Foreign tourists arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport. File photo

 

By Online Reporter
 

Subject to Cabinet approval, Thailand will start collecting 300 THB from every foreign tourist who enters the country from June 1.

 

Speaking on Wednesday (Jan 1) Tourism Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said the money raised will go towards helping to develop and maintain tourist destinations, as well as contributing to a fund that will help support foreign tourists who are involved in accidents in Thailand.

 

Mr Phiphat said that 25 million foreign tourists are expected to visit Thailand in 2023.

 

“Fees won’t be collected from foreigners with work permits and border passes,” said Mr Phiphat.

 

Hua Hin Today notes that border passes are used by people mainly involved in cross border trade between Thailand and neighboring countries, namely Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia.

 

Full story: https://www.huahintoday.com/thailand-news/thailand-set-to-start-collecting-300-thb-tourist-fee-from-june/

 

-- © Copyright Hua Hin Today 2023-01-12

 

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I assume it will just be incorporated into the flight ticket. 

 

9 minutes ago, DonniePeverley said:

I assume it will just be incorporated into the flight ticket. 

 

Not necessarily as that would also catch Thais. Before I discovered Thailand I used to got to Turkey - or Türkiye as they have now rebranded themselves - and non-Turks had to queue up at a kiosk to pay an entry fee and get a receipt before going through immigration. I can't remember how much it was but it was much more than B300. I think that quite a lot of countries do this.

1 hour ago, DonniePeverley said:

I assume it will just be incorporated into the flight ticket. 

 

Who knows - but I thought that would at least pay for medical insurance for tourists. Was I wrong? Wasn't that the plan ? 300 baht X 300 million visitors - that's a sh**load of money.

I thought the Foreign fee to get into parks would’ve been plenty to upkeep them. We certainly pay way more than the Thais. Also I can almost guarantee that the money won’t be used to help people in accidents. It’ll just line a few more pockets as usual. 

12 minutes ago, Bangkocker said:

Who knows - but I thought that would at least pay for medical insurance for tourists. Was I wrong? Wasn't that the plan ? 300 baht X 300 million visitors - that's a sh**load of money.

300 million visitors? Where did you get that? They said 25 million. I think it will be more like 18 million.

I've always enjoyed those precious few minutes of  not being fleeced for money until entering the arrival's hall. Now, the fleecing starts as soon as you leave the aircraft and it doesn't end until you take off back home again.

 

Impeccable timing as usual by the way. If there was ever any doubt about what they think of us, here's another little clue. Welcome to Thailand, give us your money, now F off! With a smile and wai of course.

There used to be an exit fee (paid in cash and you had to use a special machine) that had to be attached to EVERY boarding-pass (Thai/non-Thai) before you could leave the country. The logic (?) being tourists can afford it and Thais who fly abroad can also.

Will retirees get taxed as well?

So I guess it will be similar to Cambodia where you pay at passport control. As it may be difficult to get Thai baht in many countries then I guess they will have a 300 Thai Baht equivalent in USD.  As to the money going to  maintain tourist destinations and to foreign tourists who are involved in accidents, I think there will be heavy commission charge paid to the government and their masters for their onerous task of collecting the entrance fees.  Wink, Wink, Nudge, Nudge.         

22 minutes ago, nglodnig said:

There used to be an exit fee (paid in cash and you had to use a special machine) that had to be attached to EVERY boarding-pass (Thai/non-Thai) before you could leave the country. The logic (?) being tourists can afford it and Thais who fly abroad can also.

That exit fee still exists.  It is now incorporated into the cost of the ticket.  So Thailand gets you on the way in and on the way out.  Plus everything else in between!

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Speaking on Wednesday (Jan 1) Tourism Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said the money raised will go towards helping to develop and maintain tourist destinations, as well as contributing to a fund that will help support foreign tourists who are involved in accidents in Thailand.

And if you believe that you'll believe anything.

I don't think this will go down well with twenty-something group who want to pay everyhing with their mobile phone (Apple pay, Google pay, etc.). I was in Germany when all hell broke loose when a twenty something old tourist was told they only accepted cash. Complete melt down ,, smile.

Don't worry too much... Everything changes all the time and this has benne postponed several times too. In June there is a new Government after the elections so in Flipflop country you never know... And maybe Chinese start to complain and it will be abolished too..Besides only workpermis holders don;t need to pay but It should be all with a residentvisa, retirees, expats, and students... They are no tourists too.. Only pay if you are staying in Thailand shorter than 4 months would be better...

