What happened to that plan to start charging 500 baht when crossing the border ?

Is it dead or alive or sleeping or maybe they have already started to charge people ?

It never got beyond being anything other than a proposal.

I don't think it will ever happen.

Even if they do implement it, it will be buried in the price of the airline ticket and get lost in the rest of the airline fees.

When I started holidaying in Thailand 12-13 years ago, I had to pay 500 THB to EXIT the country at Don Mueang as then was. However this charge was discontinued about 10 years ago and absorbed into airline ticket prices as I recall.

So if they were seriously thinking about introducing a 500 THB charge to ENTER the country which might now be absorbed into airline ticket prices as the previous poster has suggested, then we appear to be talking about a double whammy. Just what the Thai tourist industry needs in these politically troubled times here, I think!

Edited February 6, 201412 yr by OJAS

When I started holidaying in Thailand 12-13 years ago, I had to pay 500 THB to EXIT the country at Don Mueang as then was. However this charge was discontinued about 10 years ago and absorbed into airline ticket prices as I recall.

So if they were seriously thinking about introducing a 500 THB charge to ENTER the country which might now be absorbed into airline ticket prices as the previous poster has suggested, then we appear to be talking about a double whammy. Just what the Thai tourist industry needs in these politically troubled times here, I think!

Yes, I forgot about that. They even had vending machines you could use (as well as cashiers) and you couldn't get into the Immigrations area without the receipt. I was about to say it couldn't have been that long ago, but on second thought you're probably right. I think the last time I left through Don Meuang must have been about 7 or 8 years ago.

"So if they were seriously thinking about introducing a 500 THB charge to ENTER the country which might now be absorbed into airline ticket prices"

But those doing land crossings would still have to pay cash presumably. For the serial border runners that would make it just a bit more costly.

Edited February 6, 201412 yr by Suradit69

Thanks all !

Yes, 500 when leaving, I had forgotten about that.

Yes, I forgot about that. They even had vending machines you could use (as well as cashiers) and you couldn't get into the Immigrations area without the receipt. I was about to say it couldn't have been that long ago, but on second thought you're probably right. I think the last time I left through Don Meuang must have been about 7 or 8 years ago.

Definitely recall only paying the exit charge at Don Mueang and never at Suvarnabhumi.

But those doing land crossings would still have to pay cash presumably. For the serial border runners that would make it just a bit more costly.

Might eventually prove a sufficient inducement for these serial border runners to obtain "proper" extensions of stay within Thailand (or else find pastures new to graze if they don't meet the appropriate requirements), though, hopefully!!

Edited February 7, 201412 yr by OJAS

If I recall correctly the proposed fee would of been paid for on entry not handled as a tax added onto tickets. It was also mentioned it would be based upon how long you were staying also.

When I started holidaying in Thailand 12-13 years ago, I had to pay 500 THB to EXIT the country at Don Mueang as then was. However this charge was discontinued about 10 years ago and absorbed into airline ticket prices as I recall.

So if they were seriously thinking about introducing a 500 THB charge to ENTER the country which might now be absorbed into airline ticket prices as the previous poster has suggested, then we appear to be talking about a double whammy. Just what the Thai tourist industry needs in these politically troubled times here, I think!

Yes, I forgot about that. They even had vending machines you could use (as well as cashiers) and you couldn't get into the Immigrations area without the receipt. I was about to say it couldn't have been that long ago, but on second thought you're probably right. I think the last time I left through Don Meuang must have been about 7 or 8 years ago.

"So if they were seriously thinking about introducing a 500 THB charge to ENTER the country which might now be absorbed into airline ticket prices"

But those doing land crossings would still have to pay cash presumably. For the serial border runners that would make it just a bit more costly.

There is no exit fee at border crossings.

Yes, I forgot about that. They even had vending machines you could use (as well as cashiers) and you couldn't get into the Immigrations area without the receipt. I was about to say it couldn't have been that long ago, but on second thought you're probably right. I think the last time I left through Don Meuang must have been about 7 or 8 years ago.

