Joser FerrerasTravelling to Thailand from 2022 onwards? Be sure to have extra budget on top of what you might already be planning to bring. The reason is that the country is looking to impose a Thailand tourist fee of ฿500. And according to reports, the amount will be used for various projects to boost Thailand’s travel industry moving forward.
Equivalent to about S$20, the fee will specifically go into a “tourism transformation fund” which Thai tourism officials can use to offer high-value and sustainable tourism. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) aims to collect ฿5 billion worth of funds from the initiative by the end of 2022, as it anticipates at least 10 million inbound tourist arrivals.
Also read: New Lay’s Flavours from Thailand Taste Like Korean Treats
A Thailand tourist fee for better Thai travels
Originally, the collection of a proposed ฿300 fee had been approved for implementation in 2021. With the additional ฿200, however, TAT would have enough resources to aid private companies, community enterprises, and social enterprises in transforming their businesses according to the goals of a bigger initiative. That is, to create long-term economic impact.
Image credit: Daniel Cox
“The fund is also meant to budget insurance and development projects for foreign visitors that require government initiatives rather than the private sector, including those needing matching grants from local administrations, TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn said via Bangkok Post. Once the fund is approved, the Tourism and Sports Ministry, TAT, and relevant authorities will build a special committee that will make sure the fee is properly collected.
Also read: Top 7 Tourist Scams You Should Watch Out for in Thailand
“The additional cost won’t have an impact on tourists as we want to focus on the quality market,” Yuthasak added. “We hope this fund will support a national tourism makeover creating more safe and clean places.” As of publication, no information has been provided on how to pay the Thailand tourist fee should the collection eventually push through.
Prior to this announcement, the Thai capital of Bangkok has also made news for its reopening plans during the last quarter of 2021. Meanwhile, the island of Phuket has already been welcoming international tourists since 1 Jul of the same year. Travellers must have proof of full COVID-19 vaccine certification, along with other requirements.
Featured image credit: Sumit Chinchane | Unsplash
