300-Baht Land Entry Fee for Thailand Tourists Expected to Take Effect in June. Despite continued criticism, the Thailand Tourism Ministry is insistent at moving ahead with a plan for a 300 baht tourist entry fee.- The Pattaya News

300-Baht Land Entry Fee for Thailand Tourists Expected to Take Effect in June

Goongnang SuksawatThursday, 12 January 2023, 15:49

Thailand-

The 300-baht 'land entry' fee collection is expected to be officially take effect in June of this year.

Our previous stories:

Thailand is planning to collect a 300-baht 'land entry fee' on all foreign tourists under the "Amazing Thailand New Chapter" tourism boost concept, a government spokesperson reported, January 12^th, 2022.

The National Tourism Policy Committee, under the Tourism and Sports Ministry, approved a proposal of collecting a fee of roughly 10 USD, or about 300 baht, on foreign tourists who enter Thailand as a part of the tourism promotion fund, including tourist accident insurance and funds for affected labor and entrepreneurs in case of a financial crisis.

The Thai Tourism and Sports Minister confirmed that the 300-baht 'land entry fee' on all foreign tourists visiting the country would be eventually implemented, stressing that it would be used for tourists' insurance and an emergency fund for those traveling in the country.

The Ministry of Tourism and Sports has decided to postpone the collection of a 300-baht 'land entry' fee until the fourth quarter of this year and is planning to propose the cancellation of the 'Thailand Pass' registration.

Now for the update:

The Minister of Tourism and Sports Piphat Ratchakitprakarn revealed yesterday today (January 11^th) that "In the next five years there will be 80 million foreign tourists visiting Thailand. The number is double that of three years ago before the Covid -19 pandemic."

"On January 24^th we will further discuss the longtime proposal of a 300-baht 'land entry' fee. The fee will not be collected from foreigners with Border Passes and work permits. We are also considering not collecting the fee from foreign tourists who are on a ferry or cruise one day trip to Thailand," Mr. Piphat explained.

"This land entry' fee will be suggested to the cabinet next month as we are planning this to take effect on June 1^st of this year," Mr. Piphat added.

The proposal has been extremely unpopular with tourists posting on social media, notes TPN. The Tourism Ministry has been pushing for the proposal for over a year, stating that all funds collected would be transparently used and to the benefit of tourists with both insurance for accident coverage and to improve major tourist attractions.

Critics of the proposal, however, have expressed doubt about if the insurance would be offered properly and the transparency of the funds received. The proposal has been continually pushed back after ongoing criticism on social media that it was the wrong time to implement a tourism entry fee. Many ex-pats have also expressed concern, stating that they are not tourists and should be exempt.