Thailand's New 300-Baht Tourism Tax: Aid or Hindrance?

[snoop1130]

Photo courtesy of TrueID Travel

 

Thailand is poised to roll out a new 300-baht tourism tax on foreign visitors by year's end, catching the attention of travellers and industry experts alike. The Tourism and Sports Minister, Sorawong Thienthong, confirmed the expected launch during the nation's bustling High Season, contingent on its approval in the Royal Gazette by March.

 

This tax, applicable to all entering tourists, aims to provide life and accident insurance, enhancing visitor safety. Arrivals by air will incur a 300-baht fee per person per trip, while those by land or water will pay the same with allowances for multiple entries over a period of 30 to 60 days. To simplify the process, the fee will be tied to the impending Thailand Digital Arrival Card, set for a May debut.

 

 

Sorawong reassured that the tax wouldn't pose a significant deterrent if implemented smoothly, emphasising its role in bolstering infrastructure and services. Critics, however, fear administrative headaches and inconvenience, particularly for frequent land and water travellers. Yet, Sorawong insists the government's streamlined integration efforts with the TDAC will ease any potential friction.

 

Initially paused under ex-Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, who sought to achieve an annual tourism revenue of 3 trillion baht, the current administration sees the levy as a sustainable boost for the sector. While embassies express support, the tax's real-world impact remains a subject of vigorous debate in international travel circles, reported The Thaiger.

 

-- 2025-02-27

 

 

[impulse]

I don't mind paying the 300 baht as long as it's easy to pay, with no queuing up.  And no SNAFUs if paying it online.  Just add it to the airline ticket.

 

[MikeandDow]

They are joking (to provide life and accident insurance)   like to see people try to claim ??

[redwood1]

2 hours ago, MikeandDow said:

They are joking (to provide life and accident insurance)   like to see people try to claim ??

 

O they will have a few insurance pay-out Photo-Ops....With lots of smiling faces and thumbs up........And the other 99% that try and claim will be stuck in a bureaucratic hell until they give up...... 

[Ralf001]

Will not be applied to those who enter on a non immigrant visa/stay extension ?

[MikeandDow]

28 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

Will not be applied to those who enter on a non immigrant visa/stay extension ?

Incorrect

The tax will apply to the vast majority of foreign visitors to Thailand, though there are some important exceptions. Infants under two, transit passengers, diplomats, and individuals holding authorized Thai work permits will be exempt from paying the fee. However, long-term residents, retirees, and other non-immigrant visa holders will be required to pay the tax, including those who may not typically view themselves as tourists. This includes individuals holding the Destination Thailand Visa, the Privilege or Elite card, and other long-term visas. The position of 10-year Long-Term Residence visa holders and permanent residents is still under review, with officials yet to clarify whether these groups will be subject to the tax.

[Ralf001]

16 minutes ago, MikeandDow said:

Incorrect

The tax will apply to the vast majority of foreign visitors to Thailand, though there are some important exceptions. Infants under two, transit passengers, diplomats, and individuals holding authorized Thai work permits will be exempt from paying the fee. However, long-term residents, retirees, and other non-immigrant visa holders will be required to pay the tax, including those who may not typically view themselves as tourists. This includes individuals holding the Destination Thailand Visa, the Privilege or Elite card, and other long-term visas. The position of 10-year Long-Term Residence visa holders and permanent residents is still under review, with officials yet to clarify whether these groups will be subject to the tax.

Its a tourism tax.

Iam not a tourist, I hold a valid work permit.... so does not apply to me.

[MikeandDow]

24 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

Its a tourism tax.

Iam not a tourist, I hold a valid work permit.... so does not apply to me.

read my post individuals holding authorized Thai work permits will be exempt

 

long-term residents, retirees, and other non-immigrant visa holders will be required to pay the tax

https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/thailands-new-tourist-tax-how-and-where-does-it-apply/

 again this flip flop goverment might change its mind yet again !!!

[Ralf001]

8 minutes ago, MikeandDow said:

read my post individuals holding authorized Thai work permits will be exempt

 

long-term residents, retirees, and other non-immigrant visa holders will be required to pay the tax

https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/thailands-new-tourist-tax-how-and-where-does-it-apply/

 

How do I find out if my work permit (BOI) is authorized ?

[MikeandDow]

3 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

 

How do I find out if my work permit (BOI) is authorized ?

Labour Department they are very helpfull

[Ralf001]

10 hours ago, MikeandDow said:

Labour Department they are very helpfull

ok, so your previous posts declaring work permit holders are exempt are based  upon ?

[ikke1959]

not a tourism fee an entrance fee for a country that will do double pricing and standards for all foreigners. The long term vis holders should be exempt too as they live here and are no tourists, but contribute a lot already to the economy. But Thailand never has enough and the greed will bring the country down.

[connda]

Thailand's New 300-Baht Tourism Tax: Aid or Hindrance?

 

Inconsequential. What's 300 THB.  Peanuts.

[lordgrinz]

So an at least 12 Billion Baht slush fund that will be used by corrupt government agencies? Nice!

