Thailand: you can leave but you must pay ฿1,000 more. Departures tax hailed as the kiss of death

[stix40]

Taking the piss ! 

[rabiedabruce]

5 hours ago, JayClay said:

Who in their right mind would be in favour of legislation that makes it harder to leave the country and spend time in foreign country in exchange for no tangible benefits...?

Don't know if this still applies but many years ago when on Bali a local told me Indos must pay $100 to leave as the government wanted to keep spending inside the country possibly why you rarely see any here. Doubt if that applies in this country though, they're scraping the bottom as per, no tourists? Gouge the ones already here.

[quake]

2 minutes ago, Brian Hull said:

Let us hope that the new government will do a dramatic purge of all their departments, replacing the deadheads with competent professionals.

Dream on.

They will only be new dinosaurs in charge, if they get the chance.

Nepotism, Greed, Selfishness. will be at the forefront, as per norm.

 

 

[transam]

Strange how LOS keeps tripping itself up..............

[bamnutsak]

I think this is just in the (bad) "idea phase". After being thrown against the wall it will slide down and into the drain.

 

With the existing 700 baht PSC, and a proposed 300 baht TAT "Fee", this would mean they get you coming and going, for what would be a total of 2,000 baht.

 

Will be interesting to see how many more ministries want to get in on the fee game?

 

 

[StayinThailand2much]

1 hour ago, KannikaP said:

Of course it will generate extra revenue for SOMEONE, but giving Thai people Bht 1000 less to spend abroad seems rather silly (...)

It's a braindead idea. Will it stop expats travelling abroad; no. Will it stop some Thais travelling overseas; maybe. Will those travellers spend less money at their destination; unlikely. Will the Thais and expats spend those 1,000 baht less after returning to Thailand; possibly. Is Thai bureaucracy shooting itself into the (economic) foot again? Well...

[Guderian]

Absolutely sickening, like pigs around a trough, the only thing the Thai authorities care about is money, money, money.

[elwood]

On the other paper, the Revenue Department has stated there are no plans to implement this, it was merely a constitutional requirement to assess old decrees.

[SenorTashi]

6 hours ago, nglodnig said:

Interesting. - I have heard of several stories before (when there was a departure tax of 500 baht) of people who had spent literally every baht they had and had nothing when they got to the airport. What are they going to do if they can't pay? Deport them? Make them stay a month longer? Stupid idea.

I remember those days too. I think they had the same thing in the Philippines too. It's very annoying if you're on a tight budget and you have to keep holding onto the exit tax.  

[bradiston]

27 minutes ago, elwood said:

On the other paper, the Revenue Department has stated there are no plans to implement this, it was merely a constitutional requirement to assess old decrees.

Exactly. It's been picked up by AN and PN as a done deal. Nothing of the sort. They should publish a retraction.

[Trip Hop]

I'm in two minds as to whether this will ever materialise?  However, I kind of think it may be based on the following?

 

Thai government/revenue make assumptions and may have even structured the economy with possible borrowing based on TAT's over inflated tourist projections?  The projected tourists don't arrive, leaving a shortfall and the government/revenue is left thinking how else are we going to raise the money without losing face and possibly devaluing the baht, which means that they will have to pay even more for their toy submarines and overseas property?

 

So instead of discounting or having a promotion (as most other countries or businesses would have) to encourage more tourists, the wise buffoons at the top think nah, we'll just tax the ones that are coming even more?  Typical thai logic which I still struggle to understand even after many years?

 

Forget the smokescreen of stopping thais going and spending their money abroad as it won't touch the pockets of those that can afford to do that.  It will however have more of an effect on long stay tourists already in Thailand, who might prefer to get a cheap flight to visit a neighbouring country for a week and spending their money there instead of spending a day at immigration?  The additional downside being as previously stated, whereby those from neighbouring countries may no longer see Thailand as a cheap place to visit for a couple of days, especially if bringing the family?  It also means that there is a good chance that it will reduce the amount of money going across the border to legal casinos which will most probably result in this money being spent in the illegal ones within Thailand, which in the majority are all controlled by you know who? 

