BANGKOK — Thailand’s newly appointed Tourism and Sports Minister, Artthakorn Sirilatthayakorn, has pledged to finally implement a long-stalled 300-baht tourism tax within his first four months in office. The minister has directed officials to clearly communicate the benefits of the levy to international visitors, emphasizing that the funds will be used to provide them with insurance coverage and to develop tourism infrastructure, the Bangkok Post reported.

Thai tourist tax of 300 baht to be submitted for approval in January 2025

Minister Artthakorn acknowledged on Friday that the additional charge could affect tourist sentiment, noting that foreign travelers have previously expressed concerns about the fee on social media. The policy, initially proposed in 2020 and approved by the cabinet in February 2023, has seen multiple delays under four previous ministers, each hesitant to enact collection due to fears of negatively impacting the recovering tourism sector.

Wraca pomysł wprowadzenia dodatkowej opłaty turystycznej dla odwiedzających Tajlandię – 300 baht (ok. 30 zł). Oczywiście każdy rząd szuka nowych źródeł dochodów, ale akurat turystyka w Tajlandii ostatnio kuleje i to jej nie pomoże. https://t.co/IMSrDx0ULf

— Planeta Tajlandia (@PlanetaTaj) October 3, 2025

The approved rate remains 300 baht per person for air arrivals and 150 baht for those entering by land or sea. Former minister Sorawong Thienthong had earlier committed to implementing the tax by the end of 2025 but later reversed his position. “If we impose this tax, we must communicate how much tourists could benefit from it,” Artthakorn stated during a visit to the ministry.

Thailand’s 300 Baht Tourism Fee Postponed Again

Speaking on broader tourism strategy, the minister outlined plans for new campaigns in the fourth quarter aimed at boosting visitor numbers and spending. He also confirmed that the ministry intends to finalize the remaining budget from a 1.76-billion-baht domestic subsidy scheme by the end of October. The new administration has stressed the importance of tourism safety and restoring foreign arrivals to pre-pandemic levels, which neared 40 million annually. Thailand is currently projected to welcome approximately 33.4 million foreign visitors in 2025, a decrease from the 35.5 million recorded in 2024. Minister Artthakorn indicated that he has set specific targets for the fourth quarter of this year and the first quarter of 2026 but is not yet ready to disclose the figures.

-Thailand News (TN)