A specially organised seminar, held last week in Bangkok, discussed proposals on how to entice Chinese tourists back to the country and how to ensure their safety.
Thailand to introduce compulsory travel insurance/tourist tax
Re: Thailand to introduce compulsory travel insurance/tourist tax
Yes, I can understand the purpose of compulsory medical insurance, but that's not what the seminar was arranged for...
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oakdale160
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Re: Thailand to introduce compulsory travel insurance/tourist tax
The airlines are very careful not to let anybody on te plane unless they have the approprite VISa, Med Ins is a little more difficult as the policies differ so much.
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StevePIraq
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Re: Thailand to introduce compulsory travel insurance/tourist tax
Personally I agree with compulsory travel insurance but no way is that going to bring tourists.
"Live everyday as if it were your last because someday you're going to be right." Muhammad Ali
Re: Thailand to introduce compulsory travel insurance/tourist tax
Compulsory insurance for tourists eyed
https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/17 ... rists-eyed
Travel coverage set to launch this year
Compulsory travel insurance for foreign visitors at a 20-baht premium each is expected to debut this year, according to the Office of the Insurance Commission (OIC).
Foreign travellers will be required to pay for the compulsory insurance at immigration offices in airports, while the premium will be directed to Thailand's Tourism Promotion Fund for coverage of payments in the event of claims, said secretary-general Suthiphon Thaveechaiyagarn.
The compulsory travel insurance will offer up to 1 million baht of coverage in cases of death, with a maximum duration of 30 days.
The insurance will have to seek approval from the Tourism and Sports Ministry before being forwarded to the cabinet later.
The travel insurance coverage is intended to bolster the confidence of foreign tourists when visiting Thailand.
Compulsory travel insurance for inbound tourists was raised after a string of foreign tourist tragedies, including last year's boat catastrophe off Phuket that claimed 47 Chinese lives.
The China market is the biggest for Thai tourism, making up nearly 10 million visitors out of the overall 38 million international arrivals last year.
The Tourism and Sports Ministry has forecast the number of foreign tourists this year at more than 40 million, contributing 2.13 trillion baht in revenue.
The tourism industry is one of the Thai economy's few bright spots, generating income that accounts for nearly 18% of the country's GDP.
In a related development, the OIC has launched a peace-of-mind travel programme, a pilot project in Nakhon Nayok province.
Under the scheme, tour operators provide insurance to customers and tour guides.
Mr Suthiphon said Nakorn Nayok is an ideal province for a trial run of the project, as it has plenty of activities for travellers such as rafting, activity at waterfalls, climbing and biking, and these activities carry the risk of accidents.
In 2018, 2.1 million tourists visited Nakhon Nayok province.
"We've encouraged local tour operators to take out insurance for their customers, to provide them protection in case of accidents or death," Mr Suthiphon said.
According to the Tourism Business and Guide Act, tour operators are required to provide tourists insurance coverage of at least 1 million baht per tourist in case of death and 500,000 baht in case of injury.
Any tour operator that fails to comply with the law is liable for up to a 500,000-baht fine.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/17 ... rists-eyed
Travel coverage set to launch this year
Compulsory travel insurance for foreign visitors at a 20-baht premium each is expected to debut this year, according to the Office of the Insurance Commission (OIC).
Foreign travellers will be required to pay for the compulsory insurance at immigration offices in airports, while the premium will be directed to Thailand's Tourism Promotion Fund for coverage of payments in the event of claims, said secretary-general Suthiphon Thaveechaiyagarn.
The compulsory travel insurance will offer up to 1 million baht of coverage in cases of death, with a maximum duration of 30 days.
The insurance will have to seek approval from the Tourism and Sports Ministry before being forwarded to the cabinet later.
The travel insurance coverage is intended to bolster the confidence of foreign tourists when visiting Thailand.
Compulsory travel insurance for inbound tourists was raised after a string of foreign tourist tragedies, including last year's boat catastrophe off Phuket that claimed 47 Chinese lives.
The China market is the biggest for Thai tourism, making up nearly 10 million visitors out of the overall 38 million international arrivals last year.
The Tourism and Sports Ministry has forecast the number of foreign tourists this year at more than 40 million, contributing 2.13 trillion baht in revenue.
The tourism industry is one of the Thai economy's few bright spots, generating income that accounts for nearly 18% of the country's GDP.
In a related development, the OIC has launched a peace-of-mind travel programme, a pilot project in Nakhon Nayok province.
Under the scheme, tour operators provide insurance to customers and tour guides.
Mr Suthiphon said Nakorn Nayok is an ideal province for a trial run of the project, as it has plenty of activities for travellers such as rafting, activity at waterfalls, climbing and biking, and these activities carry the risk of accidents.
In 2018, 2.1 million tourists visited Nakhon Nayok province.
"We've encouraged local tour operators to take out insurance for their customers, to provide them protection in case of accidents or death," Mr Suthiphon said.
According to the Tourism Business and Guide Act, tour operators are required to provide tourists insurance coverage of at least 1 million baht per tourist in case of death and 500,000 baht in case of injury.
Any tour operator that fails to comply with the law is liable for up to a 500,000-baht fine.
May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil know`s you`re dead!
Re: Thailand to introduce compulsory travel insurance/tourist tax
So it's 'accident insurance' for tourists lasting 30 days.
Nothing to do with the health insurance that has been talked about.
Nothing to do with the health insurance that has been talked about.
Re: Thailand to introduce compulsory travel insurance/tourist tax
Ministry postpones levy on foreign visitors
The Tourism and Sports Ministry has decided to delay plans to collect a tourism levy from foreign visitors.
Last Wednesday, permanent tourism secretary Chote Trachu said the levy could result in psychological deterrence among foreign visitors and further harm the stagnant sector.
