BANGKOK — Thailand will begin collecting a 300-baht ($9.20) entry fee from foreign tourists within the first four months of the new government, the Tourism and Sports Minister announced. The measure aims to create new revenue streams, enhance visitor safety, and help Thailand attract 39.9 million visitors—matching its pre-COVID peak in 2019.
Tourism and Sports Minister Atthakorn Sirilatthayakorn said on October 3 that the entry fee will be reviewed and implemented during the government’s first four months in office. Authorities will clearly communicate to tourists that the fee is intended for their benefit and welfare.
“The entry fee can be viewed from two perspectives: while tourists may see it as an added burden, the government will ensure they understand that the additional 300 baht will improve their safety, welfare, tourism infrastructure, and convenience,” he said. The fee will be established as a fund similar to the existing sports fund.
Atthakorn acknowledged that collecting the travel fee may concern foreign tourists worried about higher costs. However, he noted that the 300-baht tourism tax has been a recurring proposal for successive governments in recent years. Although studies have been completed, it has never been implemented.
“We intend to implement it within the next four months, as outlined in the government’s work plan,” he said.
Safety First, 2019 Numbers the Goal
Regarding tourism promotion for the remainder of 2025, Atthakorn emphasized that safety in both tourism and sports sectors is the top priority, with a target of reaching nearly 39.9 million tourist arrivals—the number recorded in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic. He confirmed that discussions with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) are underway to jointly attract more foreign visitors and increase tourism revenue.
The Ministry of Tourism and Sports previously proposed the entry fee policy to reduce the government’s fiscal burden of compensating tourists involved in safety incidents. The collected funds would also cover tourist insurance and tourism development. Similar fees are already in place in many countries.
Fee Structure
For air travel, the entry fee will be 300 baht per person per visit. For land and sea travel, the fee will also be 300 baht per person per visit (up from the previous 150 baht), but will allow multiple entries within a 30–60 day period. Final details, including tourist insurance coverage, will be confirmed later.
Current Tourism Numbers
Thailand received 23,969,579 international tourists from January 1 to September 28, 2025, generating approximately 1.11 trillion baht ($34 billion) in revenue from international tourist expenditure.
The top five source markets for tourist arrivals are Malaysia (3.46 million), China (3.38 million), India (1.76 million), Russia (1.27 million), and South Korea (1.13 million).
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