BANGKOK, Thailand – Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports is preparing to launch a public hearing on a new tourism entry fee for foreign visitors, and the numbers have changed.
The proposed rate is now a flat 450 baht (~US$13.50) per person, regardless of how you arrive (air, land, or sea). That’s up from the earlier proposal, which had set different rates for air (300 baht/~US$9) and land/sea (150 baht/~US$4.50) entry.
According to Tourism Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul, the funds raised will go toward upgrading Thailand’s tourism infrastructure and safety standards, helping the sector grow without leaning entirely on the state budget.
- Rollout Timeline
To avoid overwhelming border checkpoints, the fee will be introduced in two phases:
- Phase 1 – Air travel: starts 180 days after the announcement is published in the Royal Gazette
- Phase 2 – Land & sea travel: follows about 360 days after Phase 1
This staggered approach is meant to ease congestion at busy crossings, particularly along the Malaysian border. Frequent land travelers may also get a multiple-entry option bundled with insurance coverage, for example, one payment for a full month of coverage.
- How To Pay
Five payment channels are on the table:
- Built into your airline ticket price
- Online via an official website
- Through a mobile app
- Self-service kiosks at entry points
- Other methods approved by the Tourism Fund Committee
- The bottom line
The fee is aimed at making Thailand safer, more polished, and more enjoyable to visit — funding everything from infrastructure upgrades to traveler safety nets. (RPD)
