2 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

 

Yes, no fake declarations of 'how tourists will benefit from insurance'... Just add it to the ticket price, and travellers can decide, whether it's still worth flying to Thailand...

It will be interesting to see the details of this imaginary insurance,

It could be a good deal on the face of it.  As an example ,for a 70 year old tourist with pre-existing conditions who is planning on staying for 2 months, 300 baht would be as cheap as chips, Wonder if it includes repatriation? 

2 minutes ago, impulse said:

I just know that Thailand claims they had to pay 400 million baht one year to reimburse hospitals that treated foreigners and didn't get paid. That came out in one of the many discussions of the 300 baht fee.

 

Anyhow, they must be using TAT calculators:

400 million : 34 million tourists = 12 baht, unless, of course, they expect tourists numbers to shrink to 1.3 million... 😆 

5 hours ago, daveAustin said:

if you absolutely must do this paltry grab, at least bury it in the flight ticket

 

Simple logical and easy, but of course the rich Hi SO Thais who fly would be lumped in with us undesireables.I fear they would hate to have to queue up for refunds😀

My solution be just hand immigration officer nice crisp clean $10 which they can pocket, sure to make them happier.

20 minutes ago, mancub said:

Several issues here..

It's not been implemented simply because they haven't been able to work out how to do it,

The airlines will not entertain it if it means extra work for them...differing ticketing for Thais/ non Thai etc

Bt 300 on a bt25,000 long haul ticket is far less noticeable than Bt300 on a bt1,500 from a neighbouring Asean country....affecting low-cost carriers especially.

Domestic pax fees have also just increased.

Ironically, to "stimulate" tourism, are they not giving away free domestic flights ?

 

Exactly; it will either be a big mess, costing them possibly more than they get, or they will have to add it to the flight tickets, probably for everyone, incl. Thais...

 

I'm not saying it wouldn't work at all, but to cover app development costs, etc., they would probably have to charge 50 dollars, rather than nine...

(Duty-free shops in the Transfer Area take note, as it might get busy there, with tourists, well, only transferring in Bangkok...) 😆 

"He underlined the importance of ensuring tourists understand what they would gain from the scheme, saying, “If we impose this tax, we must communicate how much tourists could benefit from it.” Therein is the key. start posting the Short term Tourist Insurance Coverage. Clearly stating what it will cover and what is excluded. I certainly would support Thailand striking a balance of the charge in return for the short term tourism coverage.

55 minutes ago, mancub said:

Domestic pax fees have also just increased.

Ironically, to "stimulate" tourism, are they not giving away free domestic flights ?

 

Yes, giving away free domestic flights, while, at the same time, asking tourists upon entry to pay another 300 baht... Yeah, I'm sure this will help to attract more Chinese and Indian tourists... 😆 

 

(And if not, they can always double the fee to 600 baht to make good for the 'shortfall'... Or, why not make it an even 1,000? They can just strategically place their helpers in front of the Immigration counters to collect that one banknote...) 😂 

1 hour ago, impulse said:

 

I don't think they intend to ding you again on the way out.

 

 

We would have to travel through Thailand to Laos then return to get our flight home from BKK, I would obv now consider China or Vietnam to fly through. We dip across the borders quite a lot visiting markets for the day. It’s a much greater impact for tourists 

1 hour ago, connda said:

The beaches look nice in Vietnam..

3 hours ago, Photoguy21 said:

How exactly will tourists benefit from yet more tax?

This is definitely the way to increase tourism

ideally the tax is so high it scares off most tourists and then the remaining tourists won't have to suffer so many annoying tourists everywhere.

12 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

 

Pictures courtesy of Khaosod

 

The new minister of tourism and sports has pledged to implement a long-delayed 300-baht tourism tax within his four-month term in office, stressing the need to clearly communicate its benefits to international visitors. Artthakorn Sirilatthayakorn said on Friday, 3 October, that the proceeds from the levy would fund visitor insurance coverage and support tourism infrastructure development.

 

The minister acknowledged that the additional charge could affect traveller sentiment, with foreign tourists having raised concerns about the tax in past online discussions. He underlined the importance of ensuring tourists understand what they would gain from the scheme, saying, “If we impose this tax, we must communicate how much tourists could benefit from it.”

 

The tourism tax was first proposed in 2020 and received cabinet approval in February 2023, but successive tourism ministers since then did not act to implement it. The approved rate is 300 baht per person for air arrivals and 150 baht for land or sea entries. Earlier this year, then-minister Sorawong Thienthong had also vowed to introduce the levy by the end of 2025 but later reversed his position.

