BANGKOK (ANN/THE NATION) – Thailand’s controversial landing fee has been rebranded as a “travelling tax” and is set to take effect around mid-2025, initially targeting air travellers, the Tourism and Sports Ministry announced.
On October 23, Minister Sorawong Thienthong confirmed that the tax proposal would be submitted to the Cabinet for approval by the first quarter of 2025.
Once cleared, the tax is expected to be enforced within six months. The fee, known locally as Kha Yeap Pan Din (fee for stepping on Thai soil), was provisionally approved in February 2023 and will charge 300 baht (USD 8.88) for air arrivals and 150 baht (USD 4.44) for land or sea entries.
Sorawong said the money would be used to buy insurance for foreigners and the remainder added to the tourism development fund.
The fund will support the improvement of tourist attractions, including building facilities for the disabled and toilets for tourists.
He said the ministry is working on an application to be used to collect the tax, which will be linked to the system of the Krungthai Bank.
The current insurance coverage amount will remain the same, which is no more than 60 baht from the 300 baht per person travelling tax.
Insurance payout in case of death is set at one million baht, and a maximum of 500,000 baht for injuries.
This amount is on top of the insurance that foreign tourists buy themselves. The insurance under the new travel tax will cover a stay in Thailand for no more than 30 days, which is applicable to around 87 per cent of foreign arrivals, the minister said.
He added that after the first phase, the Cabinet may consider adjusting the tax for arrivals via land and sea channels to the same rate as for air travellers to avoid accusations of unequal treatment.
Sorawong added that the travelling tax will not be levied on cross-border merchants, who will need to show a border pass when crossing to and from neighbouring countries.