19 minutes ago, riverhigh said:

I don't think this will go down well with twenty-something group who want to pay everyhing with their mobile phone (Apple pay, Google pay, etc.). I was in Germany when all hell broke loose when a twenty something old tourist was told they only accepted cash. Complete melt down ,, smile.

When in Rome Berlin, do as the Romans Berliners do! All part of the tourist experience!

NOBODY is going to turn around and go back home, so I say make it 500 and give everyone a ticket to a jade shop or 20 baht off a massage.    

 

gotta make back that covid-lost money.   I've seen more coffee shops and street vendors lately, and at least they are trying; however, coffee shops are soooooooooooooooooooooo 2000.   but anyhow, it will close in a few months.  Once in Udon I remember getting a real cup of espresso......once in 8 years, yea, that's promising.  

 

OK, I digress.

 

Maybe have everyone buy Thai chips like at a casino for 1,000 a chip and they can use these chips for fun and enjoyable prizes!!!!   touch a drugged tiger, ride a beaten elephant, hold an aids worker, get your back broken from a bad masseuse, die on a train, die on a car, die on a motorbike, die on a bike, die walking.........LOL  LOL

 

 

3 hours ago, webfact said:

the money raised will go towards helping to develop and maintain tourist destinations, as well as contributing to a fund that will help support foreign tourists who are involved in accidents in Thailand

so if i get it right, (1)thailand has yet to develop and maintain tourist destinations? well, well, well but tourists have been flocking into thailand for many years now!

                     (2) no need to purchase accident insurance as this money will help support  foreign tourists who are involved in accidents in thailand?

I'm all for it, if it meant free health care for ALL foreigners whilst in Thailand soil !

I'm not against a tourist tax, as long as the collection, accounting and disbursement is benefical and transparent.

 

Unpaid hospital bills seem to be quoted at ~ 500m baht, from pre-COVID days. I'd like to see more details as that may include ALL unpaid hospital bills.

 

300 baht for 25 million tourists, comes to 7.5 billion baht. Annually, and that will rise significantly. I fear that this slush fund will be hard to resist, and that most will go towards corruption.

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1282081-environment-minister-orders-probe-into-national-parks-dept-chief-scandal/

 

 

4 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

I'm all for it, if it meant free health care for ALL foreigners whilst in Thailand soil !

The 300 baht Scheme, let me in on that one.  

so what happens for western people who live here on retirement ? Do we get charged as tourists?

Just now, stupidfarang said:

so what happens for western people who live here on retirement ? Do we get charged as tourists?

The answer is yes, every time you re-enter the country after traveling we will be charged.

As if charging ten times the going rate at national parks etc based on one’s skin pigment isn’t enough. 

4 minutes ago, apetryxx said:

As if charging ten times the going rate at national parks etc based on one’s skin pigment isn’t enough. 

But they, parks management, need to kick back 18-20% of their annual budget to the minister and permanent secretary, for you know, "amulets".

2 hours ago, edogthong said:

I've always enjoyed those precious few minutes of  not being fleeced for money until entering the arrival's hall. Now, the fleecing starts as soon as you leave the aircraft and it doesn't end until you take off back home again.

 

Impeccable timing as usual by the way. If there was ever any doubt about what they think of us, here's another little clue. Welcome to Thailand, give us your money, now F off! With a smile and wai of course.

There are so many other countries in the world you can choose to go to instead of coming here, just sayin...

2 hours ago, HappyExpat57 said:

Will retirees get taxed as well?

Double as they have more money  ????

We all know where the money is going. I read out of the 300 only 50 baht is set aside for medical. 

Guarantee,  when the Money is needed Fingers will start to point.

Another fail idea proposed by a fail goVernment For the people. 

A fee that only applies to certain groups of people (non-Thai, non work permit holders) cannot be added by the airline when the ticket is purchased. I've already purchased a ticket to return to Thailand in June. That only leaves the option of everyone queuing up before or after immigration to pay the fee. They would also need to accept credit cards and other currencies since few people arrive with baht and most ATMs are after customs.

 

I'd imagine this has been as carefully thought out as last weeks vaccination requirement that was added and then dropped.

Why wait till June? you wanna bilk people do it now, the tourist season will be done and over by than...

2 hours ago, nglodnig said:

There used to be an exit fee (paid in cash and you had to use a special machine) that had to be attached to EVERY boarding-pass (Thai/non-Thai) before you could leave the country. The logic (?) being tourists can afford it and Thais who fly abroad can also.

Used to? It never went away, they just incorporated it into the ticket price like most other countries. Thailand ain't the only one that charge a departure fee.