Cabinet approves tourist fee of 150-300 baht for all foreign tourists

[jacko45k]

4 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Added on to the air ticket price, why should it be an issue at Suvarnabhumi?

But not included for those on a Work Permit nor for Thais.... difficult for the carriers. Too early to be sure.

[Caldera]

11 hours ago, webfact said:

When the fee was proposed last year, Phiphat stated that the proceeds would be used to purchase insurance for foreigners, with the leftover amount added to the tourism development fund.

I'll reserve judgment until I've seen the terms and conditions of the insurance package we'll be getting. ????

[Bangkocker]

4 hours ago, Neeranam said:

I guess you don't live in Pattaya, Hua Hin, or Phuket -  many tourists. 

Not all are alcoholics wanting to drink at 7 am.

Well simply put, will a measly 300b coerce travelers to go elsewhere? I think not. It's about 10 measly bucks for goodness sake. Like pi**ing in a huge bucket - you wouldn't even notice it.

Edited February 15, 2023 by Bangkocker

[The Theory]

"for all foreign tourists"

better say all non-Thai !!!!!  Most probably will be applied to all, not only tourists,

[richard_smith237]

3 minutes ago, Bangkocker said:

Well simply put, will a measly 300b coerce travelers to go elsewhere? I think not. It's about 10 measly bucks for goodness sake. Like pi**ing in a huge bucket - you wouldn't even notice it.

We’re is your line between measly & too much ? $100 (dollar) ??

 

The irritation with such policies is not the amount but the message, the tone levied towards tourist by greedy officials…

 

We want your money & don’t care about anything else… 

[richard_smith237]

Extra queues on arrival anyone ?

At times it was already bad enough with long immigration queues & thr BS response that they were processing a person every 45 second (erm….)… 

Now there will be extra queues with ppl who don’t have baht..  don’t have the right change….,  welcome to sone additional extra waiting, queuing & hassle at the airport….   Welcome tourists !!! 

[Srikcir]

4 hours ago, Neeranam said:

Maybe we should charge an 'occupancy charge' like the USA. 17% hotel tax for Thai  tourists in Houston! 

How about we charge Germans a culture tax of $5 a day!

Spaniards $4.50 a DAY! 

Dutch $9 a day! 

Malaysians $2.50 a day! 

US States, counties and cities may individually charge a hotel occupancy tax. Texas state charges 6% that may be in addition to local county and city taxes (maybe how you got 17%). The hotel occupancy tax is directed towards short hotel stays. In Texas a guest who occupies a hotel room for 30 or more consecutive days with no payment interruption is considered a permanent resident and exempt from the hotel tax.

[Srikcir]

Not mentioned as exempt from the occupancy hotel tax are foreigners returning to Thailand under re-entry permit? They are not tourists. In particular would one returning to Thailand who has a Long Term Resident visa with automatic re-entry have to pay?

[Neeranam]

1 hour ago, ikke1959 said:

But Thais will pay the same for everything no double standards there instead here in Thailand 

 

My daughter is Thai and pays a lot more for university fees than brits. Actually, she's British too, but double standards. 

[Neeranam]

1 hour ago, ikke1959 said:

Neeranam If you are not informed don's say anything.. Everybody who stays in Thailand more than 180 days has to pay taxes.. so also retirees......Not only who has  a workpermit... and I know it for sure as I just paid my taxes last week... 

Are you applying to be a moderator otr something? 

I know many pensioners here and they don't pay tax here. 

[nigelforbes]

6 minutes ago, Srikcir said:

Not mentioned as exempt from the occupancy hotel tax are foreigners returning to Thailand under re-entry permit? They are not tourists. In particular would one returning to Thailand who has a Long Term Resident visa with automatic re-entry have to pay?

Long Term Resident Visa's soon to be rebadged as Long Term Holiday Maker Visa. to accommodate the new charge. ????

[nigelforbes]

3 hours ago, Neeranam said:

The reason I asked is because I'm sure that country makes it harder for Thais retiring there than Thailand makes it for foreigners retiring here. 

Foreign retirees don't pay tax here, those with WP do. 

Errr, foreign retirees do pay tax here, on income and investment earnings, I certainly do.

[richard_smith237]

28 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

 

My daughter is Thai and pays a lot more for university fees than brits. Actually, she's British too, but double standards. 

No it’s not… you’ve cherry picked your misinformation…

 

IF you’ve lived in the Uk for 3 years the fees for your daughter will be the same as those for any other British ‘Resident’.

