Airline boss pleads with government to delay the Thailand Tourism Fee (TTF) due later this year

[webfact]

Tony Fernandes, acting Chief Executive Officer of Thai Air Asia X

 

by James Morris and Son Nguyen

Key consideration now according to Tony Fernandes is the momentum of growing numbers which generates income for the economy including taxes for the government. Mr Fernandes felt that the fee, at this time, may hinder efforts to attract more visitors and to establish more flight links with Thailand.

A top airline executive is urging the Thai government to put off further the proposed Thailand Tourism Fee (TTF) which was postponed from August to later in the year. The levy which is to be collected by airlines flying into Thailand from passengers was put on hold after a top Tourism Ministry official said it was not clear yet how it would apply to visitors arriving by sea and by land. The levy was recommended by a special panel in 2019 to provide extra resources for tourism infrastructure and to introduce automatic health and medical insurance for holidaymakers in the case of an emergency in the kingdom.

 

A top Thai airline executive has called on the government not to go ahead with the proposed ฿300 tourism levy in the short term as the kingdom’s foreign tourism industry is beginning to gain momentum and could be sensitive to any changes at this time.

 

Thailand is understood to have welcomed 4.3 million visitors in the opening eight months of the year although the kingdom still posted a substantial $4.1 billion current account deficit for July 2022 as its economy, like others in the world, labours under elevated energy costs and reduced export growth as national economies reel from the disruptions caused by the war in Ukraine, higher interest rates and reduced demand.

 

Full story: https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2022/09/10/airline-boss-pleads-for-delay-tourism-fee-levy/

 

-- © Copyright Thai Examiner 2022-09-12

 

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[RichardColeman]

Wonder if they would drop it if ALL countries said they would now penalise ALL Travelling thais 300 baht per trip !

[TheFishman1]

The Government is always trying to increase what goes into their pockets absolutely no concern for the every day hard-working person in Thailand so disgraceful TIT

[smedly]

This fee matters not a jot, what is important is the Thai authorities remember excatly what it was for and stop bitching about unpaid emergency hospital rip offs, it is a huge ammount of money when measured against its supposed purpose, most tourists that get injured here - it is generally not their fault - Thailand is a dangerous place and with poor enforcement of standards  including safety - many foreigners become victims caught up in those dangers - whether it is in transport/roads or building safety .........................not their fault

[smedly]

2 minutes ago, smedly said:

This fee matters not a jot, what is important is the Thai authorities remember excatly what it was for and stop bitching about unpaid emergency hospital rip offs, it is a huge ammount of money when measured against its supposed purpose, most tourists that get injured here - it is generally not their fault - Thailand is a dangerous place and with poor enforcement of standards  including safety - many foreigners become victims caught up in those dangers - whether it is in transport/roads or building safety .........................not their fault

and lets remeber who has been resposible for road safety these last 8 years 

 

Mr Prawit - what a great job he has done ...............................not

[ezzra]

There was an article in a local paper not long ago showing what a messy bossiness it will be to collect the 300 baht as airlines are not keen to add it to the cost of the tickets and only foreigners will have to pay as Thais will be exempt, and how an incoming tourist suppose to have 300 baht with them and many other issues including how to collect the fee from people who crosses borders or arrivals by ships and boats, it will be interesting to see how another moronic idea will develop...

[ross163103]

More shortsided thinking from an inept govt. They never look long term, only, get all we can TODAY.

[2baht]

28 minutes ago, ezzra said:

it will be interesting to see how another moronic idea will develop...

Easy, they can do that with their eyes closed and one hand tied behind their back!

[vandeventer]

300Baht, Did they ever think it might be the crappie rainy weather that might be stopping tourist from coming here? Now do something about that.

Edited September 12, 2022 by vandeventer

[NE1]

The next step will be trying to charge as people leave. 

I think it was 50 baht the last time they did this.

[bradiston]

He'd be better advised to carry through on the thousands of outstanding refunds owed by Air Asia, than criticising the government for a 300 THB levy.

[PeachCH]

300 Baht should be really not a big problem. And Thailand a dangerous place? Less dangerous than the US or some European countries. 

[bamnutsak]

You know this is about as "legitimate" as the tuk-tuk driver claiming the Grand Palace is closed today.

 

The MoT and its minister want a slush fund. End of story.

