Recently, the Thai government announced a new tax policy that is expected to be levied on all air passengers starting next yearA tourism tax of 300 Thai baht. This news has sparked widespread attention and discussion both domestically and internationally in Thailand, and will have a certain impact on the future development of the tourism industry and the travel costs of tourists.

According to Thai Minister of Tourism and Sports Soraon·According to Tiantong, the tourism tax plan was first approved by the former government led by former Prime Minister Prayut Prayut in February 2023. However, due to the general election held in Thailand in May this year, the new cabinet needs to re-examine this plan. At present, the details of the plan are under re examination and are expected to be submitted to the Cabinet for review in January next year. Once approved by the cabinet, the plan will take at least six months to be officially implemented.

Minister Soraon stated that this tourism tax will be levied first on air travelers, mainly because air travelers account for 70% of foreign inbound tourists to Thailand. The Thai government is fully prepared for the implementation of this policy. It is reported that the operation of the entire system will take at least six months to start, and the relevant transaction services are ready, with technical support provided by the Agricultural Bank of Thailand. In addition, tourists will also complete payments through the official website or application, and the relevant application is currently under development for future use.

At the same time as levying tourism taxes, the Thai government also plans to provide insurance services for foreign tourists. Minister Soraon revealed that the 300 baht fee includes an insurance premium of no more than 60 baht per person. The insurance period for tourists is 30 days, and the compensation standard is consistent with Thailand's previous travel insurance policy. This measure aims to provide more comprehensive protection for tourists and further promote the development of Thailand's tourism industry.

However, Thai businesses and tourism operators have expressed different views on this new tax policy. Some companies believe that this policy will increase the travel costs for tourists, thereby affecting the competitiveness of Thailand's tourism industry. Especially for travelers with limited budgets, they may choose other travel destinations to avoid this additional cost. In addition, some tourism operators are also concerned that this policy may have a negative impact on their business, as higher tourism taxes may lead to a decrease in the number of tourists.

Despite some concerns and opposition, the Thai government seems confident in this new tax policy. Minister Soraon stated that once the government approves the project, the Ministry of Tourism will initiate the procurement process, recruit software developers and insurance companies to provide better services for foreign tourists. He also mentioned that the Thai government is considering imposing a unified tourism tax of 300 Thai baht on all ports of entry to avoid differential treatment. At the same time, people who frequently travel to and from the border for trade are not affected by tourism taxes and can use border passes to waive this fee.