Thailand will charge an entry fee.

Thailand will impose an entry fee of 300 baht (US$8.90) on foreign visitors starting in June – the peak tourist season. Accordingly, visitors flying into Thailand will have to pay 300 baht per trip, while those crossing land borders and seaports will have to pay 150 baht per trip. This information was shared by Tourism Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn after the cabinet calculated the application fee.

Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Thailand's Minister of Tourism and Sports, stated that the fee, called "Kha Yeap Pan Din" (Thailand entry fee), will be applied to international visitors entering by air, sea, and land. However, foreigners entering Thailand with a border card, not staying overnight, or holding a work permit will be exempt from this fee.

According to Mr. Phiphat, a fee of 300 baht will be applied to tourists entering by air. A fee of 150 baht will be charged to those entering Thailand by land or sea. He explained that the lower fees for those entering by land and sea are due to the fact that these individuals typically stay in Thailand for only a few days.

The government expects to collect around 3.9 billion baht (approximately $114 million) in fees this year. A portion of that will be used to provide health and accident insurance for tourists during their stay in the country, Phiphat added.

The entrance fee – widely criticized by the local tourism industry – was introduced as tourists flocked to Thailand. The tourism fee regulation was issued by the Thai government amid a rapid increase in international visitors to the country, driven by China's lifting of its Zero-Covid policy and restrictions aimed at preventing the spread of the virus.

Foreign tourist arrivals could reach 30 million this year, nearly three times the 11.2 million recorded last year, according to some estimates. Mr. Phiphat said Thailand has long proposed charging an entry fee for foreign visitors, but implementation has been delayed due to the pandemic. Last year, the government stated that the method for collecting the land-based entry fee had yet to be determined.

Mr. Phiphat stated that Thai authorities have long considered implementing a tourism fee for international visitors. However, this has been repeatedly delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Previously, the Thai government announced that those entering by air would pay the tourism fee when purchasing airline tickets, but the specific method of collecting the fee for those entering by land has not yet been determined.

Yen Nhi