Thailand Proposes 450 Baht Tourism Fee for Air Arrivals
The Ministry of Tourism and Sports is reviewing a proposal to implement a 450-baht entry fee for foreign tourists arriving by air.
On October 6, 2026, Thailand’s Minister of Tourism and Sports, Surasak Phancharoenworakul, announced that the government is finalizing plans to collect a tourism fee from foreign visitors. This follows a public consultation process that concluded on September 28, 2026, where 80.50% of respondents expressed support for the initiative.
According to the proposal, the fee is set at 450 baht per person for foreign tourists arriving via air travel. The implementation for land and sea arrivals would be deferred for one year. The Ministry intends to use the collected funds to provide insurance coverage for tourists, thereby reducing the financial burden on public hospitals and taxpayers, and to invest in the development and maintenance of tourist attractions through a transparent fund.
For travelers and residents, this policy aims to improve the quality of tourist sites and ensure better safety and insurance protections. As of September 2026, Thailand has welcomed over 22 million foreign visitors, generating more than 1 trillion baht in revenue. While the consultation phase is complete, the official timeline for the enforcement of the fee and the specific operational details regarding the insurance coverage remain to be confirmed by the government. Further announcements are expected as the Ministry synthesizes the feedback from public and private sector stakeholders.
