According to an announcements from the Thai Government Public Relations Department, the National Tourism Policy Committee approved in principle the fee, applicable to all foreign visitors, on Aug. 14,
The proposal is going through a 30-day public hearing to solicit opinions before being submitted to the Cabinet.
If approved, the new fee will take effect in early 2027.
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An overhead view of the modern interior of Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok as travelers move through the departure terminal. Photo by Markus Winkler via Pexels |
Earlier, Thai officials had considered charging different rates: 300 baht for air travelers and 150 for those arriving by land or sea.
Natthriya Thaweevong, permanent secretary for tourism and sports, has explained that the new amount was calculated by using an economic cost-allocation model to divide funds between tourism development and visitor insurance.
The government plans to start collecting the fee in two stages.
The first will focus on tourists arriving by plane, with a targeted launch in the first quarter of 2027. The second, covering land and sea arrivals, will start 360 days after Phase 1, as reported by The Nation news outlet.
The extra time is expected to help fix traffic jams at land crossings, especially along the busy border with Malaysia.
Authorities are also looking at ways to make paying the fee easy, like adding the fee to airline tickets, paying on an official website, using a mobile app, or paying at self-service kiosks at airports or through the Thailand Digital Arrival Card system.
For people who cross the border often, the government is testing a multiple-entry option linked to a one-month insurance policy.
Under this, a traveler would only pay the 450 baht fee once but can make several trips in and out of Thailand during that month.
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A visiting couple admires the architectural details of a traditional Thai temple, capturing the moment with a Canon camera. Photo by George Park via Pexels |
Thai PBS World reported officials from the Ministry of Tourism and Sports as saying that the benefit from the fee comes in the form of built-in health and safety insurance.
The money from the fee will automatically provide foreign visitors with basic coverage for medical emergencies and accidents during their stay in Thailand.
Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul said having a dedicated financial pool for visitors’ insurance enhances the country’s overall safety profile and gives travelers greater peace of mind.
According to data from the Kasikorn Research Center, Thailand received 19 million foreign tourists and generated revenues of 927 billion baht in the first half of this year.
But analysts expect only 31 million visitors for the year, a 4.9% decline from 2025, due to global geopolitical and economic instability.
Kasikorn Research Center said Malaysian arrivals have slowed as travelers there favor Japan and Indonesia, while Chinese tourists are being drawn to South Korea and Vietnam.
To keep up with these shifting trends, the Thai government is changing its tourism strategy under a new five-year national plan starting next year.
The proposed 450 baht entry fee serves as a core component of this strategy, creating funds to upgrade infrastructure and guarantee safety standards for foreign guests.