Thailand 300 baht entry fee for tourists set to start in early 2023

[webfact]

 

By Online Reporter

 

The proposed 300 baht entry fee for tourists to Thailand could start being collected by early next year, it has been revealed.

 

Speaking on Monday (Aug 30), Thailand’s Minister of Tourism and Sports has revealed the 300 baht fee will be applied to all foreign passengers arriving by plane.

 

The fee is scheduled to be collected from early 2023, Thai language news site Manager reported.

 

Tourism minister Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn stated that the 300 baht fee will be collected from all tourists who arrive in the country by air.

 

Full story: https://www.huahintoday.com/thailand-news/thailand-300-baht-entry-fee-for-tourists-set-to-start-in-early-2023/

 

-- © Copyright Hua Hin Today 2022-08-30

 

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[ThailandRyan]

One wonders if they have worked out the kinks, and if expats who live in Thailand and have Thai insurance will be exempt. I know its only 300 baht but it's the principal of it.

Edited August 30, 2022 by ThailandRyan

[Baron Samedi]

Absolutely moronic.

 

[Hamus Yaigh]

Sounds like a deal!

 

I'll be flying in and plan to stay several years on my Non O extensions so that according to news I'll be "eligible for a maximum of 500,000 baht for medical expenses should they have an accident or fall ill".

 

All for 300THB until I leave or die! Have I thought this through correctly?

[Bert got kinky]

However, all foreigners, including expatriates, are likely to be charged the fee whenever they fly into Thailand.

So not just for tourists as the headline suggests.

 

This is because airlines are only able to recognise passenger information, such as nationality, and not the immigration status of a foreign national residing in Thailand.

The easy answer to this would be to have a refund system in place for those eligible.

 

[Upnotover]

34 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

One wonders if they have worked out the kinks, and if expats who live in Thailand and have Thai insurance will be exempt. I know its only 300 baht but it's the principal of it.

Naturally not.  It will be in the ticket price, as mentioned in the article, however "expats" will have to cough up;

 

"This is because airlines are only able to recognise passenger information, such as nationality, and not the immigration status of a foreign national residing in Thailand."

 

Of course the airline doesn't necessarily know the nationality of the passenger at the time of booking/payment (most, including TG, don't ask in my experience) so will either have to charge everyone the same and refund Thai's later or collect the money when they finally learn who they are carrying, neither seems workable.  So perhaps all airlines will have to modify their booking systems to accommodate this.  I can see a further delay coming.

[Bert got kinky]

43 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

One wonders if they have worked out the kinks, and if expats who live in Thailand and have Thai insurance will be exempt. I know its only 300 baht but it's the principal of it.

Not just insurance, many expats also pay into the Social Welfare health scheme.

 

[ThailandRyan]

8 minutes ago, Bert got kinky said:

Not just insurance, many expats also pay into the Social Welfare health scheme.

 

Exactly, I forgot about those working. Imagine an employee flying in and out to conduct business in all of the countries in Asia and the west, this could be 4 times a month....

[ed strong]

Its quite straightforward if a little annoying, to the guy above its a tourist tax not for Thai people, so they wont be charged.

 

Just because you have insurance does not mean you will not have to pay. The only exemption is for Thai people, end of story.

 

Its less than 10 dollars, 99.9% of tourists wont care or notice.

[bdenner]

1 hour ago, Hamus Yaigh said:

Sounds like a deal!

 

I'll be flying in and plan to stay several years on my Non O extensions so that according to news I'll be "eligible for a maximum of 500,000 baht for medical expenses should they have an accident or fall ill".

 

All for 300THB until I leave or die! Have I thought this through correctly?

Good luck making a claim!

[Kopitiam]

2 hours ago, Hamus Yaigh said:

Sounds like a deal!

 

I'll be flying in and plan to stay several years on my Non O extensions so that according to news I'll be "eligible for a maximum of 500,000 baht for medical expenses should they have an accident or fall ill".

 

All for 300THB until I leave or die! Have I thought this through correctly?

Dream on, that 300THB insurance covers you for 30 days only.

[ThailandRyan]

1 hour ago, ed strong said:

Its quite straightforward if a little annoying, to the guy above its a tourist tax not for Thai people, so they wont be charged.

 

Just because you have insurance does not mean you will not have to pay. The only exemption is for Thai people, end of story.

 

Its less than 10 dollars, 99.9% of tourists wont care or notice.

Did I say anything about a Thai worker....get a grip and read the post.  Many foreign employee's working for companies here, especially in the Insurance industry fly in and out heading to locations outside of Thailand to review the claim and interview folks, they then fly back in.  When I was working for an International Company here I was in and out twice a week and then returning, so that would be 8 trips out and back a month.  It was why I retired completely.  Your view at this point is irrelevant until it is listed in the Royal Gazette....if working and living in Thailand makes one a tourist instead of a long term stayer then their is a problem.....

[ed strong]

2 hours ago, Upnotover said:

 so will either have to charge everyone the same and refund Thai's later

didnt mention you, said chap above...

