A day after major visa changes announced, minister says planned B300 entry fee could be raised
(Bangkok Post File Photo)
Thailand will consider increasing its long-planned foreign tourist entry fee from 300 baht, Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul said on Wednesday.He said the tourism tax — first proposed in 2020 but never implemented — could be higher than 300 baht because of inflation and rising insurance costs, in order to extend coverage at private hospitals.
The majority of the revenue from tourism fees would be allocated to tourist insurance, with the remainder used to maintain tourist attractions and improve infrastructure, authorities have said.
Mr Surasak made the comment a day after the government announced it would scrap 60-day visa exemptions for travellers from 93 countries, another long-planned move made in response to concerns about an increase in illegal activity by foreigners.
