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

[impulse]

18 minutes ago, bamnutsak said:

 

Yes, of course. They change hundreds of times each day: currency changes.

 

But AoT doesn't want to split out the 300 baht. If they did, this would have happened already.

 

I think the total PSC is now 750

 

PSC 700 TS

International Departure Fee 15 G8

APPS Service fee 35 E7

 

Here's a typical breakdown from my Jan/Feb Orbitz itinerary, flying R/T from Tianjin to BKK.  It doesn't break it down further by the various accounts, but it gives an idea of the amount.  If Thailand is only charging 750 baht ($22 at 34Bt/USD), they're on the light end of the scale.  When I was flying from the USA, the imbalance was even more stark.  In my mind, Thailand could jack up the airport taxes by double (or more) and they'd still be charging less than the other end.  So I don't whine about $22 or another $9.  It's a bargain.

 

 

Edit:  Here's my Feb/Mar invoice: (Keep in mind the Chinese New Year holiday was the month before.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[bamnutsak]

China may have some higher fee/tax.

 

Need to see the breakout with codes.

 

 

[impulse]

7 minutes ago, bamnutsak said:

China may have some higher fee/tax.

 

Need to see the breakout with codes.

 

That, Orbitz doesn't break out.  The differences in the numbers lead me to believe that each city's airport in China has its own tax rates for transit passengers, just like back home.

[bamnutsak]

You probably could look up the PNR on the issuing airline's website, with your last name and get the breakout.

[Puccini]

21 hours ago, TheAppletons said:

 

  Why couldn't the government simply attach the fee to the electronic TM6 they plan to roll out in May?  That's for foreign nationals only.

 

  You fill in the information, proceed to the payment page, enter credit card data, press send.

 

  No payment, no TM6.  No TM6, no entry.  

 

That's exactly the plan being discussed by the various government departments involved in the process.

 

The latest news about it indicates that the TDAC (Thailand Digital Arrival Card) may be launched first (current target date 1 May 2025) and the tourist tax collection integrated with it before the high tourist season starts.

 

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/tourism/40046796https://www.nationthailand.com/news/tourism/40046796

[TheFishman1]

Some politician high up has just got a very important raise paid monthly this money will never ever pay for any insurance for any Tourist that doesn’t have any TIT

[Puccini]

7 hours ago, TheFishman1 said:

Some politician high up has just got a very important raise paid monthly this money will never ever pay for any insurance for any Tourist that doesn’t have any TIT

 

I don't see why the money resulting from a salary increase of a politician should pay for insurance of foreigners, regardless whether or not they have any TIT.

[proton]

Why not use the money to pay all Thais over the age of 16 10k baht, AS PROMISED!

[StayinThailand2much]

On 3/3/2025 at 12:35 PM, impulse said:

In my mind, Thailand could jack up the airport taxes by double (or more) and they'd still be charging less than the other end.  So I don't whine about $22 or another $9.  It's a bargain.

 

The planned 300-baht fee is no airport tax, but a tourism tax due every time one crosses any border post, incl. shopping trips overland, say, to Vientiane. It will neither be used to improve airport, nor tourist facilities.

[impulse]

7 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

The planned 300-baht fee is no airport tax, but a tourism tax due every time one crosses any border post, incl. shopping trips overland, say, to Vientiane. It will neither be used to improve airport, nor tourist facilities.

 

All over the USA, cities are charging taxes on airline tickets and car rentals that are used to build stadiums.  The tax isn't used for the airports.  That's just how they decided to collect it.  So it's called an "airport tax".  Because you don't pay it if you never go to the airport. (Personally, I think that's a cowardly way to get voters to approve a stadium to be paid for with other people's money, but that's another topic and a pet peeve of mine)

 

If anyone's just doing a border bounce to Laos or Cambodia, they probably shouldn't have to pay another fee.  But that's probably a drop in the bucket.  I doubt anyone's going to take that route for their initial arrival into Thailand just to save $9.