Thailand to introduce 300 baht ‘tourist fee’ from January

[webfact]

 File photo: Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn//Credit: Daily News 

 

Thailand will collect 300 baht tourist fee from all international visitors arriving in the country from next January.

 

Speaking to Thai language news site Khaosod, Thailand's Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said the 300 baht fee will go towards creation of a tourism fund that will help the tourism industry deal with other unforeseen problems or hardships in the future.

 

Mr Phiphat said that if Thailand can attract 20 million tourists in 2022, then some 6.2 billion baht  could be generated for the fund. 

 

The proposal to introduce a tourist fee was first mooted in 2019 and then formally approved by the National Tourism Policy Committee in January this year. 

 

The idea behind the fee was that any money generated would be used in the management of tourist attractions as well as helping to cover the medical bills of uninsured tourists.

 

In 2019, a report by Nikkei Asia said that unpaid medical bills in Thai hospitals from tourists costs the state 448 million baht. 

 

Last year Thai media suggested that 34 baht will go towards insurance while the rest would be used for the maintenance and development tourism sites. 

 

Mr Phiphat also spoke on plans to re-open the country to foreign tourists from July 1. 

 

He said that cases would need to drop to zero before the country could implement its ‘Sandbox’ model.

 

Initially, Thailand had hoped to re-open Phuket to vaccinate foreign tourists, who could stay on the island without the need to quarantine. 

 

Mr Phiphat said there was still a chance the Phuket sandbox could go ahead but cases on the island would likely need to be zero and at least 70% of the island’s population would need to have received the vaccination.

 

In the event the number of those vaccinated reaches its target but there are still cases being found on the island, the tourism ministry would need to seek further guidance from health officials as to whether the island could re-open.

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2021-05-07

 

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[herfiehandbag]

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear....

 

"Earth calling all planets, Earth calling all planets, do you by any chance have the man from TAT there? Can't miss him, looks like a rabbit caught in the headlights!"

Edited May 7, 2021 by herfiehandbag

[ThailandRyan]

6 minutes ago, webfact said:

Speaking to Thai language news site Khaosod, Thailand's Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said the 300 baht fee will go towards creation of a tourism fund that will help the tourism industry deal with other unforeseen problems or hardships in the future.

Add this to the 300 baht fee already charged to assist with the medical funds that they put in place years ago.  Whose pocket will this now go into....always a grab for money.  Just call it a Visa on Arrival fee and then you can do with it whatever the hell you want....sheesh.  Timing is everything with the Tourism schemes and then Covid.....

 

"Mr Phiphat said there was still a chance the Phuket sandbox could go ahead but cases on the island would likely need to be zero and at least 70% of the island’s population would need to have received the vaccination".

.......So July 1 is out and maybe October, good to know Phipat.....

Edited May 7, 2021 by ThailandRyan

[Pattaya Spotter]

2 minutes ago, webfact said:

Mr Phiphat said that if Thailand can attract 20 million tourists in 2022, then some 6.2 billion baht  could be generated for the fund. 

 

 

3 minutes ago, webfact said:

In 2019, a report by Nikkei Asia said that unpaid medical bills in Thai hospitals from tourists costs the state 448 million baht

 

' nuff said.

[KhunBENQ]

1 minute ago, ThailandRyan said:

Timing is everything

Brilliant timing, really.

 

[colinneil]

So they are going to collect 300 baht per tourist, they aint gonna make much money then, tourists will not be coming.

Who ever dreamed up that, is a complete nutter, Thailand is desperate for tourists, yet the nutters keep putting things in place to deter tourists.

[Bluespunk]

6 minutes ago, webfact said:

 

He said that cases would need to drop to zero before the country could implement its ‘Sandbox’ model.

We used to call our cats litter tray the sandbox. It was full of fecal matter as well. 

[Tarteso]

Turist, what turists ? ????
 

Making a plan for new year with the virus spreading at this time?

 

Focus in today and not in the new scam !

Edited May 7, 2021 by Tarteso

[EricTh]

This is ridiculous.

 

Why should all tourists pay for a few scumbags who didn't pay their hospital bills? Those few scumbags should be jailed until they pay their bills.

 

'Management of tourist attractions' is already covered by the double pricing of the tickets for foreigners. Thai also visit these places so the tickets already cover the costs.

 

Why should all tourists pay for some tourist attractions that they don't want to visit or never visited?

 

It is hare-brained idea.

Edited May 7, 2021 by EricTh

[JustAnotherFarang]

Just now, EricTh said:

This is ridiculous.

 

Why should all tourists pay for a few scumbags who didn't pay their hospital bills? Those few scumbags should be jailed until they pay their bills.

 

But it means for just 300 baht we are all insured so thats means no more exhorbitant hospital fees right? 

[Shuya]

300 THB per entry to the submarine&gik funds

[internationalism]

from nearly zero tourists now to 20mln the next year.

that is practically not possible

[grantbkk]

The guy has balls.  A blatant money grab.

[clivebaxter]

Well we pay to get out included in the ticket so I guess they think it's only fair we pay to get in as well! How will it be done, lines of people who don't have 300 baht being escorted to ATM's? Highway robbery from people who do not realize the golden goose has flown off.

