Thailand is considering raising its proposed tourist entry fee for foreign visitors above 300 baht as officials review rising insurance and healthcare costs linked to the tourism sector.

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Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul said the long-delayed tourism levy, first proposed in 2020, may need to increase because of inflation and higher insurance premiums. Most of the revenue would be used to provide insurance coverage for foreign tourists, particularly for treatment at private hospitals, while the remainder would fund maintenance of tourist attractions and infrastructure improvements.

The discussion comes just one day after the government announced plans to end the current 60-day visa exemption scheme for travellers from 93 countries. Authorities intend to return to shorter visa-free stays similar to the system used before 2024.

Officials are considering two possible methods for collecting the fee. One option would add the charge to airline tickets, while another would collect it through the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) system, which foreign visitors are already required to complete before entry.

Airlines have reportedly raised objections to charging only foreign passengers while exempting Thai nationals, warning the system could create discrimination concerns. One proposal under review would require all passengers to pay the fee initially, with Thai citizens later applying for refunds.

Using the TDAC platform is viewed by officials as a more practical alternative because it is already integrated into the arrival process for foreign travellers. Authorities said further discussions are needed before a final decision is made.

The final amount of the tourism fee will depend largely on the projected cost of accident insurance and unpaid medical treatment involving foreign tourists. Studies cited by officials estimate that unpaid medical bills from overseas visitors cost Thai hospitals around 2.5 billion baht each year.

The Tourism and Sports Ministry is expected to continue talks with the Thai General Insurance Association to determine suitable insurance premium levels before the levy is finalised.

Thienprasit Chaiyapatranun, president of the Thai Hotels Association, said the government must clearly explain what incidents would be covered by the insurance fund. He questioned whether protection would extend to floods, construction accidents or motorcycle crashes involving riders without licences.

Bangkok Post reported that he also called for greater transparency regarding how much revenue from the tourism levy would be directed towards infrastructure projects.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now Bangkokpost 21 May 2026

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Why not sell them a comprehensive insurance policy instead? Because then the money couldn't disappear into the void known as 'general revenue'. This is a missed opportunity to enrich friends and cronies at the foreigners' expense.

The Thai government seems determined to introduce new populist policies that raise costs mainly for foreign visitors.

After cutting the visa‑free stay for 93 countries in half, they're now saying that the planned tourist tax should rise above the originally planned ฿300 due to inflation and insurance funding needs.

This follows the international passenger service charge rising in June by 50%.

It will be interesting to see what impact these changes will have on visitor numbers, especially as even local tourism operators are questioning the logic.

Maybe they haven't heard the saying "Don't kill the goose that lays the golden eggs"?

It is obvious that Thailand has no clue how deal with tourists. This fee could indeed be cashed by TDAC card, but how about people with workpermits, re entry visa that are not tourists and have insurance already. Thailand should do all efforts to stop the scamming and double pricing before implementing this fee

1 hour ago, ikke1959 said:

It is obvious that Thailand has no clue how deal with tourists. Thailand should do all efforts to stop the scamming and double pricing before implementing this fee

Will never happen sadly...screw the farang who they don't really want but need the revenue they bring in.

Well other countries have innovative ways to collect from tourists. Last time I entered S. Korea charges a fee for the ETA. It came to about $9 dollars after conversion. Last time I checked millions are still coming to S. Korea. It just seems like the Thai government does not like to explore other ways to collect fees or revenue. "why reinvent the wheel", look at what other countries are doing in terms of tourism and consider using their methods.

I always expected one day, that the TDAC would come with a charge!

A little story...

I used to live in a country that had a very good public transport network. Buses were affordable, conveniently running every 30 minutes, and they were full of passengers. But, then more people bought cars. The number of passengers started dropping, as some preferred to drive instead. Bus company reacted with a simple formula - percentage of drop of passengers was basis for the percentage of increase of the ticket price. Subtle at first, but ever steeper increases later, to the point where most people bought cars instead, and buses were overpriced, driving around empty. I remember a day when I went for ~ 60 km trip, and in both directions, I was the sole passenger on the bus. Years later, government intervened under "environmental policy" to promote public transport. Started subsidizing the bus companies by literally paying entire fares of all passengers on the buses - they became completely free of charge. The only people using them are children and elderly. The rest prefer to use cars, despite having a free transport available nationwide.

That's what could happen to Thailand. There's a tipping point where tourists get annoyed with all the flip flopping, additional processes in name of security, and additional charges in the name of ... well, eventually we know that money will disappear into someone's pockets anyway.

