Thailand's proposed 450-baht entry charge for foreign tourists remains under public consultation until September 28, with no date yet confirmed for its introduction. The Ministry of Tourism and Sports says the levy would fund visitor insurance, tourism infrastructure, environmental restoration and support for local communities, while reducing the state's exposure to unpaid medical bills involving foreign nationals. Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul said the proposed charge would help pay for insurance cover for visitors and support the tourism industry's longer-term development. How the proposed charge would work Under the current proposal, eligible foreign visitors would pay 450 baht whether arriving by air, land or sea. One payment would cover multiple entries over 30 days, provided the traveller remains covered by the insurance included in the scheme. Several groups would be exempt, including work permit holders, holders of diplomatic passports, transit passengers, crew members and children aged under two. Collection would initially begin with air arrivals when the relevant regulations take effect. Land and sea arrivals would be included one year later. Thailand reduced the standard visa-exemption period for eligible tourists from 60 to 30 days on September 15. The proposed tourist levy is a separate measure and would not change that 30-day stay limit. Unpaid hospital bills are a key concern The government currently faces around 7 billion baht a year in unrecovered medical costs involving foreign nationals, according to The Nation, although some reports have put the figure considerably lower. The proposed levy is intended to create a permanent tourism funding source rather than relying entirely on annual government budgets. In addition to insurance and medical-cost concerns, the revenue would be directed towards visitor protection and improvements at tourist sites. Thailand has considered similar entry-fee schemes before, including proposals with different rates depending on whether visitors arrived by air, land or sea. Other destinations already use visitor levies. New Zealand charges a NZ$100 visitor levy, Bhutan charges most international visitors US$100 per night, while Amsterdam applies a tourism tax equal to 12.5% of accommodation costs. Thailand's model would combine an arrival charge with insurance cover and allow repeat entries during a 30-day period. Cabinet approval would still be needed Once the public consultation closes on September 28, the proposal will return to the National Tourism Policy Committee for further consideration before being submitted to Cabinet. That means foreign visitors should not yet expect to pay the charge, but those planning Thailand trips should watch for a final Cabinet decision and implementing regulations. Related stories Tourist-fee-survey-for-foreigners-available-only-in-Thai Thailand-seeks-foreign-views-on-450-baht-tourism-fee Join the discussion? 26 September 2026
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