Airports Raise International Departure Charge in Thailand

AI only posts removed. @sandyf

Rule 39a. Posts should be original, on-topic, and written in your own voice. This is a discussion forum—not an AI content dump—so keep contributions natural and personal. AI tools can be used for reference or to support facts, but your writing should reflect your own understanding and perspective. This is especially important for opening posts, which should clearly come from a human point of view and invite genuine discussion.

25 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

Domestic air passenger volume is a fraction of international quantities.

The Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) writes that during the year 2024, aircraft movements across AOT’s six international airports totaled 732,688 flights. Of this figure, 416,187 were international flights (72.67 million passengers) and 316,501 were domestic flights (46,62 million passengers). So around the half are Departures. That's less, but significantly more than you claimed.

26 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

The existing tax on domestic departures is adequate.

1,120 Thai Baht for passengers departing on international flights, while domestic departure tax remains still at 130 Thai Baht is adequate. I think there is another reason behind this big difference and why they only increase international departure tax.

13 minutes ago, 10000Baht said:

The Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) writes that during the year 2024, aircraft movements across AOT’s six international airports totaled 732,688 flights. Of this figure, 416,187 were international flights (72.67 million passengers) and 316,501 were domestic flights (46,62 million passengers). So around the half are Departures. That's less, but significantly more than you claimed.

When I went to school, a half was still a fraction. But thanks for doing the legwork that I couldn't be arsed to do.

14 minutes ago, 10000Baht said:

1,120 Thai Baht for passengers departing on international flights, while domestic departure tax remains still at 130 Thai Baht is adequate. I think there is another reason behind this big difference and why they only increase international departure tax.

OK, so apart from the lower operating costs due to "Domestic departures don't need the same level of security compliance in order to meet the requirements of foreign countries" and "logistics of pax and baggage handling is significantly less than that of an international airport," what's this other reason you allude to?

12 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

When I went to school, a half was still a fraction.

46 is not the half of 72, but maybe your school was different from mine.

15 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

But thanks for doing the legwork that I couldn't be arsed to do.

You are welcome.

12 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

what's this other reason you allude to?

Everybody know this reason I mean, why don't you know?

This is baked into the ticket cost and no one is going to notice nor will anyone change their travel plans.

If the government wouldn't had made a big deal out of it, like they do with everything, and just quietly raised the fee no one would be talking about it.

20 hours ago, BarraMarra said:

This was a report on Friday on Aseannow.

ietnam’s tourism sector is expanding rapidly, with the country welcoming more than 21 million foreign visitors in 2025, around 20% higher than the previous year. The growth has strengthened Vietnam’s position as a major tourism destination in Southeast Asia and increased competition with Thailand, particularly in the important Chinese visitor market.

Today we see this

Thailand has increased the Passenger Service Charge (PSC) for international departing passengers from 20 June 2026, raising the fee by 390 baht from 730 baht to 1,120 baht per person. The higher charge applies to passengers travelling on international flights from six major airports across the country.

Then they scratch there heads with declining tourists and the Rise of numbers to Vietnam instead of returning to Thailand.

These marginal raises won't have any effect. Vietnam can have the bulk, Thailand should concentrate on the bigger spenders.

13 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

Nobody need to change it as people dont come at all. Thailand is getting too expensive, but you don't understand that. It is not the raise, but you need to count everything, and you will find out that there are better and cheaper destinations to have a holiday.

You seriously think that 10 quid on an air ticket is the straw that breaks the camels back? I’m quite surprised.

Sure, some people will add up all the costs of a holiday in Thailand and compare with other destinations and decide to go somewhere else on cost and/or other grounds. But 10 quid makes a deciding difference?

I guess I can only judge with certainty on how I personally feel and 10 quid would not be a determining factor for me.

I suppose there is also an argument that increasing this fee fits in with Thailands oft repeated focus on “quality” tourists.

Although that’s a stretch given that it applies to Thai people and foreigners exiting Thailand for a holiday and then re entering. Assuming they fly of course.

But I suppose you are right in that there will be a section of tourists who add up the total cost of a Thai holiday and decide to give somewhere else a go. The 10 quid will be part of their calculation, debateable if it’s the determining part imho.

Rich people moaning about paying taxes, nothing new to see here...

1 hour ago, 10000Baht said:

46 is not the half of 72, but maybe your school was different from mine.

You are welcome.

Everybody know this reason I mean, why don't you know?

Sorry to butt in. What’s the reason? I can’t figure it out.

When your paying 1,800 baht to Penang or KL, 2,100 baht to Vietnam or even less to Cambodia...this increase will certainly make a difference

18 hours ago, WHansen said:

Nobody is going to change their holiday destination over an extra £10 departure charge.

Yes, we all know the Thai baht is strong, you mention it in almost every post you make, it is not 1990s any more.

