Thailand Proposes New Arrival and Departure Taxes for Travellers

The Thai government is actively exploring new revenue streams to bolster tourism infrastructure, visitor safety, and public services. As of October 2026, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports is considering a 450-baht tourist arrival fee for foreign visitors entering by air. Simultaneously, the Revenue Department is conducting a public consultation on a proposed 1,000-baht departure tax that would apply to all passengers, including Thai citizens, departing the country by air. These measures are intended to create a sustainable funding mechanism for the tourism sector.

The consultation process for the departure tax is scheduled to conclude on 29 October 2026. While the government has engaged with tourism businesses and civil society, these proposals have not yet been finalized or signed into law. The arrival fee and departure tax are being treated as separate legislative items, each with its own approval process and potential implementation timeline. The government's focus remains on balancing the need for increased funding with the goal of maintaining Thailand's competitiveness as a global travel destination.

International travellers arriving in Thailand by air are the primary group affected by the proposed arrival fee. The proposed departure tax would impact all passengers, including international tourists and Thai nationals, departing the country by air, with potential exemptions for young children, airline crew, and certain transit passengers.

Makutet notes that Thailand’s move reflects a growing trend among Southeast Asian nations to monetize tourism to offset the costs of rapid sector expansion. We expect that if these taxes are implemented, they will be integrated into ticket prices to minimize friction at airports, though the administrative burden of managing exemptions for transit passengers remains a significant hurdle for implementation.