fee is designed to help protect Thailand’s natural environment and cultural heritage, but its primary purpose is to fund an insurance scheme for tourists’ health and accident coverage during their stay. Insurers have already announced plans to offer tailored products for the country, especially popular with retirees who take extended stays.
The Thai minister of tourism and sports, Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, stated the delay was necessary to ensure the collection mechanism operates effectively. He added that discussions are ongoing with airlines to determine the most effective way to collect the fee in compliance with IATA regulations, since carriers have shown no enthusiasm for adding the charge to ticket prices.
What is Thailand’s tourism fee?
Under the Thai government’s plan, all international visitors entering the country will be required to pay a tourist fee of 300 baht (€7.9) by air or 150 baht (€3.95) by land or sea.
Who is exempt from the tourist fee?
Exempt groups include diplomats, infants under two years old, adults with work permits, same-day visitors, transit passengers and foreigners who reside in Thailand permanently.
Could Thailand introduce a departure tax?
The Thai Revenue Department is surveying travel-industry professionals to gauge opinion on a possible departure tax for all travelers, including Thais. If introduced, the charge would be comparatively steep—1,000 baht (€26.33) for air travelers and half that for those departing by land or sea. The tax would generate extra revenue and reduce spending by Thais in neighboring countries. Survey results, expected mid-May 2023, may receive a cool reception.
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