 

Although a study was completed to assess the potential benefits, adoption of the scheme has repeatedly been delayed amid concerns over its impact on tourism sentiment. Four previous ministers either could not or would not begin collection. Mr Artthakorn now intends to move forward, setting the issue as a priority during his short tenure.

 

Alongside the tax plan, the minister announced new promotional campaigns for the fourth quarter to encourage spending and increase tourist arrivals. He said the ministry also intends to finalise allocation of funds left from a 1.76-billion-baht domestic subsidy programme by the end of October.

 

Tourism recovery remains a key focus for the government, with safety improvements and strategies to restore foreign arrivals to pre-pandemic levels of nearly 40 million visitors. Thailand expects around 33.4 million foreign arrivals in 2025, down from 35.5 million last year. Mr Artthakorn added that he has already set specific targets for the fourth quarter of this year and the first quarter of next year but has not yet disclosed the figures.

 

 

Key Takeaways

 

• Tourism minister Artthakorn Sirilatthayakorn aims to enforce the 300-baht levy within his four-month term.

• The tax has been repeatedly delayed since first being proposed in 2020 and approved in 2023.

• New campaigns and budget allocations are planned to boost arrivals and tourism spending in late 2025.

 

Related Stories

 

Thai-airports-raise-service-charges-for-travelers/

 

Thailand-shelves-tourist-tax-plan-over-fears-of-deterring-visitors

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Bangkokpost 2025-10-04

 

 

 

 

Set’s target’s for numbers but won’t say how many 🤣🤣🤣Thainess 

1 hour ago, RubbaJohnny said:

I fear they (Thais) would hate to have to queue up for refunds

 

Seriously?  Thai people love a rebate. 

 

They'd just need to put a bunch of ATM like machines at the luggage carousels and have Thai people scan their boarding pass for an instant 300 baht.

12 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

 

Pictures courtesy of Khaosod

 

The new minister of tourism and sports has pledged to implement a long-delayed 300-baht tourism tax within his four-month term in office, stressing the need to clearly communicate its benefits to international visitors. Artthakorn Sirilatthayakorn said on Friday, 3 October, that the proceeds from the levy would fund visitor insurance coverage and support tourism infrastructure development.

 

The minister acknowledged that the additional charge could affect traveller sentiment, with foreign tourists having raised concerns about the tax in past online discussions. He underlined the importance of ensuring tourists understand what they would gain from the scheme, saying, “If we impose this tax, we must communicate how much tourists could benefit from it.”

 

The tourism tax was first proposed in 2020 and received cabinet approval in February 2023, but successive tourism ministers since then did not act to implement it. The approved rate is 300 baht per person for air arrivals and 150 baht for land or sea entries. Earlier this year, then-minister Sorawong Thienthong had also vowed to introduce the levy by the end of 2025 but later reversed his position.

 

Although a study was completed to assess the potential benefits, adoption of the scheme has repeatedly been delayed amid concerns over its impact on tourism sentiment. Four previous ministers either could not or would not begin collection. Mr Artthakorn now intends to move forward, setting the issue as a priority during his short tenure.

 

Alongside the tax plan, the minister announced new promotional campaigns for the fourth quarter to encourage spending and increase tourist arrivals. He said the ministry also intends to finalise allocation of funds left from a 1.76-billion-baht domestic subsidy programme by the end of October.

 

Tourism recovery remains a key focus for the government, with safety improvements and strategies to restore foreign arrivals to pre-pandemic levels of nearly 40 million visitors. Thailand expects around 33.4 million foreign arrivals in 2025, down from 35.5 million last year. Mr Artthakorn added that he has already set specific targets for the fourth quarter of this year and the first quarter of next year but has not yet disclosed the figures.

 

 

Key Takeaways

 

• Tourism minister Artthakorn Sirilatthayakorn aims to enforce the 300-baht levy within his four-month term.

• The tax has been repeatedly delayed since first being proposed in 2020 and approved in 2023.

• New campaigns and budget allocations are planned to boost arrivals and tourism spending in late 2025.

 

Related Stories

 

Thai-airports-raise-service-charges-for-travelers/

 

Thailand-shelves-tourist-tax-plan-over-fears-of-deterring-visitors

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Bangkokpost 2025-10-04

 

 

 

 

One big problem as I see it at present. How will it be collected if arriving with no Thai Baht? Unless things have changed recently, there are no ATM M/C before Immigration? Dumb is as dumb does.