[Puccini]

4 hours ago, lordgrinz said:

So an at least 12 Billion Baht slush fund that will be used by corrupt government agencies? Nice!

 

Precisely.

[DonniePeverley]

300 Baht will do nothing to stop the Benidorm Brits or Indians. 

 

3000 would be better to kull the 7/11 cheese toastie brigade. 

[Mike_Hunt]

The sum of 300 baht is nothing. 

[blaze master]

How nice of them to exempt travellers in transit. 

[watchcat]

10 hours ago, MikeandDow said:

They are joking (to provide life and accident insurance)   like to see people try to claim ??

 

They'll probably will be denied

[hotchilli]

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

This tax, applicable to all entering tourists, aims to provide life and accident insurance, enhancing visitor safety.

That remains to be seen, what will they get?

300 baht off their thousands of baht hospital bill?

[phil2803]

So my wife Thai Australian citizen not pay while I do just an Australian citizen when visiting family.  Not a fan of the govt sanctioned dual pricing.

[loong]

13 hours ago, impulse said:

I don't mind paying the 300 baht as long as it's easy to pay, with no queuing up.  And no SNAFUs if paying it online.  Just add it to the airline ticket.

 

 

Cannot add it to the ticket price as Thais would have to pay it as well!

[impulse]

17 minutes ago, loong said:

 

Cannot add it to the ticket price as Thais would have to pay it as well!

 

Sure you can.  Thai people love a rebate.  They can take their international boarding pass with their Thai passport and queue up for a 300 baht rebate while they're waiting for their luggage. 

 

Same with anybody holding a WP.  Though I don't know many of them who would get their panties in a wad over a $9 fee.  I'm already paying over $150 in taxes on every airline ticket.  Another $9?  Big whoop.

 

[SmokeandIce]

8 hours ago, connda said:

 

Inconsequential. What's 300 THB.  Peanuts.

That is in addition to 700 THB passenger service charge alongside other taxes and fees.

 

I don't mind paying the additional 300 THB  IF it were to make a positive impact rather than be a corrupted source of revenue.  I am skeptical.

[khunjeff]

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

To simplify the process, the fee will be tied to the impending Thailand Digital Arrival Card, set for a May debut.

 

Just a few months ago they said it would be tied to the ETA, so that only visa exempt travelers would pay. But now the ETA has completely disappeared from the conversation, and the zombie tourist tax has risen from the grave yet again.

 

Let's not forget that the supposed motivation for this tax was the millions the government was allegedly losing from tourists skipping out on hospital bills. But even if every instance of that evasion were accepted as true, that loss would come out to less than 10 baht per foreign visitor - so they've decided that 300 baht should just about cover it, and they'll figure out what to use the rest for. Uh huh. This tax is, and always has been, a solution in search of a problem.

[newbee2022]

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Photo courtesy of TrueID Travel

 

Thailand is poised to roll out a new 300-baht tourism tax on foreign visitors by year's end, catching the attention of travellers and industry experts alike. The Tourism and Sports Minister, Sorawong Thienthong, confirmed the expected launch during the nation's bustling High Season, contingent on its approval in the Royal Gazette by March.

 

This tax, applicable to all entering tourists, aims to provide life and accident insurance, enhancing visitor safety. Arrivals by air will incur a 300-baht fee per person per trip, while those by land or water will pay the same with allowances for multiple entries over a period of 30 to 60 days. To simplify the process, the fee will be tied to the impending Thailand Digital Arrival Card, set for a May debut.

 

 

 

Sorawong reassured that the tax wouldn't pose a significant deterrent if implemented smoothly, emphasising its role in bolstering infrastructure and services. Critics, however, fear administrative headaches and inconvenience, particularly for frequent land and water travellers. Yet, Sorawong insists the government's streamlined integration efforts with the TDAC will ease any potential friction.

 

Initially paused under ex-Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, who sought to achieve an annual tourism revenue of 3 trillion baht, the current administration sees the levy as a sustainable boost for the sector. While embassies express support, the tax's real-world impact remains a subject of vigorous debate in international travel circles, reported The Thaiger.

 

-- 2025-02-27

 

 

If we can get an Insurance for this money it's perfect❤️

[thaijoe]

same they did a while back. had to pay 300 baht when you left thailand. don't mind that, take away the falang prices when going to a museum ,parks. etc

[carlf]

12 hours ago, MikeandDow said:

read my post individuals holding authorized Thai work permits will be exempt

 

long-term residents, retirees, and other non-immigrant visa holders will be required to pay the tax

https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/thailands-new-tourist-tax-how-and-where-does-it-apply/

 again this flip flop goverment might change its mind yet again !!!

Thanks for pointing to that other article.  But this still doesn't really clarify as I read in that article "The position of 10-year Long-Term Residence visa holders and permanent residents is still under review, with officials yet to clarify whether these groups will be subject to the tax."  

[PETERTHEEATER]

16 hours ago, MikeandDow said:

They are joking (to provide life and accident insurance)   like to see people try to claim ??

Yes, the supposed level of cover needs to be clearly set out but I expect it will be tested very soon after introduction by some unfortunate tourist.

[Harrisfan]

300 baht is one steak.