Airlines Reject Thailand’s Proposed Tourism Fee Plan

1 hour ago, Liquorice said:

I've never been asked to pay a deposit at either a Govt or private hospital for treatment, operations, or medications beforehand.

Well you must be the exception then. Or maybe you have medical insurance that can cover the costs. No deposit is required for outpatient appointments, or for medication, but it certainly is for inpatient treatment that requires being admitted for 1 night or more if you are a non-Thai citizen.

1 hour ago, wil iam not said:

Do not come to Nauresun University Hospital in Phitsanulok then.

Do they ask you whether or not you have Insurance?

Maybe you give off Dodgy vibes.

Now we understand

Quote "Most of the revenue is intended to fund insurance for tourists, while the remainder would be used to maintain tourist attractions and improve infrastructure."

Problems, yes know first hand the Airline Software booking and operational systems do not easily communicate data. Many different software types, versions, some designed for different operating systems.

There are estimated 195 countries in the World. Thailand wants them to burden the financial expense or paid software changes, collection fees and processing, then pay all to Thailand who will reimburse the Airlines. (This is a big Ask, many technical changes and challenges, additional accounting)

Then the BIG QUESTION, How are Thai Citizens going to be Paid or Reimbursed for the 300 baht fee? (Digital Wallet?)

Lastly the "Advance Passenger Information (API) and Passenger Name Record (PNR) data to border authorities" is collected closer to check in, Not Booking. This would require All airlines to then request

Lastly "ministry suggested airlines collect the fee from all passengers before reimbursing Thai travellers, with the government covering the administrative costs." So if 300 baht is collected and the administrative fee is 300 baht (which is not unrealistic with the additional payment processing, reimbursement, accounting, and labor cost) do Tourist still get Insurance and pay Same price at the List of Tourist Attractions this fee is going to maintain?

1 hour ago, wil iam not said:

That's strange because last week I went to BKK Phitsanulok for a blood test and finger up the bum, and no deposit. Just Bht 1900 when done.

I fronted with severe double pnuemonia.

Maybe that was the reason for the deposit..... which was only 20k anyways... A pittance compared to the final bill!

The logical step is to make it mandatory upon International check-in to have adequate travel insurance in place to go anywhere in the world not just Thailand, if I didn’t have tdac they wouldn’t let me get on the plane with my family.

Rutnin Eye Hospital demands payment in full, in advance, from foreigners without medical insurance for any surgical procedures, "according to the estimate." One might get a couple of hundred baht back out of, say, 65,000, if you're lucky.

Truth is obscured by lack of facts. Baht 2.5 of unpaid hospital bills, if true, should be substantiated with forensic information such as from uninsured tourists - stating age and nationalities, illegal foreign workers by nationaility, insurance companies challenging 'gouging' prices, impoverished resident foreign retirees and etc.

Another very well though out plan

I don't see the problem. You have to enter your name, D.O.B, passport / nationality as your ID for boarding. Thai passports pay 300 baht less. All other passport have the 300 baht added on. Just takes some extra computer programming, which the Thai government can compensate the airlines for.

Whilst I am opposed to the tax, I don't see it as difficult for the airlines to collect. They collect every other tax, levy and fee.

Edited 5 hours ago5 hr by KhunHeineken

So, if the insurance is included in the new arrival form I would presume that would necessitate a Visa card number. One shudders at the thought of that kind of exposure. An exit permit is another possible spanner in the works as its format differs from the normal tourist visa. I feel an attack of Deja Vu coming on

3 hours ago, ronnie50 said:

I don't quite understand why the airlines can't add the tax on to the ticket. Every ticket I've ever purchased has all kinds of fuel charges and airport taxes added on. So they're already collecting tax, right?

Those apply to all passengers.

It’s explained in the article that airlines don’t collect data on nationality at the time of booking, so can’t just charge foreigners.

9 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

I don't see the problem. You have to enter your name, D.O.B, passport / nationality as your ID for boarding. Thai passports pay 300 baht less. All other passport have the 300 baht added on. Just takes some extra computer programming, which the Thai government can compensate the airlines for.

