Thai Prime Minister Calls Off Controversial 300-Baht Tourism Fee

[snoop1130]

 

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has rescinded the decision about the controversial 300-baht tourism fee. This fee was first proposed last year and has faced resistance from private businesses. The government intended to gather this fee from every tourist coming to Thailand. However, it was scrapped with the belief that getting rid of it might stimulate tourists to spend more in other sectors, thus providing a significant boost to the economy.

 

There have been concerns surrounding Thailand's drop in the World Economic Forum's tourism and travel development index, where it currently holds the 47th place out of 119 countries. In response to this, Srettha stressed on a positive approach rather than pointing fingers. He pointed out the continued recognition of many Thai cities and islands as top global tourist spots and prompted an emphasis on promoting positive advancements within the industry.

 

Additionally, during his visit to the North on June 9, Srettha reported ongoing discussions with Apple Inc. about setting up a startup center and possibly an Apple Developer Academy at the Science and Technology Park of Chiang Mai University. An agreement is likely to be reached soon, with Apple officials planning to visit by the end of 2025 to finalize the agreement.

 

File photo for reference only

 

-- 2024-06-10

 

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[DonniePeverley]

If it would have stopped digital nomads - i mean cheap backpackers with a laptop - coming in then i was all for it. 

 

It was literally the price of a burger in the west. 

[ikke1959]

Cancel it for ever instead every year same discussion

[John Drake]

Should have kept the damn 300 baht tax and dedicated it to emergency hospitalization reimbursements for insufficiently covered tourists.

[Maestro]

Removed an off-topic post (about Apple Inc.) and the replies to it.

[sabai-dee-man]

11 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

If it would have stopped digital nomads - i mean cheap backpackers with a laptop - coming in then i was all for it. 

 

It was literally the price of a burger in the west. 

 

Moronic response. I've been a digital nomad for over 15 years, spending 4-6 months a year in Thailand. I spent £12k between the end of December and mid-May, all brought into Thailand from abroad. You sound bitter of a lifestyle you could probably only dream of.

Edited June 10 by sabai-dee-man

[ThaiFelix]

Have a brain fart, make it law, announce it to the world, then finally consider the pros and cons of the brain fart before backtracking completely (with a huge smile)................TIT!

[nickmondo]

it will rear its ugly head again 

thats what happens

[Paiman]

Ministry of Stupidity

[Luuk Chaai]

13 minutes ago, ThaiFelix said:

Have a brain fart, make it law, announce it to the world, then finally consider the pros and cons of the brain fart before backtracking completely (with a huge smile)................TIT!

 

It's only Tuesday AM ..    wait a few hours

Which way do I go George ?

[MangoKorat]

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

However, it was scrapped with the belief that getting rid of it might stimulate tourists to spend more in other sectors, thus providing a significant boost to the economy.

I'm not complaining but are they serious? Tourists will spend more in other sectors because they will be 300 baht better off? Really?

 

Government?  More like a Kindergarten.

[MangoKorat]

9 hours ago, John Drake said:

Should have kept the damn 300 baht tax and dedicated it to emergency hospitalization reimbursements for insufficiently covered tourists.

They probably got a few quotes for accident insurance and changed their minds 😁.

[hotchilli]

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The government intended to gather this fee from every tourist coming to Thailand. However, it was scrapped with the belief that getting rid of it might stimulate tourists to spend more in other sectors, thus providing a significant boost to the economy.

Better to get your manufacturing sector performing better, rather than screwing the tourists for every baht to bolster your GDP 

[VBF]

9 hours ago, John Drake said:

Should have kept the damn 300 baht tax and dedicated it to emergency hospitalization reimbursements for insufficiently covered tourists.

Assuming you forgot the sarcasm emoji there.

If not....Why?

[Bungditin]

Does he really think anyone cares about 300 baht. Better to look after your resident foreigners that spend there foreign currency here and stop this ridiculous tax. Where exactly do you think we spent the money we bring into Thailand 

[thailand49]

Confused, 

Report " last Year "  is this the 300 

Baht suppose to include a medical which I read was pull a while back already. 

Just last month the Tourist Minister propose again another 300 baht fee without the medical.

I would glaly pay a fee to improve medical facility and service for everyone but all these proposal fee go to only one source the leader pockets.

