Thailand to introduce compulsory travel insurance/tourist tax

[buksida]

Cabinet to consider fate of B300 foreign tourist fee

The cabinet is going to decide on whether to start or postpone the 300-baht tourism fee collection from foreign visitors because the Tourism and Sports Ministry insists the project cannot be cancelled as it is an enforceable law.

Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakan said the ministry will take until the end of September to finish the last phase of its fee collection study, which focuses on land entry, before submitting it for cabinet approval.

He said the project, entitled "Thailand Traveller Fee", is subject to the cabinet's review, which could mean immediate enforcement or requesting that the ministry postpone the start date.

The ministry already prepared fee collection mechanisms, signing a memorandum of understanding with Krungthai Bank on Tuesday to handle such transactions via a website, mobile application, kiosks and air tickets.

"Fee collection is necessary for the country as the Budget Bureau no longer provides a welfare budget for tourists in case of emergencies, while the ministry's fund for this purpose has a smaller budget remaining," said Mr Phiphat.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/travel/2401 ... ourist-fee

[buksida]

Thailand plans to introduce $12 tourist fee from June
Thailand plans to start collecting a 300 baht (S$12) fee from foreign tourists arriving in the country starting from June, with the money to be used to support visitors involved in accidents and develop tourist destinations, said a minister on Wednesday.

Tourism is a crucial sector in South-east Asia’s second-largest economy and contributed about 12 percent of gross domestic product before the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Fees won’t be collected from foreigners with work permits and border passes,” said Tourism Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, adding that Thailand expects 25 million tourist arrivals in 2023.

The proposal was first considered in 2022 and will be subject to Cabinet approval.

Tourism spending is forecast to reach at least 2.38 trillion baht in 2023, said Mr Phiphat. In 2019, Thailand welcomed nearly 40 million arrivals.

https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-as ... -from-june

[handdrummer]

How did they arrive at the 300 baht figure, roll the dice, or pick a card? Are there serviettes available to wipe their mealy mouths when they begin to add up the imaginary tourist money and begin to salivate?

[HHTel]

It's still unclear how this tax will be collected. Airport tax of 500 baht soon to be 700 baht has been included in your air ticket for years.
Are we now going to see queues at the airport to pay this new tax. Not everyone arrives with baht in their pocket, changing at the airport after clearing immigration.

[buksida]

Looks like the junta is already rubbing its hands together and getting ready to spend the tourist tax income ...

Calls for scrutiny of tourism fund
Tourism operators are concerned about the transparency of the Tourism Promotion Fund, which is estimated to have a budget of more than 13 billion baht from the 300-baht tourism fee collected from international visitors.

The cabinet this week approved collection of the fee, expected to start in June.

The Tourism and Sports Ministry is projected to collect 3.9 billion baht this year and more than 10 billion from 40 million visitors estimated for next year.

Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn, president of the Association of Thai Travel Agents, said fund management must be transparent and use the principle of checks and balances to avoid accusations of corruption or ineffective spending.

He said the structure of the Tourism Promotion Fund's subcommittee responsible for approving tourism project proposals should be balanced between the government and the private sector to assure that budget allocation does not favour any interest groups or is used for improper purposes.

Mr Sisdivachr said another concern is fee collection from foreign arrivals at borders as those channels are the most susceptible to corruption.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/25 ... urism-fund

[buksida]

Operators seek clarity on B300 tourism fee
Tourism operators are calling for clearer measures regarding the 300-baht tourism fee after the tourism and sports minister said levy collection will be delayed from June to September because of issues with its implementation.

Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said fee collection from foreign arrivals by air must be postponed because the airlines could not adopt a selective approach between foreign tourists, Thais and expatriates.

The airlines insisted that all passengers must be treated similarly for regulations.

Bhummikitti Ruktaengam, advisory chairman of the Phuket Tourist Association, said if the collection is postponed for air travellers, it should also be pushed back for arrivals by land and sea for consistency.

Instead of relying on airlines, there should be a central organisation solely responsible for fee collection and management for arrivals by air, sea and land, he said.

