After a heated debate over the vaccination requirements to enter Thailand, the country is now working on another entry regulation. As of June 2023, Thailand is looking to introduce a tourist fee of THB300 (approximately S$12).
The proposal is still subject to cabinet approval, and will be subject only to tourist arrivals, not locals or foreigners with work permits and border passes.
What week for Thailand travel requirements. First I needed proof of vaccination, then I needed Covid-19 insurance. The next day you no longer needed proof of vaccination and no one knew anything about insurance. Now, you may have to pay an entrance fee instead. Welcome to 2023. Here’s the latest to bring you up to speed.
Thailand will introduce a tourist fee of 300 THB
The THB300 tourist fee may sound familiar to those who have been keeping an eye on Thailand travel news in the past year.
Almost exactly a year ago, there was talk of a “sustainability fee” that would be charged to tourists entering the country. This went quiet for the following months, but now it seems to have returned with a new moniker and a new emotion.
This time, the fee is said to support accidents involving visitors to Thailand and help develop tourist destinations, according to a meeting held today. Fortunately, locals and residents won’t be subject to the fee.
Who has to pay and who doesn’t?
According to Tourism Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, “foreigners with work permits and border passes will not be charged fees.” This leaves many groups exempt from the fee, with a greater focus on international arrivals.
The timing of the tourist fee proposal is interesting, as tourism to Thailand has been on the rise in recent months, with numbers expected to rise with the reopening of China. Ratchakitprakarn says that Thailand expects 25 million tourist arrivals this year.
As of this writing, the tourist fee proposal is still subject to cabinet approval.