[wensiensheng]

1 hour ago, sabai-dee-man said:

 

Moronic response. I've been a digital nomad for over 15 years, spending 4-6 months a year in Thailand. I spent £12k between the end of December and mid-May, all brought into Thailand from abroad. You sound bitter of a lifestyle you could probably only dream of.

Best make sure it’s not  as long as 6 months in the future. That 12k might be treated as income and taxed.

 

with all the tax rolling in from foreign remittances to Thailand, there’s no need to tax tourists another 300 baht per visit now.

[twizzian]

A country built on U-Turns

[Homburg]

Flip,flop,flip,flop,flip.....

[Srikcir]

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

it was scrapped with the belief

In Thailand the government is a "belief system."

[khunpeer]

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

 

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has rescinded the decision about the controversial 300-baht tourism fee. This fee was first proposed last year and has faced resistance from private businesses. The government intended to gather this fee from every tourist coming to Thailand. However, it was scrapped with the belief that getting rid of it might stimulate tourists to spend more in other sectors, thus providing a significant boost to the economy.

 

There have been concerns surrounding Thailand's drop in the World Economic Forum's tourism and travel development index, where it currently holds the 47th place out of 119 countries. In response to this, Srettha stressed on a positive approach rather than pointing fingers. He pointed out the continued recognition of many Thai cities and islands as top global tourist spots and prompted an emphasis on promoting positive advancements within the industry.

 

 

Additionally, during his visit to the North on June 9, Srettha reported ongoing discussions with Apple Inc. about setting up a startup center and possibly an Apple Developer Academy at the Science and Technology Park of Chiang Mai University. An agreement is likely to be reached soon, with Apple officials planning to visit by the end of 2025 to finalize the agreement.

 

File photo for reference only

 

-- 2024-06-10

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

another U-turn! 🤣

[cowellandrew]

2 hours ago, sabai-dee-man said:

 

Moronic response. I've been a digital nomad for over 15 years, spending 4-6 months a year in Thailand. I spent £12k between the end of December and mid-May, all brought into Thailand from abroad. You sound bitter of a lifestyle you could probably only dream of.

How much tax did you pay on that income?

😂

[Aussie999]

13 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

If it would have stopped digital nomads - i mean cheap backpackers with a laptop - coming in then i was all for it. 

 

It was literally the price of a burger in the west. 

what's your problem, are they hurting you, or Thailand... and NO, I am not one of them. Look after your own life, and leave others alone.

[Aussie999]

10 hours ago, John Drake said:

Should have kept the damn 300 baht tax and dedicated it to emergency hospitalization reimbursements for insufficiently covered tourists.

the last time they posted any cost, to the health system, it really wasn't worth mentioning, just consider what tourists bring to the country. it is 20% of GDP.

[klauskunkel]

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

it was scrapped with the belief that getting rid of it might stimulate tourists to spend more in other sectors

Nah, it was scrapped because you don't know how to collect it.

[lordgrinz]

This is about the only proposal they had that made any sense, and its the one they choose to abandon?! How about abandoning the new tax changes, that one would make more sense to get rid of.

[JonnyF]

They're probably thinking they don't need this 300 Baht chump change, once they start charging tax residents on money made overseas even when not remitted to Thailand 😃.

[cncltd1973]

Thai economy must be in worse shape if they are doing this much fretting over 300 baht

[Robert Tyrrell]

Good Morning ,

 

Gambling is Illegal , But now try to make it legal with casinos cause Thai's to get addicted and in more debt to make revenue !! ??? Alcohol is legal  make more alcoholics and Thailand with one of the worst road fatality records in the world !!! CannibIS  is legal creating jobs and big government revenues and now try to make that Illegal !!! ???? WHERE IS THE COMMON SENSE IN THAILAND !!??? 🙂

[TroubleandGrumpy]

19 minutes ago, klauskunkel said:

Nah, it was scrapped because you don't know how to collect it.

The winner !!   Airlines refused to collect it because they were asked to exclude arriving Thais from the levy/tax. The Junta could have proposed a 300 Baht levy/tax on all arrivals and it would have been included in the airfare, just like the AOT applies a levy/tax on all departures from their airports. But the Junta wanted Thais not to pay - or more to the point, they wanted only Foreigners to pay. The only way to collect it from Foreigners, was to take a 300 Baht payment at the airports after they had arrived and passed through Immigration - even they realised the problems with that and the resultant social media criticism.  Thailand takes 1.5 years to realise the obvious. The hub of u-turns and incompetent decision making?