The Thai Hotels Association (THA) has urged the Thai government to review its 60-day visa-free scheme and introduce tax rules for foreign online travel agents (OTAs), saying the measures are needed to strengthen Thailand’s tourism industry and support licensed hotels.
Get today's headlines by email 
The proposals were submitted to Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul during a meeting with senior executives from 10 major business sectors at Government House in Bangkok on Friday, 15 May. THA president Thienprasit Chaiyapatranun later told Thansettakij that the association had presented eight tourism-related measures.
The association said rising tensions in the Middle East had increased global crude oil prices, resulting in higher airfares and some flight cancellations. To reduce travel costs, the THA proposed government support for charter flights on selected routes and called for a co-payment scheme to encourage domestic tourism.
The group also urged the government not to introduce a proposed 1,000-baht exit fee at this stage, arguing that the plan required further consideration. Thienprasit said strong two-way travel between Thailand and China had helped airlines increase profitability and expand flights between the two countries.
The THA said visa-free travel remained important for tourism but argued that the same policy should not automatically apply to all 93 eligible countries. It proposed adjusting visa-free conditions according to the potential of each market, including permitted lengths of stay and the number of annual entries allowed.
The association also suggested measures to prevent visa runs. Under one proposal, travellers entering Thailand under the visa-free tourism scheme would be unable to use the same privilege again for at least 60 days after entry.
Another proposal called for the development of a Thai-owned hotel booking platform linking domestic travellers with licensed hotels. The THA said this could reduce marketing fees charged by foreign OTAs, lower accommodation costs for travellers and improve returns for hotels. Domestic tourism generated 1.16 trillion baht in 2025, with accommodation accounting for around 20 to 25 per cent of spending, according to the association.
The THA also called for legislation requiring foreign OTAs to pay taxes properly in Thailand. It urged the government to review commission rates and abolish rate parity rules, noting that several European countries had already ended such practices.
The Nation reported that further proposals included improving transport networks to spread tourism to secondary cities, developing new attractions in areas such as Klong Toei Port and the Eastern Economic Corridor, and offering low-interest loans to smaller hotels for renovations and energy-efficiency upgrades. The association also called for stricter controls on cannabis smoking in public areas, warning it could affect repeat tourism.
Picture courtesy of The Nation
Join the discussion? 
Already a member? 
Adapted by ASEAN Now Nation 17 May 2026
Recommended Comments
Create an account or sign in to comment