Mr Bhummikitti said he agrees with a tourism fee systematically collected and managed to help develop tourism destinations and communities, as well as cover the medical expenses of tourists in public hospitals.

Unpaid medical bills of tourists in Phuket amount to more than 10 million baht a year, he said.

In terms of the 150-baht tourism fee collection for entry via land, Mr Bhummikitti said the measure might affect the volume of cross-border visitors, such as Malaysian tourists in Songkhla, as they are mostly frequent travellers who visit Thailand every month for weekend breaks.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/25 ... ourism-fee

You've got to presume they're going to hit all foreigners with this, residents, expats, students, business travellers etc. I'll add up if you're in and out a few times a year.

[Dannie Boy]

According to this article, it’s been put back until September!!

https://www.pattayamail.com/latestnews/ ... ain-429499


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[sateeb]

Another well thought out plan

International airlines had agreed to pilot a scheme whereby the cost would be added to fares whether booked with them direct, or online or with travel agents. However, no way had yet been found to target only “foreign tourists” since Thai nationals and some non-defined expats were excluded from the scheme to raise the extra money. It had been suggested that those excluded would be able to reclaim their 300 baht later, but the fuzzy idea has proved very unpopular amongst those directly concerned.

Can these dimwits in charge ever see the big picture

[buksida]

State eyes alternative to B300 tourist levy
The government is sidelining the 300-baht tourism fee that was postponed many times during the previous administration, seeking alternative insurance for foreign tourists.

Amid a deterioration in confidence regarding Thailand's safety, the Tourism and Sports Ministry is studying several options to offer insurance coverage of 500,000 baht per person in case of injury and 1 million baht in the event of death from an accident.

During the cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin instructed the ministry to work on an insurance plan for all tourists, saying the government wants to assure tourists about safety while they travel here.

Tourism and Sports Minister Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol said as the government is shelving the 300-baht fee scheme during its administration to steady tourism sentiment, the ministry must seek a new plan to protect tourists.

Initially the ministry proposed using a 50-million-baht budget to compensate tourists on a case-by-case basis, such as for the mass shooting at Siam Paragon or the death of a Taiwanese tourist who was denied emergency care at a private hospital last week.

However, with the premier wanting to extend coverage to all tourists, the ministry will consult related authorities and the Office of the Insurance Commission regarding a plan and budget for this scheme, which will be much higher than 50 million baht, she said.

The ministry previously used the Foreign Tourists Assistance Fund to compensate tourists in case of accidents, but this fund was dissolved two years ago and there is still no permanent mechanism nor budget to help tourists.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/ge ... urist-levy

You can guarantee any compulsory tourist insurance is going to cost more than 300 baht

[Motyduke]

i still don't understand how "the government wants to assure tourists about safety while they travel here" with an insurance. They really think that paying an insurance improve confidence about safety ??

[buksida]

Right ... in other words: "you may not get fleeced by our hospitals if you pay our insurance 'tax' beforehand, but you're still just as likely to die on our roads or get shot in a mall but some rogue cop or soldier" ...

[GroveHillWanderer]

Right ... in other words: "you may not get fleeced by our hospitals if you pay our insurance 'tax' beforehand, but you're still just as likely to die on our roads or get shot in a mall but some rogue cop or soldier" ...

Not sure if you caught it in the article, but the proposed 300 Baht tourist tax/levy has been dropped.

[buksida]

Not sure if you caught it in the article, but the proposed 300 Baht tourist tax/levy has been dropped.

If you read it, it says it has been sidelined while they look for an alternative so a tax/insurance for foreigners is still on the cards.

A 'tax' is just a fee where the government takes money, and an 'insurance' gives the illusion that the payer is getting something back. So it'll probably be under this guise though not offering much - a bit like the fake health insurance many have to pay now to renew non-O visas.

[2/cb]

It always amazes me how visitors to the Kingdom arrive without any travel or medical cover. I pay quite a lot for my travel insurance so feel no sympathy at all for those who don’t when it goes wrong.

[KanDoo]

I pay quite a lot for my travel insurance so feel no sympathy at all for those who don’t when it goes wrong.

If your insurance was not as expensive would you feel any sympathy then? No, I did not think so. 555