Thailand is reportedly preparing to charge foreign tourists landing in the country a 300 baht fee beginning in June, with the money earned going toward helping travelers involved in accidents and developing tourism sites.
The tourism minister stated on Wednesday that the plan will be discussed again with the National Tourism Policy Committee on January 24. The 300 baht fee would initially be collected from all tourists coming to Thailand by air, sea, or land. Foreigners with work permits and border passes, however, will be excluded from collecting.
The proposal was first discussed last year and is still subject to cabinet approval.
Thailand relies heavily on the tourism industry, which was responsible for around 12% of GDP before the pandemic.
This year, Thailand anticipates 25 million visitors. According to Tourism Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, tourism spending this year is expected to exceed at least 2.38 trillion baht.
In the long run, Thailand expects to welcome 80 million foreign visitors within the next five years, more than doubling the country’s pre-Covid record of nearly 40 million arrivals.