[ed strong]

35 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

Did I say anything about a Thai worker....get a grip and read the post.  Many foreign employee's working for companies here, especially in the Insurance industry fly in and out heading to locations outside of Thailand to review the claim and interview folks, they then fly back in.  When I was working for an International Company here I was in and out twice a week and then returning, so that would be 8 trips out and back a month.  It was why I retired completely.  Your view at this point is irrelevant until it is listed in the Royal Gazette....if working and living in Thailand makes one a tourist instead of a long term stayer then their is a problem.....

upnotover said it, but didnt know his name so couldnt reference him, hence guy above that posted above, apologies for any confusion.

[cheapcanuck]

Oh well, the parties over.

[Straight8]

Not ideal, but it is what it is. Won't stop 99.99% of people coming due to this, but yeah, another rorting scheme getting put into place.

[RichardColeman]

15 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

I know its only 300 baht

For now...............

[jabis]

Footgun implementation again, as there's already the 700thb exit tax inside the plane tickets, another 300 (~10USD) for a roundtrip ticket around ASEAN countries does not bode well.

[jabis]

@Khunjeff was confused, so to break it a bit down: does Khun jeff want to fly to for example Malaysia for 40 USD or 50 USD per one way trip?
As per longer holiday trips (~1000+ USD) the 10 USD extra might be peanuts, but constant travelling with an added 20% "arrival tax" per ticket seems stupid, and doesn't really give anything to anyone except military for spending on submarines without german engines that would rock the shallow waters...

Well, such is life, wonder what the great next tax without any substance might be.

[ikke1959]

How about foreigners who pay tax in Thailand?? That are not tourists...and so should be not charged with this entrance fee.

[IAMHERE]

So my 'Re-entry' has gone from 1000 baht to 1300 baht.

[ross163103]

17 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

I know its only 300 baht but it's the principal of it.

Exactly, just like with the double pricing, it's the principal.

[ezzra]

Act of desperation for more cash, so let's bilk those tourists, fair game they are, now 300 baht to come in maybe soon another 300 baht to leave the country, who knows with those idiots who sits all day thinking how to screw the tourists...

[ross163103]

Once again, short term thinking. Instead of, "Let's make it easier and cheaper for tourists to come here", which would increase numbers in the long run. They only think short term, get the money TODAY forget about tomorrow!

[Reigntax]

If it stops only 1% deciding on Thailand as their next holiday spot the other 99% of fees don’t cover the losses.

 

well done again Thailand!!!

[AhFarangJa]

1 hour ago, jabis said:

@Khunjeff was confused, so to break it a bit down: does Khun jeff want to fly to for example Malaysia for 40 USD or 50 USD per one way trip?
As per longer holiday trips (~1000+ USD) the 10 USD extra might be peanuts, but constant travelling with an added 20% "arrival tax" per ticket seems stupid, and doesn't really give anything to anyone except military for spending on submarines without german engines that would rock the shallow waters...

Well, such is life, wonder what the great next tax without any substance might be.

Probably a tax on the number of windows in your house, as they did in England in 1696................

[austhai]

I think for most tourist 300 bt is not an issue. But for principle wise it should be waved for us working here with social security & some private insurance. Plus we pay more taxes than many here. Maybe to wave it on return flights bought this end & proof of work or tax card. Of course also for expats on a non immigrant with proof of insurance. Maybe too much work for them to check so only Thai passports waved.

[Robert Tyrrell]

Good Morning,

 

Thailand you really want to put the nails into your Tourist Coffin !!

Covid , Global Inflation, Gas and oil at record prices , Sure throw more fees on just like dual pricing.

Your Recovery Ship is destined to SINK !! 

[thailand49]

Consistence!   With their thinking " you got it, you better off "

As noted only for 30 days consistent with length of most Tourist visit? 

Based on the list it seems they have added a couple of new things in the end for medical coverage I hope all Goes well it will be a real surprise six month after the well dries up after claims start to come in the down fall will be their own doing dual pricing mentality. I will be shock they actually pay out.  

 

Edited August 31, 2022 by thailand49

[new2here]

as noted earlier, IF the implementation is at the Point Of Sale, then it’s most likely going to be included in ALL tickets.. that’s the most straightforward implementation given how air tickets are actually sold and the “behind the scenes” processing (ex: ARC) that takes place.

 

Yes, it could be set that tickets SOLD in X or Y region might be exempt (ex: some counties have fares that are only for sale within their own borders or for sale to only citizens) but with VPNs it’s hard to effectively do a good job at true geofencing… So, my gut is that it will apply to all non-citizens as programmatically a citizenship is usually part of the initial booking process.  

 

As far as how to handle non-citizens who might otherwise be exempt goes…. I could see a process whereby IF the law is that certain types of non-citizens are exempt from the fee, Immigration would give the selected non-citizen a QR code or somehow authorized a refund. Then the pax submits said approved refund electronically.