[arick]

My horse doesn't <deleted> this much 

[Bangkok Barry]

Interesting to read all the outraged comments and how it sounds the death knell for Thai tourism (again), But does anyone, really, seriously believe it will make the slightest difference and that people will refuse to come to Thailand because of it? Really?

[arick]

Just now, arick said:

My horse doesn't <deleted> this much 

I won't tell you who gave me the horse. 

[bradiston]

6 hours ago, bradiston said:

This is an opinion poll. Totally fake and out of date news.

Search BP under "departure tax".

[Lee65]

This just in:

 

Thailand's provincial governors consider exit tax for Thais and foreign permanent residents wishing to leave their province of residence.

 

Thailand's city mayors said to be looking on with envy.

[scorecard]

5 hours ago, Funkymover said:

for a country that is supposably Buddhist,  which , buddha , a  supposably real man, that is treated as a god , said, live a simple and non materialistic life, thai's are just obsessed with money and scamming as much as they can from non thai's 

Would be interesting to see a complete break down of how the 1,000Bht departure fee will be spent. (That's if there is any such break down.)

[Nong Khai Man]

6 hours ago, ukrules said:

Yeah, I remember paying the 500 Baht fee at the counter many years ago at the old airport.

 

I believe this was increased and then they forced the airlines to collect the tax.

 

No doubt the airlines will collect the increased charge as well.

 

Yep, The price WILL be INCLUDED the Airline tickets 

[scorecard]

Just now, Lee65 said:

This just in:

 

Thailand's provincial governors consider exit tax for Thais and foreign permanent residents wishing to leave their province of residence.

 

Thailand's city mayors said to be looking on with envy.

Why not add 200Baht to the meter amount for all taxi trips to an airport? And add 100Baht departure fee on all spending transactions (duty free, meals, snacks, water, sandwiches etc.) at airports. 

 

On the other hand how about getting some well qualified clever ethical economics people into the positions which decide how to raise revenues. 

No common sense 

[KhunBENQ]

And the whole thing was just another headline bubble by BP.

Close and forget!

Will not come.

 

 

[smedly]

greedy ## r's

[smedly]

7 hours ago, JayClay said:

Who in their right mind would be in favour of legislation that makes it harder to leave the country and spend time in foreign country in exchange for no tangible benefits...?

meanwhile these corrupt ## fill their pockets with billions and no accountability on their personal finances

[Mingomania]

Talking about shooting yourself in the foot..

[Pedrogaz]

From my perspective, it is a good idea if it cuts the numbers of travellers at Suvarnabhumi. I am travelling less and less so the impact on me is less than $100 a year. The problem is: will the money be well spent, or just end up in hi-sos' pockets as graft.

[paul1804]

Another very stupid idea Thailand, just include airport tax for all travellers in & out with the airline ticket and stop creating stupid revenue collecting exercises that give bad publicity. Thailand is already well known for gouging and over charging so this will be just another negative message to send to potential travellers, If you dont want Thais to travel abroad offer attractive promotions outside of high season within the country. This will help, airlines, hotels, restaurants and all the tourist associated service providers with low season.  

[ThailandRyan]

Yet in another OP running the revenue department is retracing its words.....oh what a tangled web which has been weaved.

 

[Pink Mist]

Off Topic post removed.  The OP is about Thailand and nowhere else.

 

Thailand: you can leave but you must pay ฿1,000 more. Departures tax hailed as the kiss of death

[Powder]

more and more i get the feeling, i am not welcome, but i can leave the money behind.

It shows the true nature of the government, who never come a step forward to expats and tourists.

Make it easier for 90 days, some documents wouldn't actually no longer be neccesary if living here for a couple of years. and so on and on.

No, nothing like this.

Thank God, i can choose, right?!

If they insist to pay 1000 baht, i will do this one time.

After that, arrividerci.

And i gues in the years to come, i will not be the only one.

 

[MrJ2U]

That'll be a blow to the Indian tourist segment. 

[NoDisplayName]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

the new levy will help prevent locals from spending too much aboard. The hearing will range from May 3rd to 17th, aiming to assess a possible impact of the tax.

 

According to the questionnaire, Thai citizens and foreign permanent residents would be required to pay a departure tax of 1,000 baht for air travel and 500 baht for land and sea travel.

 

Amazing Thailand!

 

SE Asian hub of shooting yourself in the foot.