Thailand Proposes New 1,450-Baht Tourist Arrival and Departure Fees

The Thai government is currently evaluating two separate tax proposals that would increase the cost of international travel to and from the country. The first is a 450-baht tourist arrival fee, which has received support in public consultations and is moving toward cabinet review. The second is a proposed 1,000-baht departure tax, which would apply to all travellers, including Thai citizens and foreign tourists, leaving the country by air. These measures are being positioned as a revenue-generation strategy to support the tourism industry, though they have faced significant pushback from industry groups.

The Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) has formally objected to the departure tax, warning that it could create overlapping charges and harm Thailand's competitiveness against other regional destinations. The Revenue Department is currently accepting public comments on the departure tax proposal until October 29, 2026. As of now, no official implementation date has been set for either measure, and both require further cabinet approval before becoming law.

All international travellers arriving in or departing from Thailand by air are potentially affected by these proposed levies. Thai citizens are also included in the scope of the proposed departure tax, making this a broad-based fiscal measure rather than one exclusively targeting foreign visitors.

Makutet analysis suggests that while the Thai government is under pressure to boost tourism revenue, the strong opposition from the travel industry may lead to a delay or a reduction in the proposed departure tax. We forecast that the arrival fee is more likely to be implemented in the near term, given its higher level of public support. Travellers should anticipate a more expensive entry and exit process for Thailand by 2027, regardless of the final tax structure.