Thailand considers 450-baht arrival tax and 1,000-baht departure tax

Traveling to Thailand — and leaving the country afterward — could soon become more expensive for international visitors.

Two separate tax proposals are currently moving forward in Bangkok. The first would introduce a 450-baht arrival tax for foreign tourists, while the second would impose a 1,000-baht departure tax on travelers of all nationalities, including Thai citizens.

Both proposals saw new developments on October 6 and 7, 2026, following a meeting at the Ministry of Tourism and Sports and the release of draft legislation for public consultation by Thailand’s tax authorities.

If both measures are adopted, foreign tourists arriving in and departing from Thailand by air could face a combined 1,450 baht in new taxes, on top of existing airport charges already included in ticket prices.

For now, however, neither proposed tax has taken effect.

A 450-baht tourist arrival tax, “following the example of more than 80 countries worldwide”

Thailand’s proposed 450-baht tourist tax, which has been under discussion for several months, has taken another step toward implementation.

On October 6, Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul chaired a meeting with government officials, tourism industry representatives and civil society groups to discuss how the proposed fee would be collected.

In an official statement released the same day, the ministry noted that more than 80 countries worldwide already impose some form of tourism-related tax or fee, citing examples across Europe and destinations such as Japan, Australia, New Zealand and Bali, Indonesia.

Thailand hopes to draw on these models to help fund visitor safety, medical coverage and the maintenance of tourist destinations, rather than leaving Thai taxpayers to bear those costs alone.

The minister also emphasized tourism’s substantial contribution to the national economy.

“Tourism is a vital driver of Thailand’s economy,” Surasak Phancharoenworakul said, noting that more than 22 million international tourists visited the country between January and September 2026, generating over 1 trillion baht in revenue.

Beyond raising additional funds, the government wants the proposed tax to help finance visitor safety measures and improvements to tourism infrastructure.

“To maintain confidence, we must ensure both traveler safety and the quality of tourist attractions,” the minister stressed.

He explained that the consultations would also help shape an insurance program for tourists, easing the financial burden on healthcare facilities and Thai taxpayers while ensuring that the revenue collected benefits tourist destinations and local communities.

According to the ministry, at least 8 billion baht a year could be allocated to improving tourist destinations, after deducting collection expenses and insurance costs.

The money would help maintain infrastructure, protect natural resources and support the development of tourism destinations and surrounding communities.

Public consultation shows strong support for the proposal

The public consultation, held from August 24 to September 28, 2026, received 5,954 responses.

Of those who participated, 80.50% supported the proposed tourist tax, while 78.30% approved the suggested fee of 450 baht per person.

The proposed system would be introduced in stages:

• Air arrivals: Foreign tourists covered by the measure would pay the tax as soon as the system takes effect.
• Land and sea arrivals: The tax would be extended to these entry points one year later.
• Multiple entries: Travelers could enter Thailand several times within a 30-day period without paying the fee again, subject to the proposed coverage conditions.

Several exemptions are also being considered, including certain diplomatic and official passport holders, Thai work permit holders, border pass users, transit passengers, crew members and children under the age of two.

The collection method has yet to be finalized. During the consultation, adding the tax directly to transportation ticket prices was the most popular option, receiving 36.26% of responses. This approach could help minimize additional procedures at immigration checkpoints.

Tourist tax revenue would help fund medical insurance

Part of the revenue generated by the proposed tax would finance insurance coverage for visitors who have paid the fee, including certain medical expenses and death benefits, although the exact terms remain to be determined.

The government hopes the system will help reduce unpaid medical bills incurred by foreign patients and ease the financial pressure on public healthcare facilities.

Thai authorities also want hospitals to be able to easily verify whether visiting patients are covered and receive reimbursement for eligible medical treatment.

The insurance program still needs to be developed in consultation with health authorities and tourism industry representatives.

Industry stakeholders have called for clear information about coverage limits, exclusions and claims procedures so travelers know exactly what protection they would receive.

