Thailand is looking to charge foreign tourists B500 next year when they arrive in the country. This new initiative by The Tourism and Sports Ministry is intended to help boost the country’s tourism sector and subsidize a number of projects that “transform the industry, focusing on high-value and sustainable tourism,” according to Bangkok Post
Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)’s governor Yuthasak Supasorn assured that the fee would also be earmarked for various projects by the private sector, community enterprises or social enterprises. Moreover, he asserted that the ultimate goal of charging this tourist fee, more than to make up for what was lost during the coronavirus outbreak, is to maintain “long-term local economic growth”.
The source also confirmed that the fund has been given the green light by the Centre for Economic Situation Administration.
Approximately five billion baht is expected to be collected from 10 million foreign tourists in 2022.