Groans, groans.
When I compare the level of taxation in the West to this mini-tax of 300b, I tell myself that we really are a bunch of bums and that the Thais are too nice.

7 hours ago, daveAustin said:

People are already taxed to the hilt, they don’t want to be having to dip into their pocket as soon as they set foot in Thailand. Totally cheapens the experience from the get go. If it is about insurance, stress that people should self-insure or not be allowed to check in for their flight. Otherwise, if you absolutely must do this paltry grab, at least bury it in the flight ticket. 

So are you suggesting that a foreigner should show either his insurance policy or his bank balance at check-in?

As for burying it in the flight ticket, I was looking at BKK to DXB earkier, and it changed by Bht 1500 in the space of 15 minutes. Bht 300 would not ever be noticed.

43 minutes ago, Surasak said:

One big problem as I see it at present. How will it be collected if arriving with no Thai Baht? Unless things have changed recently, there are no ATM M/C before Immigration? Dumb is as dumb does.

But a foreigner is supposed/can be asked to show Bht 20,000 in cash on arrival.

Thai Logic at it's finest 

4 hours ago, Lee65 said:

Sheesh ... how many reasons do people need to not come to Thailand ...

TBH just 1 - just decide not to come. No one is forcing anyone to go anywhere, isn't it?

because the farang price , is not enough for this money grabbing country 

For a foreigner, to whom THB 300 (6.88 GBP/9.27 USD/14.04 AUD) is a huge problem, he/she should stay at home. Travelling on a shoe string budget and blaming all and sundry is pathetic.

 

How much would they be able to spend in Thailand? Is this why drug mules, robbers, scammers  etc. are caught more frequently now.

 

Yes, many are shooting themselves on their foot, but not the Thais.

11 minutes ago, Funkymover said:

because the farang price , is not enough for this money grabbing country 

Its strange why millions are still coming, don't you think? Honestly?

 

How about the recent US visa fee increase, comparatively?

3 hours ago, connda said:

Great news

33 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

But a foreigner is supposed/can be asked to show Bht 20,000 in cash on arrival.

 

In fairness, it's 20K baht or the equivalent in a foreign currency.

2 hours ago, StayinThailand2much said:

Anyhow, they must be using TAT calculators:

400 million : 34 million tourists = 12 baht, unless, of course, they expect tourists numbers to shrink to 1.3 million...

  

They have more plans for the rest of the money.  It may be wishful thinking, but I was hoping they'd use it to spruce up the tourism infrastructure to attract a wealthier group of tourists.  Maybe more nice sit down toilets and trash receptacles.

 

In fact, I was hoping they'd use the reset after Covid to quit going for tourist numbers and pivot toward fewer tourists that can afford to spend more money per pop.  That would also reduce wear and tear on the resource.  I can't envision the current state of things being sustainable over the long term.  That's something that mass tourism markets all over the world are finding out.  And the locals are protesting to that effect.

 

Some posters have mentioned people choosing not to come over a £7 tourist tax, i think those tourists have much bigger problems to deal with if a £7 extra expense sways their decision.

300 baht is the price of a meal in reality.

3 hours ago, Surasak said:

One big problem as I see it at present. How will it be collected if arriving with no Thai Baht? Unless things have changed recently, there are no ATM M/C before Immigration? Dumb is as dumb does.

Are you not aware of the ( rarely asked for) minimum amount of cash required for visa exempt and tourist visa entries?

What a miserable moaning thread,  and the real tourists haven't chipped in with their outrage yet.   Or maybe they are just not that bothered

10 minutes ago, Bday Prang said:

What a miserable moaning thread,  and the real tourists haven't chipped in with their outrage yet.   Or maybe they are just not that bothered

 

There's also quite a bit of moaning about the moaning

And the only reason for the Digital Visa on arrival..  it will cost 300 baht

On 10/4/2025 at 4:12 AM, Georgealbert said:

The new minister of tourism and sports has pledged to implement a long-delayed 300-baht tourism tax

That will make more tourists want to come here.🤑

11 hours ago, WHansen said:

300 baht is the price of a meal in reality.

A snack, or a starter, with water maybe. Average meal, for a family of 4, is 4K.

 

Look here, typical holiday place in Koh Chang and add 2 Ks for wine and drinks. But don't whine, it's a great place.