GeographicReference

Whilst I am opposed to the tax, I don't see it as difficult for the airlines to collect. They collect every other tax, levy and fee.

The article states this:

“He noted that airlines generally do not require passengers to provide nationality, passport details or residential addresses when initially booking flights, as only a passenger’s name and destination are typically needed.”

9 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

I don't see the problem. You have to enter your name, D.O.B, passport / nationality as your ID for boarding. Thai passports pay 300 baht less. All other passport have the 300 baht added on. Just takes some extra computer programming, which the Thai government can compensate the airlines for.

Whilst I am opposed to the tax, I don't see it as difficult for the airlines to collect. They collect every other tax, levy and fee.

Reading between the lines... there is an issue with "back-office systems" that wont allow this.

59 minutes ago, Jim Mac said:

Maybe you give off Dodgy vibes.

I have been using them for years, having my gall bladder removed a couple of years ago. I was asked to pay 40k up front, but got some of that back.

What's Bht 300. The airfare can change that much within hours.

3 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

It is not about individual cases.. In general foreigners must pay if they are tourists, but how will get the retiree his money back?? You are lucky if your employer pays it, but that is individual case... I talk in general always..

Please qualify as to why tourists should pay it? When they arrive they are spending money which goes either directly or indirectly into the countries coffers. It is not a major sum of money I would agree but when many places, not all, charge higher prices to foreigners an entry tax seems ridiculous. People are spending money in country, there is no real need to impose an entry tax.

2 hours ago, Liquorice said:

After 4 weeks in hospital, he did a runner in the middle of the night on crutches with a leg in a plastercast.

No ID, gave a false name, police caught him only because a member of the nursing staff recognized his girlfriend visitor and where she lived.

If Thailand fears that situation, then do what Mexico does, handcuff the patient to the bed until they pay. I do remember at a private hospital I went to for kidney stones that I had to pay the 175,000 baht in advance.

3 hours ago, Upnotover said:

The whole purpose of this news story is to explain that. Read it (again?)

Okay, yes I get it. Still, depite the fact it's 'illegal' in Thailand to tax Thais for this. Thailand could go back to IATA and say they want it applied to all tickets. Then the onus is on the government to set up a number of windows/booths airside at Thai airports. The Thai ticket holder shows their ticket and Thai passport and they are instantly refunded the 300 baht. Given the relatively short lines we see for Thais at Immigration, it wouldn't be that onerous for the government to do that.

If they add it to TDAC (which is about to become something else yet again), then it becomes effectively an E-Visa like Vietnam has. But that's even more work hassle for everyone involved.

32 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

I don't see the problem. You have to enter your name, D.O.B, passport / nationality as your ID for boarding. Thai passports pay 300 baht less. All other passport have the 300 baht added on. Just takes some extra computer programming, which the Thai government can compensate the airlines for.

Whilst I am opposed to the tax, I don't see it as difficult for the airlines to collect. They collect every other tax, levy and fee.

So the airlines have to work and adjust a system,just because gteedy Thailand needs money??? Thailand wants from foreigners so Thailand should arrange how, you cant expect that all airlines adjust their programs and work for that

23 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

Reading between the lines... there is an issue with "back-office systems" that wont allow this.

Yes, I also read between the lines as the article mentioned "reimbursement" of Thai nationals, which to me means, charging their card, then refunding the card 300 baht at some point.

This is why I posted why not just charge Thai passport holders 300 baht less, or foreign passport 300 baht more? No "reimbursement" needed.

Basically, any other passport but a Thai passport gets the 300 baht added onto the fees.

I am not a computer programmer, but the airline websites are already set up to collect a long list of fees, taxes and levies. I wouldn't think it so difficult to charge 300 baht more for every passenger who does not enter "Thailand" in the nationality / passport field.

1 hour ago, Searat7 said:

One option would be to pull the old 500B exit tax machines out of storage and collect the tax on the way out.

They really need to do a deep dive into unpaid medical expenses to see who is not paying whether it be Tourists, Retirees or others.