What about Asian tourists from Vietnam, Malaysia etc..an extra 20% on their flight could be a deal breaker 👍

2 hours ago, 10000Baht said:

46 is not the half of 72, but maybe your school was different from mine.

Fractions are still fractions be they 1/2 or 13/64. Hope this helps.

2 hours ago, 10000Baht said:

You are welcome

Much appreciated. AI-enhanced web searches has reduced the legwork but it's not infallible. No fun anymore when every Tom, Dick and Hermione can become an instant expert.

2 hours ago, 10000Baht said:

Everybody know this reason I mean, why don't you know?

Everybody?

58 minutes ago, wensiensheng said:

Sorry to butt in. What’s the reason? I can’t figure it out.

Phew... I'm not alone.

17 hours ago, Stocky said:

Many countries charge an airport tax in one form or another, you just don't notice because it's included in the ticket price

Well said, and the that includes the God-like Vietnam that so many eulogize about that, until the recentl Thailand increases, was higher than Thailand's charge.

3 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Well said, and the that includes the God-like Vietnam that so many eulogize about that, until the recentl Thailand increases, was higher than Thailand's charge.

Thus another Thai bashers party is pooped on.

Excellent!

53 minutes ago, baansgr said:

When your paying 1,800 baht to Penang or KL, 2,100 baht to Vietnam or even less to Cambodia...this increase will certainly make a difference

If it's the percentages that truly irk you, fly a proper airline instead.

Entry and departure fee (tax or whatever it is called) is going up in many countries. Japan just announced the cost of a single entry visa is only going up a mere 500 %.

"Japan has implemented a five-fold increase to visa fees for all foreigners, marking the first price hike in nearly 50 years.

From 1 July, single-entry visa fees will be raised from the current 3,000 yen ($18.69; £14) to 15,000 yen, while multi-entry visas will now cost 30,000 yen, up from 6,000 yen"

I guess "get used to it".

17 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

If it's the percentages that truly irk you, fly a proper airline instead.

You realise most tourists to Thailand are Asian...they don't have to pay 40k or 50k for a flight like westerners do. So yes a 20% hike for them could make them look elsewhere.

1 hour ago, wensiensheng said:

You seriously think that 10 quid on an air ticket is the straw that breaks the camels back? I’m quite surprised.

Sure, some people will add up all the costs of a holiday in Thailand and compare with other destinations and decide to go somewhere else on cost and/or other grounds. But 10 quid makes a deciding difference?

I guess I can only judge with certainty on how I personally feel and 10 quid would not be a determining factor for me.

I suppose there is also an argument that increasing this fee fits in with Thailands oft repeated focus on “quality” tourists.

Although that’s a stretch given that it applies to Thai people and foreigners exiting Thailand for a holiday and then re entering. Assuming they fly of course.

But I suppose you are right in that there will be a section of tourists who add up the total cost of a Thai holiday and decide to give somewhere else a go. The 10 quid will be part of their calculation, debateable if it’s the determining part imho.

As I wrote many times already.. it is not the 10 euro/usd or whatever.. It is just again a raise in costs without real benefits. Suppose you are travelling with your spouse and maybe 1 kid, than the raise is already 30 USD/EUR or what ever.. the entrance fee of 300 THB is also looming. A lot talks about it, but not yet implemented but it will come.. another 30 USD for these people. Than the expensive THB, although several people on this forum ignore that..10% weakened with should be normal means that people can spend 10% more and that makes their holiday also 10% cheaper. The hotels are also very expensive. I sayed in a very good luxury hotel in Hanoi last month for 2500 THB breakfast included in a superior room. Try to find it here in Bangkok or Phuket. The Double pricing is already a pain, but now things seem to be overpriced as you calculate back in your own currency. Add it all and you will find out that the family of 3 can find another destination that is cheaper and will fit better in their budget. Indeed a single 10 USD will not make the difference, but the additional costs.

You can search on the internet and find out easily what a less expensive THB could do to holidays

On 6/21/2026 at 10:22 AM, Liverpool Lou said:

The airport departure charge applies to Thai international travellers also, not just foreigners.

The charge should not, like domestic travelers, apply to Resident foreigners who leave and return on international flights.

2 minutes ago, Srikcir said:

The charge should not, like domestic travelers, apply to Resident foreigners who leave and return on international flights.

Why? Do they not use the airport services?

It most definitely should apply to everyone.

7 minutes ago, Srikcir said:

The charge should not, like domestic travelers, apply to Resident foreigners who leave and return on international flights.

Why not? What's the difference between "resident foreigners" (what's that?) and any other foreigners who are departing on international flights?

