Trips to Thailand have just become a bit pricier for tourists. The country’s government confirmed that it would be introducing a “tourism tax” for all foreign visitors starting June 1, 2023.
Thailand has been considering the idea of a tourism tax for several years now, but various factors, including the pandemic, delayed the decision until recently. According to the official announcement, all visitors entering the countries by air will be expected to pay 300 baht ($8.8). Visitors entering the country on land or sea will pay 150 baht ($4.4). Tourists who are coming to Thailand on a day trip and are not spending the night won’t have to pay this fee.
The local tourism industry has opposed the decision, but the government believes the tourism tax will prove beneficial in the long run. The funds collected this way will be used to offset the cost that tourists cause to the country’s health care system and to aid the tourism development in Thailand.
It is estimated that Thailand might collect around 3.9 billion baht ($113.8 million) in tourism tax this year alone. The country is expecting between 25 million and 30 million foreign visitors in 2023, with its tourism poised for a big rebound after a lukewarm 2022.