Thailand’s government on Tuesday approved a decision that all foreign tourists entering the country will be charged a fee of 150,300 baht – landing tax, local media reported.
“Thailand’s Cabinet has approved a decision to charge a tourist fee upon entering the country. The fee will range from 150 baht for those arriving at land borders to 300 baht 650 baht for those arriving at airports,” the newspaper said.
The tentative date for the fee is June 1, 2023.
It will not be paid by those entering Thailand on diplomatic passports and work permits. The fee will also not be charged for children under the age of two years and transit passengers who spend less than a day in the country.
The government has also instructed the Bureau of Immigration to introduce a rule whereby tourists will be able to use receipts for tourist fees from a previous trip when applying for a re-entry permit.
Minister of Tourism and Sports Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, speaking to reporters after the Cabinet meeting, explained that the fee will be used to promote domestic tourism and insurance while tourists are in Thailand.
This is not the first time the Thai authorities have announced plans to introduce a levy on foreign tourists. In January 2022 they announced their intention to introduce a fee in April of that year. Its size was also supposed to be 300 baht. Then the fee was postponed to January 1, 2023, but was again postponed, as opposed by representatives of the tourism business, fearing that its introduction will slow the recovery of foreign tourist traffic after the pandemic coronavirus.
