BANGKOK – The Government of Thailand is planning to charge Thai citizens a 1,000 baht fee when traveling overseas to raise 10 billion baht annually for local travel subsidies. The Ministry of Tourism and Sports announced talks with the Finance Ministry to revive a 1983 travel tax law.
The main reason for this move is to fund the popular “Tiew Khon La Krueng” domestic travel program. By collecting this new exit fee, the government hopes to support local businesses and prevent too much money from leaving the country.
Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul recently shared the details of this new strategy. In recent years, Thai citizens have made roughly 10 million trips abroad annually. If the state collects 1,000 baht for every overseas journey, it creates a massive 10 billion baht fund.
This money will directly pay for 10 million discounts under the “Tiew Khon La Krueng” scheme. This famous program offers a helpful co-payment system. The government helps pay for hotel rooms, food, and flights inside the country. Overall, it is a powerful tool to encourage people to explore their own backyard.
Minister Surasak stressed that this plan creates a stable future. With a dedicated fund, the tourism sector can grow steadily. It will not have to rely on the general state budget, making long-term financial planning much easier.
Key Details of the Proposed Policy
It is important to understand exactly how this tax will work. The government wants to make the rules very clear. Here are the main points you need to know:
- Who pays the tax:The fee only applies to Thai citizens going abroad.
- Who is exempt:Foreign tourists do not pay this exit fee. This avoids unfair double charges.
- The total cost:Each traveler will pay 1,000 baht per trip.
- The main target:The goal is to raise 10 billion baht every single year.
- The main benefit:All funds will support domestic travel deals and local businesses.
- The timeline:Because the legal foundation already exists, the government can start collecting the fee very quickly once the Cabinet approves it.
Many people wonder if this extra cost will keep Thai citizens at home. Minister Surasak does not think so. He pointed out that airline tickets are already quite expensive. Compared to the high cost of airfare today, an extra 1,000 baht is a small addition. Therefore, officials believe it will not seriously change a person’s choice to take an international vacation.
Interestingly, Thailand has done this before. In the past, the country collected a 500 baht overseas travel tax. That older fee was eventually canceled. Now, bringing it back at a higher rate is seen as a clever way to keep the local travel industry alive and healthy.
Travel Agents Raise Red Flags
Despite the government’s positive outlook, some industry experts are worried. Thanapol Cheewarattanaporn is the president of the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA). He recently led a group to meet with the Tourism Minister. They shared serious concerns about bringing back the old 1983 law.
The travel agents asked the government to pause and delay the 1,000 baht fee. They argue that the tax could easily lower the number of Thai people traveling to other countries. If outward travel drops, international airlines might decide to cut their flight schedules. Fewer flights would ultimately hurt the whole travel network.
While the focus is on Thai travelers right now, foreign visitors should also pay attention. The government is still working on a separate plan to charge international tourists a 300 baht landing fee.
This fee is entirely different from the exit tax. The landing fee will go toward a special tourism development fund and help provide safety insurance coverage for tourists.
You can read the original news report and learn more at Nation Thailand .