[Welder]

3 minutes ago, EricTh said:

This is ridiculous.

 

Why should all tourists pay for a few scumbags who didn't pay their hospital bills? Those few scumbags should be jailed until they pay their bills.

It is ridiculous.

If they are not insured let them buy one before they can enter.

 

If I need to pay any stupid fee for what ever reason I spend less so they make less money from me in the long run.

It is not the money...

 

 

[dcsw53]

So we now have the pleasure of queuing for 45 mins for the payment counter and 45 mins to have our passports stamped, sounds good to me.

 

[Yorkshire Tea]

1 minute ago, clivebaxter said:

How will it be done, lines of people who don't have 300 baht being escorted to ATM's? Highway robbery from people who do not realize the golden goose has flown off.

 

Airlines will be forced to check tourists have 300 baht in cash before being allowed to board ????

[scorecard]

14 minutes ago, colinneil said:

So they are going to collect 300 baht per tourist, they aint gonna make much money then, tourists will not be coming.

Who ever dreamed up that, is a complete nutter, Thailand is desperate for tourists, yet the nutters keep putting things in place to deter tourists.

And who will keep the money, hope a guy who 'stayed' in Australia before is not in the picture. In fact just who would Thai folks trust to hold these funds?

 

[zib]

1 minute ago, dcsw53 said:

So we now have the pleasure of queuing for 45 mins for the payment counter and 45 mins to have our passports stamped, sounds good to me.

 

Of course it will be included in the ticket.

[EricTh]

14 minutes ago, JustAnotherFarang said:

 

But it means for just 300 baht we are all insured so thats means no more exhorbitant hospital fees right? 

 

 

Lol. Do you really believe that 300 baht will cover all medical fees?

 

When it is time, they will say it doesn't cover A, B, C,D etc. meaning you still have to pay.

 

A- surgery

B- professional doctor fees

C- chronic disease

 

The 300 baht will probably only cover minor illness like  food poisoning, sore throat, fever etc.

Edited May 7, 2021 by EricTh

[dinsdale]

16 minutes ago, colinneil said:

So they are going to collect 300 baht per tourist, they aint gonna make much money then, tourists will not be coming.

Who ever dreamed up that, is a complete nutter, Thailand is desperate for tourists, yet the nutters keep putting things in place to deter tourists.

This comment cannot be beaten so don't try. 

[clivebaxter]

1 minute ago, Yorkshire Tea said:

 

Airlines will be forced to check tourists have 300 baht in cash before being allowed to board ????

Will it be disinfected for covid though? ????

[zib]

Better they start doing a City Tax instead of this like alot of countries in the world do. But then maybe the money would go torwards the right things oops ????

[pattjock]

300Baht is nothing for any tourist flying in to Thailand. Brilliant idea as long as the funds are well spent.

[clivebaxter]

Just now, pattjock said:

300Baht is nothing for any tourist flying in to Thailand. Brilliant idea as long as the funds are well spent.

 what do you think the 700 baht departure fee gets spent on now?

[Pottinger]

They just can't help themselves, the dears. Not only do they already stiff tourists for immigration and visa fees to the order of hundreds of millions of dollars per annum, but they want to add a blanket 300 Baht fee. Of this, the 34 Baht per tourist allocated to unpaid medical bills would generate 22m dollars if arrivals are 20m PAX in 2022, as projected. This is a handy 47% profit on the 448m Baht (15m dollars) stated above.  That is excluding the remaining 266 Baht of the 300, which will disappear who knows where.

 

In any other country the tourism authority offers incentives to visit their beautiful land.

Thailand, however, is it seems intent on sticking to the 'gouge' model of tourism. 

Edited May 7, 2021 by Pottinger

[cocoonclub]

17 minutes ago, EricTh said:

This is ridiculous.

 

Why should all tourists pay for a few scumbags who didn't pay their hospital bills?

Why not? Guess what your insurance premiums are for — for a few “scumbags” who broke their legs. 

[eyup]

2 minutes ago, clivebaxter said:

 what do you think the 700 baht departure fee gets spent on now?

Security at the airport! Same in most countries

[WineOh]

27 minutes ago, webfact said:

 

Thailand will collect 300 baht tourist fee from all international visitors arriving in the country from next January.

Genius idea.

Absolutely brilliant.

 

That should woo the tourists back no danger...

 

????‍♂️

[gearbox]

14 minutes ago, EricTh said:

This is ridiculous.

 

Why should all tourists pay for a few scumbags who didn't pay their hospital bills? Those few scumbags should be jailed until they pay their bills.

 

'Management of tourist attractions' is already covered by the double pricing of the tickets for foreigners. Thai also visit these places so the tickets already cover the costs.

 

Why should all tourists pay for some tourist attractions that they don't want to visit or never visited?

 

It is hare-brained idea.

It is just a money grab. They'll try to do everything to squeeze you, but you can squeeze back. Don't pay any tips in restaurants, massages, etc until the tips withheld reach 600 baht. If someone complains tell them to email Mr Phiphat about their "unforeseen problems or hardships".