The assumption of Thailand is that no matter what you do, tourists will still come. Thailand thinks it's the very best destination on the Planet that everyone wants to visit, works the whole year just to save up a fortune, comes to Thailand, uses it all up in a week and then disappears back to their home to make more money to bring next year.

That assumption is very flawed, though. Thailand's worsening pollution, poisoned rivers and with that foods (thank you, Myanmar - linking video below), previously pristine beaches ruined by over-development, plastic waste and other pollution, high level of scams and corruption, mess on the borders with most its neighbors, but most prominently complete lack of clarity on the constantly changing rules and regulations should be regarded as a very serious threat to that assumption. Yes, Thailand should focus on a quality tourist, someone who causes no trouble, supports the locals, contributes to economy and leaves advocating to others on visiting the country.

But Thailand has the wrong product for such a quality tourist. And it doesn't realize that days of it being a prime destination with little or no competition are long gone. Tourists have choices. Even among the close neighbors, which are seeing increase of arrivals while Thailand is stagnating.

And it will continue to do so. The numbers will only go down, the revenue will go down, the fees will keep increasing, until the point when even you scrap it all and roll out the red carpet, arrival lines will be empty. Because people would by then find other places that have more and better things to offer, without all the inconveniences of Thailand.

Promised poisoned Thai rivers video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5FnTM5K2Lk

7 minutes ago, tomazbodner said:

A little story...

I used to live in a country that had a very good public transport network. Buses were affordable, conveniently running every 30 minutes, and they were full of passengers. But, then more people bought cars. The number of passengers started dropping, as some preferred to drive instead. Bus company reacted with a simple formula - percentage of drop of passengers was basis for the percentage of increase of the ticket price. Subtle at first, but ever steeper increases later, to the point where most people bought cars instead, and buses were overpriced, driving around empty. I remember a day when I went for ~ 60 km trip, and in both directions, I was the sole passenger on the bus. Years later, government intervened under "environmental policy" to promote public transport. Started subsidizing the bus companies by literally paying entire fares of all passengers on the buses - they became completely free of charge. The only people using them are children and elderly. The rest prefer to use cars, despite having a free transport available nationwide.

That's what could happen to Thailand. There's a tipping point where tourists get annoyed with all the flip flopping, additional processes in name of security, and additional charges in the name of ... well, eventually we know that money will disappear into someone's pockets anyway.

The assumption of Thailand is that no matter what you do, tourists will still come. Thailand thinks it's the very best destination on the Planet that everyone wants to visit, works the whole year just to save up a fortune, comes to Thailand, uses it all up in a week and then disappears back to their home to make more money to bring next year.

That assumption is very flawed, though. Thailand's worsening pollution, poisoned rivers and with that foods (thank you, Myanmar - linking video below), previously pristine beaches ruined by over-development, plastic waste and other pollution, high level of scams and corruption, mess on the borders with most its neighbors, but most prominently complete lack of clarity on the constantly changing rules and regulations should be regarded as a very serious threat to that assumption. Yes, Thailand should focus on a quality tourist, someone who causes no trouble, supports the locals, contributes to economy and leaves advocating to others on visiting the country.

But Thailand has the wrong product for such a quality tourist. And it doesn't realize that days of it being a prime destination with little or no competition are long gone. Tourists have choices. Even among the close neighbors, which are seeing increase of arrivals while Thailand is stagnating.

And it will continue to do so. The numbers will only go down, the revenue will go down, the fees will keep increasing, until the point when even you scrap it all and roll out the red carpet, arrival lines will be empty. Because people would by then find other places that have more and better things to offer, without all the inconveniences of Thailand.

Promised poisoned Thai rivers video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5FnTM5K2Lk

Enjoyable opening paragraph...........

I believe the powers that be, do know they have a huge amount of work to do to retain market share/rather regain market share, but quite simply put, possibly don't have the ability to do so.. I don't feel they are able to truly see and understand the situation from an abstract perspective................should they recognse that, one prudent avenue to go down could be one of outsourcing the huge undertaking, or in the least develop a partnership in a proven enitity that can turn the tide.............

