VI
EN
According to the Director-General of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Yuthasak Supasorn, this fee is added to the list of requirements for foreign tourists wishing to enter Thailand, which includes prepayment for SARS-CoV-2 virus testing, hotel accommodation or quarantine, and insurance with coverage for Covid-19 treatment of at least US$50,000.
"Part of the fees will be used to care for tourists," Yuthasak Supasorn told Reuters. He added, "We have encountered cases where tourists did not have insurance, which became a burden for us to take care of them."
Thai government spokesperson Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana announced that the new fee will be included in airfare, as part of the government's sustainable tourism plan.
Since the beginning of 2022, Maya Bay – a popular tourist destination in Thailand – has reopened to tourists after being closed for three years. Due to concerns about the pandemic, the beach at Maya Bay is currently limited to 375 visitors per day and swimming is not permitted. - Photo: Reuters
Thailand is one of Asia's most popular tourist destinations; however, the Covid-19 pandemic has repeatedly crippled its tourism industry. Last year, Thailand only received around 200,000 visitors, compared to nearly 40 million in 2019, before the outbreak. More recently, Thailand has also faced difficulties due to the rapidly spreading Omicron variant globally.
In 2022, Thailand expects to welcome between 5 and 15 million foreign tourists, and its tourism industry is estimated to generate revenue of approximately 800 billion baht (US$23.97 billion).
