Thailand tourist fee of 450 baht may slip to mid-2027

The Thailand tourist fee of 450 baht for foreign air arrivals may not be collected until June or July 2027, later than the first-quarter start the Ministry of Tourism and Sports had been aiming for. The delay was reported by The Thaiger, citing Matichon, on Wednesday, November 11.

The National Tourism Policy Committee is due to hold its final review of the draft rules on Thursday, November 12. The ministry then expects the proposal to go before the Cabinet the following week.

Natthriya Thaweevong, permanent secretary of the ministry, said the draft was still being revised. Officials are still working through who should be exempt, how the money will be collected and whether the technology and infrastructure are ready.

When will the Thailand tourist fee start?

The timetable depends on two steps that have not yet happened. First, the Cabinet must approve the draft. Second, the rules must be published in the Royal Gazette.

After publication, the law requires a 180-day transition period, roughly six months, before any money can be collected. That is why the earliest realistic start now looks like the middle of 2027 rather than the opening months of the year.

The simplest way to collect the charge is seen as adding it to the price of airline tickets. According to the report, talks with aviation bodies, including Airports of Thailand (AOT), indicate the system is ready after seven to eight years of research.

Who would be exempt

The current draft lists several groups that would not have to pay the charge, although the ministry has said the exemptions are still under review:

• Holders of Thai work permits
• Travellers on diplomatic and official passports
• Holders of border passes
• Transit passengers and aircraft crew members
• Children under the age of two

Because the final list could still change, visitors who live and work in Thailand, or who fly through the country on connecting flights, should watch for the version that is eventually approved.

Why the government wants the money

Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul has argued that tourism drives the Thai economy but cannot depend on state budget allocations alone. He also pointed out that more than 80 countries already charge some form of tourism tax or fee.

Part of the revenue would be used to buy insurance for foreign tourists who fall ill or are injured in an accident while in Thailand. That plan has led to a dispute between the Health Ministry and tourism associations over the issue of unpaid hospital bills left by visitors.

Public opinion, at least among those who took part in the consultation, appears to back the idea. The online hearing ran from August 24 to September 28 and drew 5,954 responses. Of those, 80.5% supported the draft rules and 78.3% backed the 450-baht rate.

The arrival charge is separate from a proposed 1,000-baht departure tax on air passengers of all nationalities. The Thai Hotels Association opposed that idea in October, and it was reported to have been put on hold by the Finance Ministry.

For Phuket, which relies heavily on international flights, the details matter. Most foreign holidaymakers reach the island by air, either directly or via Bangkok, so any per-passenger charge added to tickets would affect a large share of visitors.

Travellers already have other entry steps to think about. Our explainer on the Thailand Digital Arrival Card for Phuket arrivals covers the online form that most foreign visitors now complete before landing. Tourism officials are also trying to lift numbers during the high season, as set out in our report on TAT flight subsidies for year-end arrivals.

The fee debate comes at a sensitive time for the industry. Visitor numbers from some key markets have softened this year, as our earlier story on falling Chinese tourist arrivals explains, and operators are wary of anything that might add to the cost of a holiday.

For now, nothing changes for anyone flying to Thailand. No charge is being collected, and no start date has been confirmed. Travellers booking trips for the coming high season will not pay the levy, and even bookings for early 2027 look unlikely to be affected under the timeline described.

Phuket Times will report the final exemptions, the collection method and the confirmed start date once the Cabinet makes a decision and the rules are published.

The original report was published by The Thaiger.

Image: Terminal 2 at Phuket International Airport, where many visitors who may one day pay the Thailand tourist fee arrive. Photo by Bjoertvedt via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0.