2 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

As I wrote many times already.. it is not the 10 euro/usd or whatever.. It is just again a raise in costs without real benefits. Suppose you are travelling with your spouse and maybe 1 kid, than the raise is already 30 USD/EUR or what ever.. the entrance fee of 300 THB is also looming. A lot talks about it, but not yet implemented but it will come.. another 30 USD for these people. Than the expensive THB, although several people on this forum ignore that..10% weakened with should be normal means that people can spend 10% more and that makes their holiday also 10% cheaper. The hotels are also very expensive. I sayed in a very good luxury hotel in Hanoi last month for 2500 THB breakfast included in a superior room. Try to find it here in Bangkok or Phuket. The Double pricing is already a pain, but now things seem to be overpriced as you calculate back in your own currency. Add it all and you will find out that the family of 3 can find another destination that is cheaper and will fit better in their budget. Indeed a single 10 USD will not make the difference, but the additional costs.

You can search on the internet and find out easily what a less expensive THB could do to holidays

Seems like we are mostly saying the same thing then. Maybe I am bit more sanguine about it than you.

The level of the baht is one side of the coin, but partly it is driven by what is happening in the economies of other countries. For example, in the case of the Singapore dollar, in the years that I have been in Thailand the baht has fallen by 10%.

Currently the USD is at about 33. I have seen it as high as 38 and as low as 31. On the whole I would guess 34 is an average that I have seen over the last 20 years. Don’t hold me to that, it’s just a guess from memory.

But against GBP the baht has moved stronger, partly due to a weak pound which is also pretty low against other currencies.

Of course, a weak baht would help tourism, no doubt about that. But I’m not seeing the baht at a particularly disastrous level vis a vis other currencies.

FWIW I agree that Vietnam offers good value versus Thailand. I went to Da Nang late last year and thought it was very reasonable.

3 hours ago, baansgr said:

When your paying 1,800 baht to Penang or KL, 2,100 baht to Vietnam or even less to Cambodia...this increase will certainly make a difference

Not to be pedantic, but if it’s going to make a difference, does that mean you will stay at home in Thailand and spend money here? So maybe it’s Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia that will lose out? They will lose visitors

That’s a slightly tongue in cheek question, but I guess the point I’m making is that if you have to go, you have to go. And another 390 baht isn’t a show stopper, it’s a couple of glasses of red wine plonk.

I would have thought that the people who would be up in arms would be the budget airlines.

5 minutes ago, wensiensheng said:

Not to be pedantic, but if it’s going to make a difference, does that mean you will stay at home in Thailand and spend money here? So maybe it’s Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia that will lose out? They will lose visitors

That’s a slightly tongue in cheek question, but I guess the point I’m making is that if you have to go, you have to go. And another 390 baht isn’t a show stopper, it’s a couple of glasses of red wine plonk.

I would have thought that the people who would be up in arms would be the budget airlines.

That's a very good point, of course it may also stop Thais from traveling and you are correct it's the budget airlines that will get hit the hardest

21 hours ago, Stocky said:

Many countries charge an airport tax in one form or another, you just don't notice because it's included in the ticket price. Thailand isn't doing anything different, and the charges are comparatively small. In deciding holiday destination the airport tax really wont hold any great significance.

Most tourists will not even be aware of it when booking or flying.

Should make it cash only on exit !

You realise most tourists to Thailand are Asian...they don't have to pay 40k or 50k for a flight like westerners do. So yes a 20% hike for them could make them look elsewhere.

If $10 is going to scare them off, maybe they weren't contributing much beside passenger count to the Thai economy? All tourists wear out the resource and the environment. Super low budget tourists don't provide a return on their wear and tear.

9 minutes ago, impulse said:

If $10 is going to scare them off, maybe they weren't contributing much beside passenger count to the Thai economy? All tourists wear out the resource and the environment. Super low budget tourists don't provide a return on their wear and tear.

It's actually $12-$13 but lets not split hairs. Over 50% of Thailand's tourists are from Asia, and yes many of them may very well decide to travel elsewhere because of this increase. Not everyone has the privilege to look down on others because of their financial standing.

12 minutes ago, baansgr said:

It's actually $12-$13 but lets not split hairs. Over 50% of Thailand's tourists are from Asia, and yes many of them may very well decide to travel elsewhere because of this increase. Not everyone has the privilege to look down on others because of their financial standing.

Actually my biggest issue is whether the money collected will actually be spent on improving airport conditions.

Money is being spent in Suvarnabhumi here and there, but Phuket international terminal is in a very sorry state and way over crowded in high season.

There has to be a danger that this money loses its way amongst general government coffers. As is the case with government in most countries of course.

It's actually $12-$13 but lets not split hairs. Over 50% of Thailand's tourists are from Asia, and yes many of them may very well decide to travel elsewhere because of this increase. Not everyone has the privilege to look down on others because of their financial standing.

Who's looking down on anyone? Tourism is a business. I'll never stay in a 5 Star hotel, take a luxury cruise to the Antarctic, or look at the earth from space on a tourist rocket. And I sure don't fault any of them for not making it cheap enough that I could, without ruining it for their well heeled customers.

Thailand could use a little less mass tourism to reduce the wear and tear on (for example) Maya Bay.