Thailand to introduce tourist tax for visitors soon

Thailand’s new minister of tourism and sports has announced plans to begin collecting a 300-baht tourism tax, as reported by Bangkok Post. This scheme was first proposed in 2020 but delayed for years. The tax will apply to visitors entering Thailand, with proceeds reserved for visitor insurance and tourism infrastructure development.

The tax was approved by the cabinet in February 2023, but four previous ministers did not implement it. The approved rates are 300 baht per person for arrivals by air and 150 baht for land or sea entries. Former minister Sorawong Thienthong had earlier promised to start collection by the end of 2025 but later withdrew the plan.

Why tourist tax

According to Bangkok Post report, Artthakorn Sirilatthayakorn said on Friday, “If we impose this tax, we must communicate how much tourists could benefit from it.” The minister stressed the importance of explaining the advantages to foreign travellers, stating that concerns about extra costs have previously surfaced on social media.

During a visit to the ministry, Mr. Artthakorn said new campaigns are planned for the fourth quarter to boost tourist spending and arrivals. The ministry also aims to finalise the budget for a 1.76-billion-baht domestic tourism subsidy scheme by the end of October.

Thailand expects about 33.4 million foreign arrivals in 2025, down from 35.5 million last year. The government hopes the tax, combined with promotional campaigns and safety measures, will help return arrivals to pre-pandemic levels of nearly 40 million. The minister has set targets for late 2025 and early 2026 but has not disclosed the figures yet.