 

I know Thai’s (a Thai couple), also other non-British nationals who are living & working in the Uk, they’ve secured residency, a British passport, they pay the same uni fees as any other Uk resident. 
 

Your double standards are imagined.

 

 

 

 

[userabcd]

1 hour ago, Bangkocker said:

Well simply put, will a measly 300b coerce travelers to go elsewhere? I think not. It's about 10 measly bucks for goodness sake. Like pi**ing in a huge bucket - you wouldn't even notice it.

They started off low. There is ample room to increase it year on year.

 

And it's a little bit here, a little bit there as new ideas in govt how to extract more from the public. It all adds up to a lot.

Edited February 15, 2023 by userabcd

[ikke1959]

48 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

Are you applying to be a moderator otr something? 

I know many pensioners here and they don't pay tax here. 

I am a pensioner and I pay tax here..

[Resident Alien]

1 hour ago, nigelforbes said:

Errr, foreign retirees do pay tax here, on income and investment earnings

100% correct.

[Neeranam]

24 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

I am a pensioner and I pay tax here..

On your foreign pension? 

[nigelforbes]

3 minutes ago, Resident Alien said:

100% correct.

Why, thank you !

[Resident Alien]

2 minutes ago, nigelforbes said:

Why, thank you !

Should have been: 100% agree

 

Thank you !

[DFPhuket]

I landed at BKK today and the immigration queue was stretching down the arrival hall. It did move fairly quickly, but it took nearly an hour.

 

There is no doubt that whatever process they come up with is going to increase the processing time since it's clear to everyone who flies that the 300 baht can't be made part of the ticket (since it varies by work permit/passport). It will have to be paid or checked at arrival. 

[phetphet]

16 hours ago, Prince77 said:

I am wondering about the insurance benefits - what is covered in what amounts?

 

Plus all the exclusions.

[Harveyboy]

5 hours ago, kotsak said:

Yes, sod anyone who stays here because they have a family (which they support) or being retired (and spending their pensions here).. 

Well said .1 home wife 2 kids + + everything else if I go out of Thailand for any reason I must pay to get back ..I live here permanent not a tourists just a farang putting money into the coffers of the Thais ..Grab Grab can't help themselves can they .. just sayin H

[Harveyboy]

1 hour ago, nigelforbes said:

Errr, foreign retirees do pay tax here, on income and investment earnings, I certainly do.

Yep me also 

[proton]

1 hour ago, nigelforbes said:

Errr, foreign retirees do pay tax here, on income and investment earnings, I certainly do.

Also on everything you buy and the electricity, water and gas.

[nigelforbes]

4 minutes ago, proton said:

Also on everything you buy and the electricity, water and gas.

VAT is the biggest single tax income earner in the Thai Revenue tax system, followed by business taxes.

[regard39]

When you have thaï wife visa, you have to pay already for re entry permit and now 300 THB more....farang= ATM 

[vinci]

so now we have departure charge and entry charge, a decade or two ago we have to pay 500baht departure charge at a booth/vendor machine, they implemented into our plane ticket, i presume its still is, so now they have entry charge.

[bradiston]

40 minutes ago, DFPhuket said:

I landed at BKK today and the immigration queue was stretching down the arrival hall. It did move fairly quickly, but it took nearly an hour.

 

There is no doubt that whatever process they come up with is going to increase the processing time since it's clear to everyone who flies that the 300 baht can't be made part of the ticket (since it varies by work permit/passport). It will have to be paid or checked at arrival. 

They should include it on the ticket and then have a refund scheme for those who have exemption. Many won't bother getting the refund for sure. But no way collect on arrival.

[nigelforbes]

3 minutes ago, vinci said:

so now we have departure charge and entry charge, a decade or two ago we have to pay 500baht departure charge at a booth/vendor machine, they implemented into our plane ticket, i presume its still is, so now they have entry charge.

There should be a daily staying charge also. Perhaps a daily fee to avoid all double charging and scams and be treated the same as locals, proof of payment would let you into a national park at the standard rate. They could issue badges or hats that say, "fee paid", just so everyone would know.

 

[nigelforbes]

2 minutes ago, bradiston said:

They should include it on the ticket and then have a refund scheme for those who have exemption. Many won't bother getting the refund for sure. But no way collect on arrival.

A what scheme? Thailand doesn't do refunds, not at any level!