Aviation bodies suggest integrating tourism fee collection with the immigration system as a more feasible solution. Somchai Poomlard
The plan to collect a tourism fee of at least 300 baht through airlines is infeasible because of the limitations in airlines' back-office systems, with the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) a better option, say aviation bodies.Representatives of the Airlines Association of Thailand (AAT), airports and regulators held a meeting with the Tourism and Sports Ministry last month. The ministry asked airlines to act as an intermediary platform to collect a tourism fee on behalf of the government.
As the National Tourism Policy Act, which governs the levy, does not cover Thais, collecting the fee from them would be unlawful. The ministry proposed airlines charge a standard fee to all passengers and subsequently reimburse Thais, with the ministry covering the associated administrative costs.
Sheldon Hee, regional vice-president for Asia-Pacific at the International Air Transport Association (IATA), said collecting a tourism tax through airlines is infeasible and would create additional complications.
Typically, passengers are not required to provide their nationality, passport details or residential address to airlines during the booking process. Airlines only need a passenger's name and destination, said Mr Hee.