 

This fee has been claimed to be destined for everything from unpaid medical expenses to new coral reefs. It will be used for whatever the Minister and Permanent Secretary wants

 

If this were legitimate they'd simply crank the PSC (denoted as "TS" on your ticket breakout) from 700 Baht to 1,000 baht, and get AoT to kick it (300 baht) back to the government.

 

And they're hoping to avoid having to charge Thais, by breaking this fee out and putting it on the GDS's (and airlines) to collect and remit the "brown envelopes".

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 12, 2022 by bamnutsak

[Aussie999]

3 minutes ago, PeachCH said:

300 Baht should be really not a big problem. And Thailand a dangerous place? Less dangerous than the US or some European countries. 

Can you prove that.

[bedbugy]

you come pay 300 bhat

you go thats 500 bhat 

800 gone 

[marcusb]

17 minutes ago, bamnutsak said:

This fee has been claimed to be destined for everything from unpaid medical expenses to new coral reefs.

With honest people in charge of the fund I would support this 100%.  It would generate significant funds for worthwhile projects and help those who have suffered an accident. 
But.... 

[paulbrow]

32 minutes ago, NE1 said:

The next step will be trying to charge as people leave. 

I think it was 50 baht the last time they did this.

It was, and still is 700 Baht departure tax. Since it was built into the ticket cost people have forgotten or don't know they are paying it. Same will happen to the entry tax.

[jacko45k]

8 minutes ago, marcusb said:

With honest people in charge of the fund I would support this 100%.  It would generate significant funds for worthwhile projects and help those who have suffered an accident. 
But.... 

And where might we find those?

[Dialemco]

41 minutes ago, NE1 said:

The next step will be trying to charge as people leave. 

I think it was 50 baht the last time they did this.

Exit Tax started at 500 Bht purchased from machine prior immigration now 700 Bht included in ticket with other taxes. Samui Airport charges addition 300 Bht Government Airports 100 Bht payable by everyone including Thais.

[actonion]

38 minutes ago, PeachCH said:

300 Baht should be really not a big problem. And Thailand a dangerous place? Less dangerous than the US or some European countries. 

I think you dont know Thailand  too much 

[Sparktrader]

52 minutes ago, NE1 said:

The next step will be trying to charge as people leave. 

I think it was 50 baht the last time they did this.

500 baht

[Sparktrader]

All countries have airport taxes. 300 baht is nothing. Noise taxes, pollution taxes etc.

 

Visa exempt 90 days charge 300 baht. No problems.

 

 

[micmichd]

1 hour ago, smedly said:

This fee matters not a jot, what is important is the Thai authorities remember excatly what it was for and stop bitching about unpaid emergency hospital rip offs, it is a huge ammount of money when measured against its supposed purpose, most tourists that get injured here - it is generally not their fault - Thailand is a dangerous place and with poor enforcement of standards  including safety - many foreigners become victims caught up in those dangers - whether it is in transport/roads or building safety .........................not their fault

If it is used as an insurance for medical bills then I'm okay with it. Why should Thailand take the cost? 

[CygnusX1]

I’ve seen proposals for proof of travel insurance required for entry discussed in the past. If the 300 baht is an alternative to that, it’s wonderful. I’d much rather pay a totally negligible 300 baht than go through the hassle of proving that my credit card already gives me travel insurance with unlimited medical expenses.

[deesquared]

Whats 300 baht?

[CygnusX1]

33 minutes ago, micmichd said:

If it is used as an insurance for medical bills then I'm okay with it. Why should Thailand take the cost? 

I think it should be stressed that it would only cover UNPAID medical bills that delinquent travellers without sufficient means or travel insurance were unable to pay.

[shackleton]

Can see this being kicked down the road then canned ????

No thought put in how to get this money Airlines won't be happy introducing it what about as already mentioned people arriving

by other means ????

Looks like a non starter ????

 

[loong]

24 minutes ago, deesquared said:

Whats 300 baht?

You don't know?????

It's 300 units of Thai currency.

Also roughly equivalent to day's wages for those Thais on minimum wage.

[kinyara]

Not surprised he's against it with the skewed % impact it has on his short-haul ticket pricing model.

[StevieAus]

17 minutes ago, CygnusX1 said:

I think it should be stressed that it would only cover UNPAID medical bills that delinquent travellers without sufficient means or travel insurance were unable to pay.

I think you are correct, there seems to be a belief including by posters on this site that the proposed 300 baht fee is to provide free medical/ hospital treatment for visitors, that’s not my reading of the proposal.