Looking to relax on some pristine Thai beaches this summer? Better save up some extra cash. Thailand has announced starting in June 2023, international visitors will have to pay a small entry fee of up to 300 baht (around $9).
This charge will apply to all visitors, regardless of where they’re coming from. Air travelers will be required to pay the full 300 baht, which will be added to the cost of their airline ticket, while anyone traveling by bus, train or boat will be charged an additional 150 baht ($4) for their fare.
That’s the edict, straight from the Tourism Authority of Thailand. The entry fee is a one-time charge and only applies to visitors who are staying overnight in the country. It won’t apply to anyone in transit, children under two or anyone traveling on diplomatic passports or work permits.
The fees will go toward bolstering Thailand’s tourism resources and providing accident insurance for visitors who can’t afford to buy their own. Tourism fees could end up generating $115 million in funding for these initiatives.
Similar taxes are starting to pop up in several areas around the world, with countries like New Zealand and Japan introducing fees in the same vein. But while most countries collect tourist taxes via accommodation providers or holiday booking companies, Thailand’s new entry fee will be collected upon arrival.
Thailand has had several updates to its entry requirements, but so far that’s meant good news for Americans looking to visit. As of October 2022, all international tourists are welcome, and Americans visiting Thailand will only need a passport with at least six months of validity. No visa is required, but visitors may need to show proof of a return airline ticket.
Thailand is joining a growing list of destinations imposing new taxes or fees on visitors, with Venice, Italy, set to impose a postponed tourist tax later this year, and Palau requiring incoming tourists to pay $100 as a “Pristine Paradise Environmental Fee.” Europe is also launching a new European Travel Information and Authorisation System in November that will impose a 7-euro fee for all visitors. Hawaii is moving toward imposing a new fee for use of its parks, trails and beaches. It remains to be seen if other countries and tourist destiations will follow suit and introduce similar fees.
