Thailand is reviewing the possibility of raising its foreign tourist entry fee above the initially planned 300 baht, according to Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul. The increase, originally proposed in 2020 but not yet enacted, might be necessary due to inflation and rising insurance costs aimed at expanding coverage in private hospitals. The revenue generated by this fee is expected to primarily fund tourist insurance, while also supporting the maintenance of tourist attractions and infrastructure improvements.
This announcement follows the government’s decision to eliminate 60-day visa exemptions for travelers from 93 countries, a move driven by concerns over rising illegal activities involving foreigners. The ministry is currently working on finalizing the fee collection method to minimize any negative impact on traveler sentiment. Two potential methods are under consideration: incorporating the fee into airline tickets or collecting it via the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) system upon arrival.
Airlines have expressed concerns about differentially taxing foreign passengers, which might necessitate collecting the fee from all passengers and allowing Thai nationals to claim refunds through an application. Alternatively, the fee could be collected using the TDAC system, compulsory for all foreign visitors. The exact fee amount will largely depend on projected costs for accident insurance and private hospital treatments, as unpaid medical bills from foreign visitors currently cost Thai hospitals approximately 2.5 billion baht annually. The ministry plans to negotiate suitable insurance premiums with the Thai General Insurance Association in the next phase.
Thienprasit Chaiyapatranun, president of the Thai Hotels Association, emphasized the need for clarity on the types of incidents covered by the insurance fund. Additionally, authorities must decide how much of the fund will be allocated to major infrastructure projects. The government should assess which tourist-related incidents burden hospitals and determine if the policy will cover events such as floods, construction accidents, or unlicensed motorcycle crashes.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is coordinating with international counterparts to finalize the timeline for changing visa exemptions from 60-day to 30-day and 15-day allowances, alongside visa-on-arrival arrangements similar to those anticipated in 2024. The Tourism and Sports Ministry seeks to adjust the visa scheme for select countries, with India, a top-five source market, being considered for a 15-day visa exemption. The Tourism Authority of Thailand has been asked to revise its 2026 goals due to the potential impact of ongoing global conflicts, although Minister Surasak noted that the shortened visa exemption period should not deter foreign arrivals, as most tourists average a nine-day stay.