Definitely recall only paying the exit charge at Don Mueang and never at Suvarnabhumi.

But those doing land crossings would still have to pay cash presumably. For the serial border runners that would make it just a bit more costly.

Might eventually prove a sufficient inducement for these serial border runners to obtain "proper" extensions of stay within Thailand (or else find pastures new to graze if they don't meet the appropriate requirements), though, hopefully!!

By the time Suvarnabhumi had opened, if memory serves, the exit charge had been raised to 750 and tacked onto airline ticket prices.

When I started holidaying in Thailand 12-13 years ago, I had to pay 500 THB to EXIT the country at Don Mueang as then was. However this charge was discontinued about 10 years ago and absorbed into airline ticket prices as I recall.

So if they were seriously thinking about introducing a 500 THB charge to ENTER the country which might now be absorbed into airline ticket prices as the previous poster has suggested, then we appear to be talking about a double whammy. Just what the Thai tourist industry needs in these politically troubled times here, I think!

It was still charged at Swampy 2007 as l recall.

When I started holidaying in Thailand 12-13 years ago, I had to pay 500 THB to EXIT the country at Don Mueang as then was. However this charge was discontinued about 10 years ago and absorbed into airline ticket prices as I recall.

So if they were seriously thinking about introducing a 500 THB charge to ENTER the country which might now be absorbed into airline ticket prices as the previous poster has suggested, then we appear to be talking about a double whammy. Just what the Thai tourist industry needs in these politically troubled times here, I think!

It was still charged at Swampy 2007 as l recall.

You could be right...but it was changed shortly after.

Definitely recall only paying the exit charge at Don Mueang and never at Suvarnabhumi.

I definitely remember paying the exit charge at Suvarnabhumi.

When I started holidaying in Thailand 12-13 years ago, I had to pay 500 THB to EXIT the country at Don Mueang as then was. However this charge was discontinued about 10 years ago and absorbed into airline ticket prices as I recall.

So if they were seriously thinking about introducing a 500 THB charge to ENTER the country which might now be absorbed into airline ticket prices as the previous poster has suggested, then we appear to be talking about a double whammy. Just what the Thai tourist industry needs in these politically troubled times here, I think!

99% of the people would be none the wiser.

Just as they are now that there is a 500b exit fee embedded in the price of their ticket.

It is blind. It adds up to a helluva lot of baht per annum. It is perfectly Thai.

When I started holidaying in Thailand 12-13 years ago, I had to pay 500 THB to EXIT the country at Don Mueang as then was. However this charge was discontinued about 10 years ago and absorbed into airline ticket prices as I recall.

So if they were seriously thinking about introducing a 500 THB charge to ENTER the country which might now be absorbed into airline ticket prices as the previous poster has suggested, then we appear to be talking about a double whammy. Just what the Thai tourist industry needs in these politically troubled times here, I think!

99% of the people would be none the wiser.

Just as they are now that there is a 500b exit fee embedded in the price of their ticket.

It is blind. It adds up to a helluva lot of baht per annum. It is perfectly Thai.

The 500 baht fee has not started yet and was to be collected on arrival.

When I started holidaying in Thailand 12-13 years ago, I had to pay 500 THB to EXIT the country at Don Mueang as then was. However this charge was discontinued about 10 years ago and absorbed into airline ticket prices as I recall.

So if they were seriously thinking about introducing a 500 THB charge to ENTER the country which might now be absorbed into airline ticket prices as the previous poster has suggested, then we appear to be talking about a double whammy. Just what the Thai tourist industry needs in these politically troubled times here, I think!

99% of the people would be none the wiser.

Just as they are now that there is a 500b exit fee embedded in the price of their ticket.

It is blind. It adds up to a helluva lot of baht per annum. It is perfectly Thai.

I think you will find virtually all countries include a passenger service charge in the price of the ticket. For international departures the Thai fee has been 700 Baht for some years now.

On my last ticket, I paid £85 to the UK govt and £39.75 to the United Arab Emirates in addition to the 700 Baht to the Thai govt.

Edited February 7, 201412 yr by Briggsy