The Thai government’s plan to collect a tourism fee of at least 300 baht through airlines has encountered another obstacle after aviation bodies said the proposal is impractical. Industry representatives argue that airlines’ booking and back-office systems are not designed to collect the charge and have instead recommended using the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) system, which foreign visitors must complete before entering the country.

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The Ministry of Tourism and Sports last month asked airlines to act as intermediaries to collect the fee on behalf of the government. Under the National Tourism Policy Act, Thai citizens are exempt from the levy, making it unlawful to charge them. The ministry suggested airlines collect the fee from all passengers before reimbursing Thai travellers, with the government covering the administrative costs.

However, Sheldon Hee, Regional Vice-President for Asia-Pacific at the International Air Transport Association (IATA), said the proposal would create unnecessary complications. He noted that airlines generally do not require passengers to provide nationality, passport details or residential addresses when initially booking flights, as only a passenger’s name and destination are typically needed.

Mr Hee said the TDAC digital immigration system would provide a more suitable platform because it is already mandatory for foreign visitors entering Thailand. Aviation stakeholders and the Airlines Association of Thailand (AAT) supported this approach during a recent meeting with officials from the Tourism Ministry.

The AAT said Thai airlines operate different reservation and back-office systems, while more than 100 foreign airlines also serve Thailand. Embedding the tourism fee into airfares across so many carriers would add significant complexity. The association added that TDAC is managed by the Immigration Bureau and reports directly to the government, making it a more appropriate mechanism than relying on independent airlines.

The tourism fee was first proposed in 2020 but has yet to be introduced because of repeated government changes and technical challenges. Most of the revenue is intended to fund insurance for tourists, while the remainder would be used to maintain tourist attractions and improve infrastructure.

The Bangkokpost reported that the final amount of the levy will depend largely on the projected cost of accident insurance and treatment at private hospitals. Studies have found that unpaid medical bills left by foreign visitors cost Thai hospitals around 2.5 billion baht each year.

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10 July 2026

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48 minutes ago, Georgealbert said:

instead recommended using the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) system, which foreign visitors must complete before entering the country.

Boom there it is.

I have been saying since its introduction the TDAC will become the mechanism to collect this tourism fee!

Edited 3 hours ago3 hr by Ralf001

Of course you can't use the airlines to collect your fees. How must they do it? Thais don't need to pay only non Thais. It is Thailand who has to collect it not the airlines. TDAC is ideal for it, but how about the non tourists as the working foreigners and retirees?? I wrote many times before that TDAC will be entry ticket for 300 THB scam, as it is claimed that private hospitals have a loss of 2,5 billion THB because of foreigners.. Maybe to tackle that is a mandatory travel insurance a better solution... But I believe the money is needed for other things. So why should people with a travel insurance have to pay too the 300 THB???

12 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

Of course you can't use the airlines to collect your fees. How must they do it? Thais don't need to pay only non Thais. It is Thailand who has to collect it not the airlines. TDAC is ideal for it, but how about the non tourists as the working foreigners and retirees??

Iam a working foreigner, 300 is meh.

My employer pays for my flights anyways, I suspect many working here are in a similar arrrangement.

36 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

Boom there it is.

I have been saying since its introduction the TDAC will become the mechanism to collect this tourism fee!

Yes, I made the same comment..... that the TDAC would be charging arrivals. In their desperation to get grubby hands on more money, and to exclude locals they will take that route. Despite what was said on the introduction of the TDAC.

Before saying its only 300 baht, just remember with annual tourist numbers its equivalent to levying a tax on half the Thai population for which very few will receive any benefit. Imagine how that would go down domestically if an equivalent tax was imposed in some format on locals.

Just another lazy money grab/tax to generate significant income from foreigners for a corrupt government. I simply don't believe state hospitals lose that much through unpaid bills, and I don't see private hospitals struggling profitability wise.

At least this decision means the government can't hide their money grabbing in airline ticket prices.

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by kinyara
Addition

1 hour ago, Ralf001 said:

Iam a working foreigner, 300 is meh.

My employer pays for my flights anyways, I suspect many working here are in a similar arrrangement.

It is not about individual cases.. In general foreigners must pay if they are tourists, but how will get the retiree his money back?? You are lucky if your employer pays it, but that is individual case... I talk in general always..

Does the overcharging Foreigners at Tourist Attractions not pay for their upkeep.

Road Tax on vehicles should be used to pay for improving roads. Ticket prices should reflect the money need to improve the train system.

How do so many Foreigners escape from paying Hospital bills, I must always pay a deposit up front before any treatment unless one can show an insurance policy to pay for the treatment, private or Govt Hospitals.

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by wil iam not

I don't quite understand why the airlines can't add the tax on to the ticket. Every ticket I've ever purchased has all kinds of fuel charges and airport taxes added on. So they're already collecting tax, right?