During the discussions, private-sector representatives also estimated that more than 80% of tourists, particularly those arriving from Europe and the Americas, already have travel insurance. This raises questions about how the proposed tax-funded coverage would work alongside travelers’ existing insurance policies.

Following this latest round of consultations, the Tourism Ministry is expected to submit the proposal to the National Tourism Policy Committee before it goes to the government for consideration.

Thailand also considers a 1,000-baht departure tax for travelers of all nationalities

At the same time, Thailand’s Finance Ministry is working on a separate proposal that could affect an even broader group of travelers.

On September 30, 2026, the Revenue Department, Thailand’s tax authority, opened a public consultation on the principles of a proposed Departure Tax Act, which would introduce a tax on travelers leaving the country.

Unlike the proposed 450-baht tourist arrival fee, the departure tax would not be limited to foreign visitors.

It would apply to travelers of all nationalities leaving Thailand, including Thai citizens.

According to the official consultation document, the initial proposal includes:

• A 1,000-baht tax per air departure for travelers subject to the measure.
• An initial exemption for departures by land and sea.
• Collection of the tax when purchasing an airline ticket, through airlines or their authorized agents.
• Exemptions for children aged two or younger, certain transit passengers and crew members traveling in the course of their duties.

The draft legislation also establishes a statutory ceiling of 5,000 baht per departure, allowing the applicable rate to be set through subsequent regulations. The initial rate currently under consideration, however, remains 1,000 baht.

Another important detail for travelers planning trips in advance is that tickets purchased before the new law takes effect would be exempt from the tax, even if the actual departure takes place afterward.

If approved, the legislation would take effect 180 days after its publication in the Royal Gazette.

The public consultation remains open until October 29, 2026.

On October 7, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas defended the proposal, arguing that it could also encourage Thai citizens to vacation domestically, supporting local spending while reducing the amount of money spent on overseas travel.

Could some travelers face a combined 2,570 baht in taxes and airport fees?

Coming just weeks after Thailand reduced its visa-free stay from 60 to 30 days for nationals of 60 countries and territories, including the US, UK, Canada, Australia and several European countries, the two tax proposals are already raising concerns among Thai tourism industry professionals.

On October 7, the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) voiced its opposition to the proposed 1,000-baht departure tax.

As reported by The Nation, the association warned that the accumulation of taxes could increase costs for international visitors and undermine Thailand’s competitiveness as a tourist destination.

The organization also pointed to another increase that has already taken effect this year.

Since June 20, 2026, the six airports operated by Airports of Thailand (AOT), including Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports and Phuket International Airport, have charged 1,120 baht in passenger service fees for international departures, up from the previous 730 baht.

This fee, known as the Passenger Service Charge (PSC), is already included in the price of applicable airline tickets.

If both proposed taxes were introduced in their current form, a foreign tourist arriving in Thailand by air and departing from one of these six airports could face the following charges:

However, the full 2,570 baht would not represent entirely new charges. The existing 1,120-baht airport fee is already collected and included in applicable ticket prices.

The two proposed taxes alone would add 1,450 baht for a foreign traveler making a round trip by air and subject to both measures.

ATTA Secretary-General Adith Chairattananon warned that introducing multiple charges without coordination between government agencies could increase tourists’ expenses and put additional pressure on tourism businesses.

The association is preparing a formal objection to the Finance Ministry and is calling for greater transparency on how the tax revenue would be spent and what tangible improvements travelers and tourism operators could expect in return.

When could Thailand’s two proposed travel taxes take effect?

Despite the developments in recent days, no official implementation date has been announced for either measure.

The proposed 450-baht tourist arrival tax still requires several stages of government approval, while the 1,000-baht departure tax remains at the legislative consultation stage.

The two measures could therefore move forward on different timelines, and their rates and exemptions may still change before any final approval.

For American, British, Canadian, Australian and other international travelers planning a trip to Thailand, neither proposed tax currently requires any additional application, procedure or payment.

Thai authorities will need to confirm the final collection arrangements, exemptions and effective dates before either measure changes the cost of entering or leaving the country.