They include a 450-baht tourist entry fee and a 1,000-baht departure tax on top of the existing 1,120-baht airport passenger service charge, The Nation reported on Oct. 8.
Airports of Thailand (AOT) increased its international passenger service charge from 730 baht to 1,120 baht on June 20. According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s TAT Newsroomthe charge applies to international departures from six airports, two in Bangkok and one each in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phuket, and Hat Yai.
The charge will be included in the airfare.
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Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Bangkok, Thailand. Photo by Unsplash |
AOT says the revenue will support improvements to airport infrastructure, technology, and passenger services.
In the case of the 450-baht entry fee, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports plans to begin with foreign tourists arriving by air. Collection from visitors entering by land and sea will start a year later.
Part of the revenue will fund medical and life insurance, and the rest will support the conservation, restoration, and development of tourist destinations.
The 1,000-baht departure tax will apply also to Thais every time they leave the country by air. Land and sea departures will again be exempt initially.
The Revenue Department is seeking public comments until Oct. 29. No date has been set for imposition of the tax.
The Association of Thai Travel Agents has opposed the departure tax proposal.
Secretary-general Adith Chairattananon warned that multiple charges on the same trip would increase costs for foreign visitors and put further pressure on tourism businesses, The Nation quoted him as saying.