After months of scrapping the plan to implement a tourism tax for visitors, the Thailand government is reconsidering the decision. The newly-elected Tourism Minister, Sorawong Thienthong, has announced plans to reintroduce a tourism tax of 300 baht, which was previously shelved by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s administration. After taking over the office on Monday, the tourism minister pledged to increase the country’s tourism revenue to at least 3 trillion baht this year through fee collections, according to a Bangkok Post report.
“I believe the collection of the tourism fee benefits the tourism industry since the revenue can be used for the development of infrastructure and attractions, along with ensuring tourist safety,” he said. Mentioning that he still needs to time understand the readiness of the system, the ministry looks forward to finalising the date to start collections.
Speaking about the tourism tax, while foreign arrivals by air must pay 300 Baht (Rs 750 approx), those arriving by sea and land will need to pay 150 Thai Baht (Rs 370 approx), the report adds.
Earlier in June, Thailand PM Srettha Thavisin announced the government’s decision to drop the plan of tourism fees for visitors. “The fee was abandoned with the rationale that its elimination could encourage higher tourist spending in other areas, thereby providing a more substantial boost to the economy,” the Thailand government said in a statement. The fee was originally approved in February 2023 when the PMO office explained that it would be used to “manage and develop’ tourism.
Thailand Plans To Boost Tourism
The decision comes in the wake of Thailand moving forward to boost tourism in recent months. Besides the fee introduction, the tourism ministry is considering bringing back successful programs such as the We Travel Together co-payment scheme for hotel and air bookings. “As the government has pledged to support new man-made attractions and to boost second-tier cities, we will encourage the private sector to invest more by offering incentives, such as tax incentives,” Sorawong added.
He also estimated the upcoming events, marathons, Loy Krathong and New Year countdown will accelerate the revenue from both domestic and international markets.
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