Thailand to Collect Entry Fee from Foreign Tourists

The National Tourism Policy Committee passed the proposal of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports to impose an entry fee on tourists in January last year. The Thai government began to impose an additional 300 baht (about NT$258) as entry fee which will be collected along with the purchase of flight tickets to international tourists.

Mongkon Wimonrat, the assistant of deputy minister of the Ministry of Tourism and

Sports, said that Thailand’s tourist fee system will be collaborated with the airline’s booking website, and international tourists will be required to pay a tourist entry fee when booking tickets. The airline will confirm whether the passenger has paid the tourist entry fee before issuing the ticket, which will cover the insurance within 30 days after the passenger enters the country. However, diplomats, government officials, foreigners who hold a work permit and their home country has signed a memorandum with Thailand, and children under the age of 2 are not required to pay the tourist entry fee.

However, some airlines hold different comments, according to an anonymous representative of airline that most of airlines are focused on drawing more tourists. Part of resources will be covered if the entry fee system is added. The Ministry of Tourism and Sports should elaborate the insurance covers the maximum and minimum benefits in case of injury or death. He added.