Thai tourism sector proposes 300-baht tax to counter over-tourism

[IamNoone88]

If you pray for rain, then you must deal with the mud. Frankly, there is little charm or beauty left in Phuket to experience. The traffic is a nightmare, the beaches are a mass tourism event operated by various invested factions. Its rapidly becoming a crowded concrete jungle with few attractions. Its a magnet for the rough and ready.

[ThaiFelix]

9 minutes ago, TheFatOne said:

 

Obviously you're missing the point.

Nevermind. Might be too complicated for you.

Some people are just meant to be screwed.

Far too complicated.   lol!

[Etaoin Shrdlu]

"...Surawat suggests that the tax would not deter foreign tourists..."

 

If the problem is over-tourism, you want the tax to deter tourism.

[mancub]

Over-tourism ? or Over-reaction to the self-induced problems created in major holiday places like Phuket ?

[mran66]

Funny, very Thai news story.

 

PM Srettha wants more tourists to drive economy. 

Adith of FETTA wants to get rid of over-tourism i.e less tourists

Surawat of TCT wants 300 baht tax that does not impact number of tourists i.e wants current level of tourist numbers

 

News header obviously should be 'Thailand is lost of what it wants to do with tourism'. 

 

But hold on that is not true, all they want is money is very well known by everybody.

 

So better just get it straight to the point: 'Thailand wants foreigners' cash, but don't want them to come to Thailand'

[outsider]

Not a day goes by without the idiots singling out foreigners for whatever reasons, or trying to fleece them. Just. Can't. Fix. Stupid.

[scorecard]

1 hour ago, Artisi said:

one minute they are thinking up hair-brained schemes to attract tourist and in the next breath they are planning to impose a tax to reduce tourism -- could only happen in Thailand, probably smoking too much weed believing their own weed smoking tourism advertising. 

 

Further, how would the spending of the money be managed to ensure it doesn't end up in corruption activities?

[khunpin]

300?

Wow. That will hurt the tourists. 555

Consider to lower it to maybe 27.8 or a max of 32.4 Baht. 🤦🏼‍♂️

[beano2274]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Surawat called for a trial phase of tourism tax collection through a mobile application or kiosks, mirroring the approach taken by many countries that collect taxes from tourists through flight tickets or hotel stays.

does Thai Airways not include Tax in their prices?

 

A lot of those people visiting the so called Tourist Areas are on Group Tours, how about the Tours increase their fees, also start charging the Chinese Tourists, that the Government favours, the same prices as the European/American/other tourists.

 

Another idea is like in Europe the Visitors Tax you pay in many areas (Kurtaxe).

 

 

 

[outsider]

2 minutes ago, scorecard said:

 

Further, how would the spending of the money be managed to ensure it doesn't end up in corruption activities?

 

I think the intention is to manage the money to ensure it does end up in where you and I don't think it should be. To me, it is just them seeing an increase in tourists, and thinking how to squeeze more money from them, with nary a thought on how to use those funds to 'improve' tourism and infrastructure or anything beneficial, for that matter.

[Cabradelmar]

First it's we need 50m tourist a year, and now it's complaints about over tourism... talking out of both sides of their mouths. A 300 baht per person tax is not intended to address over tourism, nor will it. Thailand couldn't care less about over tourism. And the idea of promoting tourism in secondary cities just goes to show they have no idea that tourist do and expect from a trip to Thailand... But it ain't Khon Kaen 😂

[Mywayboy]

Phuket needs quality tourism not the riff raff that have invaded the Island. 

Phuket desperately needs desalination plant also 2 Sewage treatment plants.

This will alleviate 100% of the issues there.

[Funkymover]

so the farang price, not enough 

[StayinThailand2much]

Just now, cnx101 said:

Comparing Thailand Pataya and Bhutan, 

 

Beautiful mountains in Bhutan, and mountains of turds swimming in the Pattaya sea... Yes, why not charge extra for either.

[Trip Hop]

It looks like someone at FETTA or TCT has been looking at the news in Europe, seeing what's going on in Spain/the Canaries and thought we'll have a bit of that?  Goes totally against what TAT is continually spouting though! Flip-flop!

[StayinThailand2much]

Just now, outsider said:

 

I think the intention is to manage the money to ensure it does end up in where you and I don't think it should be. To me, it is just them seeing an increase in tourists, and thinking how to squeeze more money from them, with nary a thought on how to use those funds to 'improve' tourism and infrastructure or anything beneficial, for that matter.

 

That's right. No way even 2% (6 baht) of such a 300-baht fee would be used for "improvements"...

