NovThailand News
Thailand opens consultation on a proposed 450-baht tourist fee
The consultation began on 24 August. Once it closes, the draft is expected to return to the National Tourism Policy Committee before moving through further government approval, including Cabinet consideration. Officials have discussed a possible 2027 rollout, but there is no final commencement date while that process remains unfinished.
What the current draft would do
The proposal sets one rate of 450 baht per person for arrivals by air, land or sea. It also includes a provision for repeat travel: a visitor who has already paid would not be charged again for additional entries within 30 days, provided the insurance coverage linked to the fee remains valid.
The draft lists several proposed exemptions. These include work permit holders, holders of diplomatic or official passports, transit passengers, crew members, border-pass holders and children under two, along with certain official guests. Those categories should still be treated as draft terms until a final notification is approved and published.
A 2027 target is not the same as a start date
Authorities have described a phased introduction, with air arrivals expected to come first and land and sea collection later. That implementation sequence remains conditional because the proposal has not completed consultation or become an enforceable rule.
Government statements in September referred to the first quarter of 2027 as a target for starting collection. For travellers planning ahead, that is useful context rather than a confirmed deadline. Until the required approvals and official publication take place, the 450-baht amount is not a mandatory Thai entry charge.
Why frequent visitors should watch the final wording
For an occasional holiday, 450 baht may be a relatively small addition to the trip budget. For people who enter Thailand repeatedly, the more important details are whether the 30-day repeat-entry provision survives in the final version and which exemptions are ultimately retained.
The proposed tourism fee would not replace a visa, extend permission to stay or change immigration eligibility. Long-stay visitors should therefore check the final exemption wording for their own status once the measure is formally adopted rather than assuming that residence in Thailand by itself removes the charge.
Sources
- Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism and Sports — 27 August 2026.
- Thailand Public Relations Department — 17 August 2026.
- The Nation — 25 August 2026.
- Bernama — 13 September 2026.