BANGKOK, Thailand – Thailand has postponed plans to introduce a tax on people travelling overseas, with Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas saying the government wants to protect tourism momentum and avoid adding pressure on airlines. The proposed 1,000-baht tax was expected to be added to travel tickets for passengers departing Thailand. However, Ekniti said the government would not proceed with the measure for now after airline operators raised concerns and discussions were held with the Revenue Department.
He said Thailand should take advantage of the positive international response to the recent IMF–World Bank meetings, which had renewed interest in visiting the country. He also cited discussions with finance ministers at the APEC meeting, where participants expressed interest in returning to Thailand. The government hopes tourism will become more active in the fourth quarter and wants to maintain that momentum before considering additional travel-related taxes.
Ekniti said the timing of any future implementation would depend on an assessment of the situation. He acknowledged that collecting charges on both arrivals and departures could place an additional burden on airlines and travellers, particularly when incoming passengers already pay related fees. The proposal remains on hold, with the government prioritising tourism conditions before deciding whether to revisit the measure. The proposed tax has not been implemented.
