Thailand’s Six-Year Tourist Fee Saga Returns With a $14 Price Tag

Thailand is reviving a foreign tourist fee first proposed six years ago, with the latest version setting the charge at THB 450 ($14) per visitor and targeting collection as early as the first quarter of 2027. The National Tourism Policy Committee endorsed the draft principles and notification governing the fee, allowing the proposal to move to a 30-day public consultation. It must then return to the committee before going to the Cabinet for approval. If implemented, air travelers would pay first, with land and sea arrivals following later. The proposal is the latest iteration of a policy Thailand has repeatedly approved, delayed, revised and, in 2024, abandoned as the government prioritized tourism recovery. The new THB 450 rate is higher than the previous framework of THB 300 ($9) for air arrivals and THB 150 ($4.60) for land and sea. Tourism officials say the increase reflects inflation, changing economic conditions and higher insurance cos