2 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

Of course you can't use the airlines to collect your fees. How must they do it? Thais don't need to pay only non Thais. It is Thailand who has to collect it not the airlines. TDAC is ideal for it, but how about the non tourists as the working foreigners and retirees?? I wrote many times before that TDAC will be entry ticket for 300 THB scam, as it is claimed that private hospitals have a loss of 2,5 billion THB because of foreigners.. Maybe to tackle that is a mandatory travel insurance a better solution... But I believe the money is needed for other things. So why should people with a travel insurance have to pay too the 300 THB???

is this going to change anything for hospitals treating foreign tourists when they are injured through no fault of their own while on holiday ................... never

I have no problem with this if it is used as intended but it won't be

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by smedly

3 minutes ago, ronnie50 said:

I don't quite understand why the airlines can't add the tax on to the ticket. Every ticket I've ever purchased has all kinds of fuel charges and airport taxes added on. So they're already collecting tax, right?

Because they do not want the charge to be applied to non Thais and non tourists, and the airlines rightly baulk at such complexity.

4 minutes ago, ronnie50 said:

I don't quite understand why the airlines can't add the tax on to the ticket. Every ticket I've ever purchased has all kinds of fuel charges and airport taxes added on. So they're already collecting tax, right?

Did you read the article ? IATA explained why it is administratively difficult for the airlines.

5 minutes ago, ronnie50 said:

I don't quite understand why the airlines can't add the tax on to the ticket. Every ticket I've ever purchased has all kinds of fuel charges and airport taxes added on. So they're already collecting tax, right?

The whole purpose of this news story is to explain that. Read it (again?)

31 minutes ago, wil iam not said:

I must always pay a deposit up front before any treatment unless one can show an insurance policy to pay for the treatment, private or Govt Hospitals.

I've never been asked to pay a deposit at either a Govt or private hospital for treatment, operations, or medications beforehand.

3 minutes ago, Liquorice said:

I've never been asked to pay a deposit at either a Govt or private hospital for treatment, operations, or medications beforehand.

Do not come to Nauresun University Hospital in Phitsanulok then.

Do they ask you whether or not you have Insurance?

Edited 42 minutes ago42 min by wil iam not

When does new money Grab tax goes into a fact believe me no Tourist bill for Hospital will get any funding from this it’s just the Money Grab some the higher officials would charge extra fees for collecting the money to pay this and that it’s all BS it’s just another way Thailand and ineffective government when they need money how they grab it from Tourist TIT

4 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Mr Hee said the TDAC digital immigration system would provide a more suitable platform because it is already mandatory for foreign visitors entering Thailand. Aviation stakeholders and the Airlines Association of Thailand (AAT) supported this approach during a recent meeting with officials from the Tourism Ministry.

Betcha his missus is already shopping for a grander house.

I doubt very much that there is a deficit of ฿2.5 billion in unpaid medical costs. Twice, I have been to a private hospital in Thailand. First occasion, medical condition solved same day. Second occasion required three consecutive visits and on every occasion, I was escorted by security to the cashier to pay. This private hospital is well known all over Thailand. I hope the ฿300 fee is collected through TDAC but I doubt whether any foreigner/tourist will benefit from it as there will be many loopholes, etc., attached to it where payment will be denied and there will be surcharges attached

Charges to get in and out then they double charge visitors and sometimes a lot more for admission to some attractions. Cut visa times in half for some and even hassle some unlucky arrivals to show they have 20k baht. Maybe a 2 hour wait at arrivals, maybe not - and they wonder why tourist numbers are down.

Don't forget when Thais say "foreign visitors" that includes all the ASEAN neighbors, I don't believe that ฿2.5 billion figure either but I bet the majority of unpaid hospital bills are from Lao, Burmese, Cambodian visitors, who don't fly in on the airlines.

40 minutes ago, wil iam not said:

How do so many Foreigners escape from paying Hospital bills

You'd be surprised.

Sudden illness, heart attack, accidents, put in induced comas, ICU for a week or two, then pass away.

Recent case of a Swiss guy, motorcycle accident, compound fractures of a leg, bleeding on the brain.
Put into an induced coma until the bleeding and brain swelling went down. Three operations on his leg.

After 4 weeks in hospital, he did a runner in the middle of the night on crutches with a leg in a plastercast.

No ID, gave a false name, police caught him only because a member of the nursing staff recognized his girlfriend visitor and where she lived.

Reason for the runner > stated he knew he couldn't cover the bill.

27 minutes ago, Liquorice said:

I've never been asked to pay a deposit at either a Govt or private hospital for treatment, operations, or medications beforehand.

Agree entirely. Never happened to me. Have been admitted 3 times down the years (all pretty minor) but never remotely asked for payment guarantees up front

26 minutes ago, wil iam not said:

Do they ask you whether or not you have Insurance?

Once, but only after surgery and how I intended to pay. Beforehand, no.

Groin hernia OP, appendix removal, 2 cataract OP's, and a couple of illnesses that only required meds after a consultation, tests and diagnosis.

40 minutes ago, Liquorice said:

I've never been asked to pay a deposit at either a Govt or private hospital for treatment, operations, or medications beforehand.

BKK Pattaya asked me for a deposit last time i was there.