Thailand Introduces a Mandatory Tourist Tax on Arrival
Thailand's tourist tax: amount, effective date, fund usage, and exemptions. Complete information before your journey to the Kingdom.
March 8, 2023
Travelers will soon be required to pay a tourist tax upon arrival in Thailand. After multiple postponements, this new tax has just been approved by the government and will come into effect within two months. How much will the tourist tax cost? What will it fund? Who will be exempt? Here's what you need to know.
How Much Will the Tourist Tax Cost for Travelers Arriving in Thailand?
Foreign travelers will now need to pay a tourist tax upon arrival in Thailand. The Minister of Tourism and Sports, Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, announced that:
- Travelers arriving by air will pay a tourist tax of 300 baht, approximately 8 euros.
- Travelers arriving by land and sea will pay a tourist tax of 150 baht, approximately 4 euros.
Collection methods for travelers have not yet been specified. Details are expected to be announced in the Royal Gazette when the tax comes into effect.
What Will the Tourist Tax in Thailand Fund?
As Thailand prepares to welcome nearly 30 million tourists in 2023 (compared to just 11.2 million the previous year), this new tax is expected to generate approximately 1.9 billion baht for the kingdom.
The revenue is intended to finance the development of sustainable tourism infrastructure and activities. Additionally, Thailand's tourist tax will also serve as insurance coverage.
This was confirmed by the Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Yuthasak Supasorn, earlier in the year: "The revenue will be used for insurance coverage for foreign tourists and improvements to infrastructure for sustainable tourism".
According to the Minister of Tourism and Sports, Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, of the 300 baht tax, 34 baht must be allocated for insurance coverage.
It's worth noting that risks related to Covid-19 or other illnesses are not covered. Travelers are therefore encouraged to purchase optional travel insurance before departure.
When Will the Tourist Tax Come Into Effect in Thailand?
Announced several months earlier, the tourist tax was initially set to take effect in January 2022. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the fee was postponed multiple times: first to April 2022, then to January 1, 2023. Finally approved on February 14 by the government, the tourist tax is expected to take effect from June 1, 2023.
Who Is Exempt From the Tourist Tax in Thailand?
While all foreign travelers will need to pay the tourist tax upon arrival in Thailand, regardless of their visa status, the law does provide some exceptions.
Exempt persons include:
- Holders of a Thai passport;
- Foreigners holding a work permit;
- Foreigners holding a border pass;
- Tourists in transit for a single day only.
Florine Dergelet
With over 10 years of experience as a web writer, Florine Dergelet is a traveler driven by the desire to discover the world with an open heart. Each of her articles is an invitation to slow down, listen, and understand. For her, travel is not about checking countries off a map, but about weaving connections—often invisible yet always powerful—with places, peoples, and all manner of creatures in the animal kingdom. Her philosophy? Advise travelers with integrity, raise awareness about animal welfare, respect for cultures, and the importance of humble, sustainable tourism. Because the most beautiful memories are often born far from the spotlight, in the shade of a trail, in the midst of conversation, or in the gentle whisper of a world we finally take time to truly hear…
