Thailand Considers 1,000-Baht Departure Tax Amid 7.49% Weekly Drop
The Thai Ministry of Finance has proposed a 1,000-baht departure tax on domestic and foreign travelers, with a maximum cap of 5,000 baht, amid opposition from the tourism sector.
The Thai Ministry of Finance has proposed imposing a 1,000-baht departure tax on Thai and foreign travelers, with the draft bill allowing a maximum cap of up to 5,000 baht.
The public consultation period for the proposal runs until October 29, amid opposition from tourism company executives who warned that the tax could reduce international travel and cost the sector between 50 and 150 billion baht annually.
The proposal comes at a time when the number of arrivals in Thailand reached 23.94 million visitors between January 1 and October 10, while weekly arrival numbers fell by 7.49%.
The Thai economy relies heavily on tourism, so any increase in travel costs could impact its competitiveness against other regional destinations, explaining the widespread controversy surrounding the proposal.
What do these terms mean?
Departure tax: A fee imposed on a traveler when leaving the country, usually added to the price of the travel ticket.
Public consultation: A period opened by official authorities to receive feedback from the public and stakeholders before passing a bill.
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