Thailand Postpones Controversial Tourist Tax Implementation
Thailand delays its controversial tourist tax, citing recovery needs from the pandemic and potential impacts on traveler plans. New insurance plans and safety measures are under review.
Originally approved in February 2023 by the previous administration, this initiative aimed to collect 300 baht from air travelers and 150 baht from land or sea arrivals, with portions allocated to health insurance for foreign visitors. Several implementation delays, however, have pushed the launch date back repeatedly for various reasons.
The COVID-19 Shadow Lingers
Primarily driven by the pandemic, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports ultimately deferred collection, citing concerns over possible impacts on Thailand’s tourism sector. Minister Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol noted that while the fees are modest, they could discourage international visitors or alter travel decisions. She stressed that the tourism industry needs more time to recover fully before implementing the tax. The Minister also revealed a plan to seek a 50 million baht contingency fund to cover medical or accident costs for foreign visitors during their stays in Thailand.
Following a cabinet meeting on December 19, 2023, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin directed the ministry to develop an insurance scheme aimed at ensuring traveler safety. Proposed coverage offers 500,000 baht per person for injuries and 1 million baht for fatal accidents, though the Prime Minister has advocated for expanding this coverage to all tourists pending discussions with the Office of Insurance Commission and other agencies to finalize the appropriate plan and budget allocation.
Srettha Thavisin also urged the Ministry of Tourism and Sports to collaborate with the Ministry of Public Health to implement public health safeguards and to partner with the Royal Thai Police on immigration-related measures to further enhance tourist security.
In May 2023, former Thailand Tourism Authority (TAT) Governor Yuthasak Supasorn stated that the fate of the tourist tax would be decided by the incoming government, as collection methods had yet to be finalized.
Industry Voices Urge Caution
Yuthasak Supasorn added that tourism stakeholders had requested a flexible timeline when the Ministry of Tourism and Sports initially proposed launching the tax in June 2023. Many in the industry favored postponing its implementation until tourism rebounded more fully, with 2024 projected to mark full recovery.
As year-end festivities wrapped up in December 2023, current TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool announced that 1.18 million foreign tourists had arrived—a 56 percent increase over the same period in 2022—and generated an estimated 41.7 billion baht in revenue, up 60 percent year over year.
Spécialiste de la veille réglementaire et experte en contenus destinations, elle analyse quotidiennement l’évolution des formalités d’entrée pour traduire la complexité administrative en guides pratiques. Son rôle combine expertise terrain et précision technique afin de garantir la fiabilité des informations délivrées aux voyageurs.
