Thailand is considering two new charges that could increase the cost of international air travel, although neither measure has been introduced yet. The proposals include a 450-baht fee for foreign visitors entering Thailand and a 1,000-baht departure tax for passengers leaving the country by air.
The proposed entry fee was discussed at a meeting of Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports on 6 October. The ministry is reviewing feedback from a public consultation before sending a revised proposal to the National Tourism Policy Committee and the Cabinet. According to the consultation results, 80.5% of respondents supported the draft measure, while 78.3% supported the proposed 450-baht charge.
The fee would apply to foreign visitors regardless of whether they arrive by air, land or sea. Thailand’s government has said that the money would support tourism infrastructure, visitor safety and destination development. If approved, collection would initially begin for air arrivals 180 days after publication in the Royal Gazette, with land and sea arrivals expected to follow later.
The second proposal concerns a new Departure Tax Act being considered by Thailand’s Finance Ministry and Revenue Department. The draft would initially charge 1,000 baht every time a passenger leaves Thailand by air, regardless of nationality. Departures by land and sea would initially be excluded. A public consultation on the draft legislation is scheduled to run until 29 October.
The proposed departure tax has not been approved or introduced, and the 450-baht entry fee also remains subject to further government consideration. The two measures are therefore not immediate costs for travellers booking holidays to Thailand.
However, the proposals are likely to attract attention from airlines, travel agents and tourism businesses. If both were eventually approved, an international visitor flying into and out of Thailand could face an additional 1,450 baht in proposed charges, alongside existing airport fees.
The measures could generate funding for tourism development, but travel industry representatives are expected to assess whether additional charges could affect demand, particularly for short-haul and price-sensitive markets.
