Thailand Proposes New Foreign Tourist Fee to Boost Tourist Infrastructure

Thailand is preparing to introduce an entry fee for foreign visitors while launching a 1.75 billion Baht domestic travel subsidy scheme. The scheme is to support local businesses and improve national tourism infrastructure. Presented by Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul, this dual initiative aims to balance international visitor contributions with domestic travel incentives.

What is the Purpose of the International Visitor Fee?

The suggested foreign visitor fee will be collected directly into the Thailand Tourism Promotion Fund. Rather than serving as general revenue, the proceeds will directly contribute to specific structural improvements across Thailand's travel sector:

Site Development: Funds will support the maintenance and upgrading of existing tourist spots, as well as the development of new purpose-built attractions.
Visitor Protection: Revenue will finance emergency safety measures and travel health insurance coverage for international tourists during their stay.
Environmental Restoration: Portions of the fee will go towards restoring natural resources and ecosystems affected by high tourist volumes.

While the implementation date and official fee rate remain under final review by authorities, collection mechanisms are being designed to cause minimal distress or complication for the tourists.

What is the 'Thai Travel Thai Plus' Scheme?

To encourage local Thais to explore the country, the Ministry of Tourism is rolling out the "Thai Travel Thai Plus" co-payment scheme for domestic travellers starting in September. The four-month programme provides financial assistance for local holidays via a dedicated mobile platform.

Category	Scheme Details
Total Budget Allocation	1.75 billion baht
Availability For	500,000 total entitlements
Subsidy Rate	50% co-payment
Maximum Value Capped	Up to 3,000 Baht per entitlement (max 5 per person)

Under the subsidy, participants receive vouchers valid towards dining, entrance fees at tourist sites, guided tours, local community products, and vehicle rentals.

What International Visitors Should Expect

For foreign travellers, the proposed entry fee will be a small add-on compared to their overall trip budgets. Thailand continues to expand access policies, such as extended visa-free stays and quick digital arrival registration. The aim is to keep travel straightforward.

The Thai government is currently finalising the operational framework for the foreign visitor fee to ensure seamless entry processing across major airports and land borders.