Thailand prepares to collect tourist tax

Once approved, the tax would take effect within six months or in mid-2025.

Thailand's controversial "landing fee" has been renamed a tourist tax and is expected to come into effect around mid-2025, starting with visitors arriving by air.

The Nation newspaper on October 24 quoted Thai Minister of Tourism and Sports Sorawong Thienthong as saying that the new tax will be submitted to the cabinet for approval in the first quarter of 2025.

Once approved, the tax would come into effect within six months or in mid-2025, applying to visitors arriving by air in the first phase.

Chinese tourists arrive at the airport in Bangkok, Thailand, in September 2023. Photo: REUTERS

The above landing fee was approved in principle by the Thai cabinet in February 2023, according to which it will collect 300 baht (about 226,000 VND) for foreign tourists arriving by air and 150 baht for land or sea.

According to Mr. Sorawong, the proceeds will be used to buy insurance for foreign tourists. The rest will be added to the tourism development fund to support the improvement of tourist attractions, including the construction of facilities for the disabled and toilets for tourists.

Minister Sorawong said Thailand is developing an app to collect the tax. In addition, after the initial implementation phase, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports may propose adjusting the fee to 300 baht for all border crossings to avoid accusations of discrimination.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/thai-lan-chuan-bi-thu-thue-du-lich-196241024221118057.htm