If you have inpatient surgery in Thailand asking for an upfront payment of 50% is not unusual.

What would happen if they didn't have Baht 800 when exiting the country?

9 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

So the airlines have to work and adjust a system,just because gteedy Thailand needs money??? Thailand wants from foreigners so Thailand should arrange how, you cant expect that all airlines adjust their programs and work for that

I posted the Thai government can compensate the airlines for their main frame programming to cater for it.

I also said I oppose the tax.

What's the alternative? Standing in a long queue at the airport, behind some newbie to Thailand, while they fumble around trying to pay cash?

If Thailand loses ฿2.5 billion to unpaid foreigner hospital bills across 30 million visitors per year, that’s roughly ฿83 per tourist.

The proposed ฿300 levy is therefore the classic Thai policy multiplier!

5 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Yes, I made the same comment..... that the TDAC would be charging arrivals. In their desperation to get grubby hands on more money, and to exclude locals they will take that route. Despite what was said on the introduction of the TDAC.

Yeah but aren't they trying to collect money from Thais that travel outside country.

The problem with outside insurance In most cases I think it's pay and we will reimburse you.

The other challenge is that there's no insurance company that insures stupidity.

😂

17 minutes ago, Jim Waldron said:

The proposed ฿300 levy is therefore the classic Thai policy multiplier!

Yeah cause there would be no admin costs would there.

With a general fee, those who have bought a travel insurance now pays extra for those that "forgot it". Ask instead for proof of travel insurance from tourists, also when extending their stay. Resident expats are already covered by proof of income, bank deposit or mandatory insurance, depending on visa and extension of stay. From earlier news articles only half of the fee was for "insurance coverage", the other half should be for tourist promotion.

56 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

I wouldn't think it so difficult to charge 300 baht more for every passenger who does not enter "Thailand" in the nationality / passport field.

I agree with your general assessment. But I'm pretty sure not all airlines that come to Thailand require all the passport and nationality information when booking a ticket. Often it's left out until you try to check in online or at the airport. Thus the tickets would already have been paid for.

IATA members should all just add the tax for all journey's ending in Thailand. As I said, the Thais can just get a refund at the airport once through security at dedicated windows set up by the government to give on the spot refunds to Thais.

4 hours ago, wil iam not said:

Does the overcharging Foreigners at Tourist Attractions not pay for their upkeep.

Road Tax on vehicles should be used to pay for improving roads. Ticket prices should reflect the money need to improve the train system.

How do so many Foreigners escape from paying Hospital bills, I must always pay a deposit up front before any treatment unless one can show an insurance policy to pay for the treatment, private or Govt Hospitals.

I've never been asked upon arriving at a hospital for a deposit or even about insurance when involved in accidents/illness over the last 30 years. They stabilize you and when you are out of danger start asking about payment.

I do agree though, I doubt many escape not paying bills. I never looked at the dollar amount of unpaid bills but can't imagine it too large.

Edit: The number are tiny!

The Real Numbers

According to recent data from the Ministry of Public Health, unpaid medical bills from foreign tourists cost Thai public hospitals roughly 2.5 billion baht (around $75 million USD) annually.

Edited 3 hours ago3 hr by atpeace

8 hours ago, Ralf001 said:

Boom there it is.

I have been saying since its introduction the TDAC will become the mechanism to collect this tourism fee!

This is a no brainer from the beginning since these charges are intended omly for foreigners not thais

39 minutes ago, atpeace said:

I've never been asked upon arriving at a hospital for a deposit or even about insurance when involved in accidents/illness over the last 30 years. They stabilize you and when you are out of danger start asking about payment.

I do agree though, I doubt many escape not paying bills. I never looked at the dollar amount of unpaid bills but can't imagine it too large.

Edit: The number are tiny!

The Real Numbers

According to recent data from the Ministry of Public Health, unpaid medical bills from foreign tourists cost Thai public hospitals roughly 2.5 billion baht (around $75 million USD) annually.

These nunbers are skewed since the majority of them come ftom Pattaya and Phuket. Most other areas other than bkk arent even in the count in any significance