Just put a poster up by immigration: Entrance ticket 400 baht...👍

Reminds me of old time when visiting West Berlin and the mandatory trip into East Berlin. You should exchange 5 DM — if you are to young to know what that was; then, it was Germany's currency before the Euro called Deutsche Mark — to 5 "Ostmark", the West German slang-expression of the mainly worthless DDR-mark, DDR was the name of East Germany. There was no chance to spend 5 mark in East Berlin, even on an utterly freezing cold winter day noone would serve a foreigner, staff was after comunist principle be paid the same salary if there were customers or not. At the exit there was a sign that you were not allowed to take DDR-mark out of DDR; so. there was hanging a box on the wall to deposit the now illegal money when exiting DDR. Back then I said: "Why not just place a sign on the entry saying: 'Entry ticket 5 DM'."😀

1 hour ago, khunPer said:

Just put a poster up by immigration: Entrance ticket 400 baht...👍

Reminds me of old time when visiting West Berlin and the mandatory trip into East Berlin. You should exchange 5 DM — if you are to young to know what that was; then, it was Germany's currency before the Euro called Deutsche Mark — to 5 "Ostmark", the West German slang-expression of the mainly worthless DDR-mark, DDR was the name of East Germany. There was no chance to spend 5 mark in East Berlin, even on an utterly freezing cold winter day noone would serve a foreigner, staff was after comunist principle be paid the same salary if there were customers or not. At the exit there was a sign that you were not allowed to take DDR-mark out of DDR; so. there was hanging a box on the wall to deposit the now illegal money when exiting DDR. Back then I said: "Why not just place a sign on the entry saying: 'Entry ticket 5 DM'."😀

That was a policy across most East Bloc countries, I think. You couldn't enter with their currency either. Had to declare it and pick it up prior to exiting. But at the exit you came up against the same/different rule: you couldn't exit with their currency. Effectively, in such a situation, you could visit your money when you entered/exited, but that was all.

They are looking to charge foreigners an increased entry fee. They are also looking to charge Thais an exit fee. Couldn't they simply combine their plan and increase the airline departure tax for all passengers and avoid the discriminatory practices that they are proposing?

Edited May 21May 21 by madmitch

Okay fine, charge 400 baht to tourists entering, but you have to spell out how that benefits tourists, especially regarding the hospital coverage. Most couldn't care much about 400 baht, but you need to be unambiguous about stuff... so vague and opaque, as always.

14 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Most of the revenue would be used to provide insurance coverage for foreign tourists, particularly for treatment at private hospitals,

If they are rolling this out as a " medical expenditure "
who decides which foreigner gets the " free " treatment .
Will anybody ever get insured again when coming here on holiday .

14 hours ago, Jim Waldron said:

The Thai government seems determined to introduce new populist policies that raise costs mainly for foreign visitors.

After cutting the visa‑free stay for 93 countries in half, they're now saying that the planned tourist tax should rise above the originally planned ฿300 due to inflation and insurance funding needs.

This follows the international passenger service charge rising in June by 50%.

It will be interesting to see what impact these changes will have on visitor numbers, especially as even local tourism operators are questioning the logic.

Maybe they haven't heard the saying "Don't kill the goose that lays the golden eggs"?

I don't think any tourist will be care that a 40.000 bht return ticket now may cost 40.700 baht

36 minutes ago, Sir Dude said:

Okay fine, charge 400 baht to tourists entering, but you have to spell out how that benefits tourists, especially regarding the hospital coverage. Most couldn't care much about 400 baht, but you need to be unambiguous about stuff... so vague and opaque, as always.

Yes, clarity.

If I could enter Thailand for 400 baht knowing I would have private hospital insurance I would be happy.

And many improvements to the tourist infrastructure such as clear and safe paths and access to clean toilets.....I would be very happy indeed.

Is this the kind of thing they mean?

15 hours ago, greeneking said:

Yes, clarity.

If I could enter Thailand for 400 baht knowing I would have private hospital insurance I would be happy.

And many improvements to the tourist infrastructure such as clear and safe paths and access to clean toilets.....I would be very happy indeed.

Is this the kind of thing they mean?

Of that 400 baht, if I recall correctly, only 34 baht would be used for insurance. The rest would be for upkeep of tourist attractions... which is another phrase of describing how the 366 out of 400 baht will disappear into thin air.

They shouldn't have changed the 90 days visa. They should bring in a law that all people arriving in Thailand should present a police report from their country along with their passport. Another thing make police more accountable by patrolling hot sport areas. Lock up the trouble makers for 30 days and then give them a black stamp in their pasports. It may sound a bit harsh but they need to get the message across before people arrive here. Just like walking down the main street in Dubai drinking a can of beer.