[PomPolo]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

During peak season, these popular destinations suffer from traffic congestion and water shortages, with international airports running out of slots for airlines

Never heard anything so daft.  Tax cars higher, for roads, water and airports improve your infrastructure and get into the 21st century.  I have been to a couple of these resorts recently and they definitely don't appear to be over-touristed, the hotel prices would be increasing and they are not with plenty of availability, a scheme to line the coffers in my opinion or a bureaucrat to justify their position.

[plahgat]

Direct all the surplus tourists to Myanmar, a beautiful neglected neighbouring country that needs every dollar they can get! 😏

[Scouse123]

14 minutes ago, dpeti73 said:

we been here before, if you guys remember was 500B what rised for 750B and later they charged the airlines so the price added to ticket prices. as i know its still have so its "just" add an other 300B

 

 

 

I agree with you and plenty on here missing the point with comments of " it's only 300 baht"

 

Do members recall that we'll add something to the ticket for all the new biometrics at the airport which enhances arrivals and departures, well did it?

 

Then there was the add-on for those that weren't insured and it was to pay for the hospitals, as Thailand was fed up allegedly, with these people who couldn't pay or had inadequate medical insurance, so we'll just put another ' add on ' in there to cover this.

 

Then there was an argument about an add-on or price increase for tourists to keep and maintain the national parks in good order as tourist attractions because obviously, only foreigners litter and such in these places.

 

And the list continues until somebody says ' enough is enough ' and they decide with their feet to seek new places.

 

This is the strategy of the Thais in government, who haven't the faintest idea about the tourist on the ground and will milk the cow until it's dry and then bleat where have all the tourists gone blaming everything else from Climate change to the Global economy. They will blame anything except their dumb policies.

 

The government here float these ideas and waits and sees what the blowback is before coming out and saying what their proposals are, so they can blame some Somchai ' who wasn't authorised to speak ' if it goes belly up.

 

Are you people not surprised why it is hazy with no government announcement regarding their plans on taxation for people here over 180 days, they are seeing where the land lies, so they can back-peddle quickly if they hit significant resistance.

 

Lastly, comparing Pattaya Thailand to Bhutan is like comparing Liverpool to Monte Carlo.

[transam]

9 minutes ago, khunpin said:

300?

Wow. That will hurt the tourists. 555

Consider to lower it to maybe 27.8 or a max of 32.4 Baht. 🤦🏼‍♂️

Yep, farangy's planning a long and expensive trip to Thailand and 300 bht will put them off, I don't think so......🤭

[StayinThailand2much]

3 minutes ago, Nickcage49 said:

"Over tourism"? Are these people kidding?

 

One minute they're crying because they don't get enough tourists and giving freebies to countries like India and China and the next minute they're trying to do things to slow tourism down.

 

Make a decision guys!

 

Seems, they are believing their own propaganda and fantasy numbers... "We want 80 million tourists", and each one should pay 300 (or why not 3,000?) baht.

[NONG CHOK]

Next thing there will be a nightly tax for farangs sleeping with their legally married Thai wives. If there's any extra hanky panky picked up by spy cams there will be an additional surcharge.

[quake]

1 hour ago, transam said:

Are you worried about 6 pound 50p...........🤭

 

You missed the point. 

But it is you, so no big deal, Transman.

 

 

[Artisi]

19 minutes ago, scorecard said:

 

Further, how would the spending of the money be managed to ensure it doesn't end up in corruption activities?

How could you ever think such a thing? 

[StayinThailand2much]

Just now, Scouse123 said:

I agree with you and plenty on here missing the point with comments of " it's only 300 baht"

 

If one has been here long or often enough, one will know that Thai greed knows no limits. If successful, those 300-baht fees would quickly be doubled and tripled...

[BangkokHank]

It almost seems like it's just about getting more money from foreigners rather than pursuing any kind of strategy.

[transam]

1 minute ago, quake said:

 

You missed the point. 

But it is you, so no big deal, Transman.

 

 

So you would cancel your LOS holiday over 6 quid, Nige.....?  🤔

[mancub]

No mention this time of the same bt300 (a popular figure) being used to cover insurance costs for tourists. 

[quake]

Just now, transam said:

So you would cancel your LOS holiday over 6 quid, Nige.....?  🤔

 

Now your just being silly Transman.

oh, what's new, nothing.  

[topt]

Just now, transam said:

So you would cancel your LOS holiday over 6 quid, Nige.....?  🤔

Try reading his original post again and have a think about it.

it was nothing to do with people cancelling......