Thailand is reassessing its plan to introduce a foreign tourist entry fee, initially set at 300 baht, according to Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul. The proposed tourism tax, first suggested in 2020 but not yet enforced, might exceed the original amount to account for inflation and rising insurance costs, aimed at expanding coverage at private hospitals. A significant portion of the revenue from these fees is intended for tourist insurance, with the remainder allocated to infrastructure improvements and maintenance of tourist sites.
Minister Surasak’s remarks came shortly after the Thai government revealed its decision to end 60-day visa exemptions for travelers from 93 countries, a move long in the works due to concerns over increasing illegal activities by foreigners. The tourism ministry is working on finalizing details regarding the fee collection method to ensure it does not negatively impact travelers’ perceptions. The options under consideration are collecting the fee through airline tickets or the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) system. Airlines have expressed concerns about applying the tax solely to foreign passengers, suggesting a potential need to tax all passengers with provisions for Thai nationals to obtain refunds.
The fee’s final amount will largely depend on the expected costs associated with accident insurance and treatments in private hospitals. Studies indicate that unpaid medical bills by foreign tourists cost Thai hospitals around 2.5 billion baht annually. The ministry aims to engage with the Thai General Insurance Association to determine an appropriate insurance premium. Thienprasit Chaiyapatranun, president of the Thai Hotels Association, emphasized the need for the ministry to clarify which incidents would be covered by the insurance fund, urging authorities to define the exact allocation of funds for major infrastructure projects.
In parallel, authorities are establishing a timeline to transition from 60-day visa exemptions to 30-day and 15-day allowances, along with visa-on-arrival protocols akin to those expected in 2024. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, leading the national visa policy committee, is tasked with coordinating communications with foreign ministries. The Tourism and Sports Ministry plans to propose adjustments to the visa scheme for selected countries, highlighting India as a priority due to its status as a top source market, with a preference for a 15-day visa exemption for Indian citizens.
Amid these changes, the Tourism Authority of Thailand has been asked to revise its strategies and goals for 2026, considering potential impacts from the ongoing US-Iran conflict, which could affect the target of 33 million foreign arrivals. Minister Surasak remains confident that the reduced visa exemption period will not significantly impact tourist numbers, given that the average stay for most foreign visitors is nine days.