Thailand’s Tourism and Sports Ministry is revisiting its plan for a foreign tourist entry fee, initially set at 300 baht, in response to inflation and increased insurance costs, according to Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul. First proposed in 2020, the tourism tax had not been implemented, but the ministry is now considering a higher fee to better fund tourist insurance and healthcare at private hospitals. Most of the revenue from this tax would be allocated to insurance for tourists, with the rest aimed at maintaining tourist sites and upgrading infrastructure.
This development follows the Thai government’s decision to end 60-day visa exemptions for travelers from 93 countries, a measure intended to curb illegal activities by foreigners. Minister Surasak emphasized the importance of finalizing how the fee will be collected to avoid impacting tourist sentiment negatively. Two methods are under review: integrating the fee into airline tickets or using the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) system, which all foreign visitors complete upon arrival.
Airlines have raised concerns about the feasibility of charging only foreign passengers, suggesting that the fee might need to be collected from all travelers, with Thai nationals eligible for refunds through an application. The final fee amount will largely depend on projected costs for accident insurance and treatment at private hospitals, as unpaid medical bills by foreign visitors currently burden Thai hospitals with a cost of around 2.5 billion baht annually. Discussions on an appropriate insurance premium are set to continue with the Thai General Insurance Association.
Meanwhile, authorities are determining the timeline for changing the visa exemption, which will revert to 30-day and 15-day allowances alongside visa-on-arrival arrangements similar to those anticipated in 2024. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, responsible for coordinating national visa policy, will work with other countries’ foreign ministries on these changes. The Ministry of Tourism and Sports is advocating for adjustments for specific countries, such as India, which is a significant source market but currently only eligible for visas on arrival. The ministry supports a 15-day visa exemption for Indian tourists.
Amid these developments, the Tourism Authority of Thailand has been tasked with revising its 2026 goals and strategy, considering potential impacts from the ongoing US-Iran conflict, which could prevent foreign arrivals from reaching the 33 million target. Minister Surasak noted that the reduced visa exemption period is unlikely to affect tourist numbers significantly, as most international visitors typically stay for only nine days on average.