Thailand is contemplating raising its foreign tourist entry fee beyond the previously planned 300 baht, according to Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul. Initially proposed in 2020, this tourism tax has yet to be implemented. The consideration for a higher fee is driven by inflation and increased insurance costs to expand coverage at private hospitals. Most of the revenue from these fees is intended to go towards tourist insurance, with the remainder earmarked for maintaining tourist sites and improving infrastructure.
The statement from Minister Surasak came a day after the Thai government announced plans to end the 60-day visa exemptions for travelers from 93 countries. This measure, in the works for some time, aims to address concerns about illegal activities involving foreigners. The Ministry of Tourism and Sports is currently working on finalizing a method for collecting the fee that minimally impacts traveler sentiment. Two options under consideration include adding the fee to airline tickets or collecting it via the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) system. Airlines have indicated that they cannot charge only foreign passengers, suggesting that the tax might need to apply to all passengers, with a refund process for Thai nationals.
The actual fee amount will largely depend on the projected costs for accident insurance and treatment at private hospitals. Unpaid medical bills from foreign visitors have been costing Thai hospitals around 2.5 billion baht annually. The ministry plans to discuss suitable insurance premiums with the Thai General Insurance Association in the next phase. Thienprasit Chaiyapatranun, president of the Thai Hotels Association, emphasized the need for clarity on what incidents the insurance would cover and how much of the collected fees would go towards infrastructure projects. Authorities need to evaluate which tourist-related incidents most burden hospitals and whether coverage will include events like floods, train construction mishaps, or unlicensed motorcycle accidents.
In parallel, authorities are determining the timeline for ending the 60-day visa exemption for 93 countries, with plans to revert to 30-day and 15-day allowances, in addition to the visa-on-arrival arrangements similar to those expected in 2024. Minister Surasak noted that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, leading the national visa policy committee, must coordinate with foreign ministries to communicate these changes effectively. The Ministry of Tourism and Sports also intends to propose adjustments to the visa scheme for certain countries, with India cited as a top market that currently only qualifies for visas on arrival. The ministry supports a 15-day visa exemption for Indian visitors.
Additionally, the Tourism Authority of Thailand has been tasked with revising its goals and strategy for 2026, as ongoing international conflicts, such as the US-Iran situation, could affect the target of 33 million foreign arrivals. Minister Surasak expressed confidence that the shortened visa exemption period would not deter tourists, noting that the average stay for most foreign visitors is about nine days.