Thailand to scrap $8 tourism fee proposal

By VNA June 9, 2024 | 04:46 pm PT

Tourists wait to check in for flights at Suvarnabhumi airport in Bangkok, Thailand, Jan. 4, 2023. Photo by Reuters

Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said on June 8 that his government would scrap the proposal by the previous administration to charge a 300 THB (US$8.2) tourism fee targeting air passengers.

Srettha said his government was not considering implementing the policy proposed in February 2023, which had encountered opposition from the private sector.

The PM said while collecting a fee of 300 THB per person could generate short-term revenue, a broader perspective suggests that if more tourists are allowed to enter without this fee, they would likely spend on shopping and other activities.

Srettha said any decisions must take into account the voices of all stakeholders. He added that if the government could generate additional revenue from other tax sources, it would be possible to allocate funds to support tourism as needed.

When asked about Thailand’s ranking falling to 47th out of 119 countries in the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) tourism and travel development index – a six-place drop from 2019, the PM noted he wanted to be constructive instead of playing the blame game.

He said his government aims to continuously develop every aspect and highlighted that tourism is a significant flagship that can generate substantial revenue for the country.