In May, Mr Chote announced that the ministry had studied the feasibility of collecting a tourism levy from foreign visitors and using the income to rehabilitate natural destinations. He hinted that the tax amount would be minimal and not affect visitors.
"We do not want to implement the levy this year, as it could worsen Thai tourism, especially when the baht is so strong," Mr Chote said.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/17 ... n-visitors
The Tourism and Sports Ministry has decided to delay plans to collect a tourism levy from foreign visitors.
Last Wednesday, permanent tourism secretary Chote Trachu said the levy could result in psychological deterrence among foreign visitors and further harm the stagnant sector.
In May, Mr Chote announced that the ministry had studied the feasibility of collecting a tourism levy from foreign visitors and using the income to rehabilitate natural destinations. He hinted that the tax amount would be minimal and not affect visitors.
"We do not want to implement the levy this year, as it could worsen Thai tourism, especially when the baht is so strong," Mr Chote said.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/17 ... n-visitors
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
Re: Thailand to introduce compulsory travel insurance/tourist tax
Tourism levy mulled (again)
The Tourism and Sports Ministry is considering a tax of 300 baht or less per person for foreign arrivals that could cover pandemic insurance, once inbound flights and tourism activities resume in the country.
Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, the tourism and sports minister, said the tax would be collected once foreigners arrive by air, land or sea transport.
The scheme is part of the 20-year national strategic plan that requires government agencies to have recurring income to sustain and stabilise the national economy.
The levy will be added to the tourism fund managed by the ministry that aims to rebuild and develop tourism supply chains here, as well as offer safety and security protection for tourists.
He said this idea was initiated last year but was delayed because of the pandemic. Now is the right time to initiate collection, said Mr Phiphat.
The goal is to have tourists entering via air travel charged as a part of their air tickets, but the government has not finalised how collection for land and sea transport would work.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/19 ... evy-mulled
Typical Thai thinking: business is down, up the prices.
The Tourism and Sports Ministry is considering a tax of 300 baht or less per person for foreign arrivals that could cover pandemic insurance, once inbound flights and tourism activities resume in the country.
Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, the tourism and sports minister, said the tax would be collected once foreigners arrive by air, land or sea transport.
The scheme is part of the 20-year national strategic plan that requires government agencies to have recurring income to sustain and stabilise the national economy.
The levy will be added to the tourism fund managed by the ministry that aims to rebuild and develop tourism supply chains here, as well as offer safety and security protection for tourists.
He said this idea was initiated last year but was delayed because of the pandemic. Now is the right time to initiate collection, said Mr Phiphat.
The goal is to have tourists entering via air travel charged as a part of their air tickets, but the government has not finalised how collection for land and sea transport would work.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/19 ... evy-mulled
Typical Thai thinking: business is down, up the prices.
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
Re: Thailand to introduce compulsory travel insurance/tourist tax
THAILAND TO PURSUE CONTROVERSIAL ‘TOURISM FEE’ IN 2022
The government is pushing ahead with a contentious proposal to charge every tourist for simply stepping foot in Thailand, a move that may complicate Thailand’s efforts to build back the tourism industry ravaged by the coronavirus pandemic.
A fee of 300 baht per tourist was initially approved by the government in January. Officials said the fund would be used to develop and maintain tourism destinations around the country. The proposal is now back on the table, and the amount of money the government intended to charge visitors has increased to 500 baht.
Tourism Authority of Thailand governor Yuthasak Supasorn told the media the extra 200 baht will be spent on unspecified projects that will “transform” the country’s tourism model, from mass market to a more “high-value,” environmentally friendly mode of operation. He did not elaborate on the nature of the projects.
Yuthasak also said he’s pretty sure tourists won’t mind paying the 500 baht, and added that the charge will be effective from next year onward. He hoped the fee will bring in 5 billion baht for the government within the first year alone – assuming that up to 10 million tourists visit Thailand in 2022.
https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/cri ... e-in-2022/
That'll get em flooding back - charge them more because they "won't mind paying" another tax on top of their covid insurance fees, covid test costs, quarantine expenses, flight price hikes, entry documents, visas, and then getting fleeced with dual pricing wherever they go. Amazing Thailand indeed.
The government is pushing ahead with a contentious proposal to charge every tourist for simply stepping foot in Thailand, a move that may complicate Thailand’s efforts to build back the tourism industry ravaged by the coronavirus pandemic.
A fee of 300 baht per tourist was initially approved by the government in January. Officials said the fund would be used to develop and maintain tourism destinations around the country. The proposal is now back on the table, and the amount of money the government intended to charge visitors has increased to 500 baht.
Tourism Authority of Thailand governor Yuthasak Supasorn told the media the extra 200 baht will be spent on unspecified projects that will “transform” the country’s tourism model, from mass market to a more “high-value,” environmentally friendly mode of operation. He did not elaborate on the nature of the projects.
Yuthasak also said he’s pretty sure tourists won’t mind paying the 500 baht, and added that the charge will be effective from next year onward. He hoped the fee will bring in 5 billion baht for the government within the first year alone – assuming that up to 10 million tourists visit Thailand in 2022.
https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/cri ... e-in-2022/
That'll get em flooding back - charge them more because they "won't mind paying" another tax on top of their covid insurance fees, covid test costs, quarantine expenses, flight price hikes, entry documents, visas, and then getting fleeced with dual pricing wherever they go. Amazing Thailand indeed.
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
Re: Thailand to introduce compulsory travel insurance/tourist tax
Yes and they cannot work out why no tourists all them rich people coming who cares.
Re: Thailand to introduce compulsory travel insurance/tourist tax
Call for delay of new tourist entry fee
The new 300-baht tourism fee due to take effect in April is drawing mixed reactions from tourism operators as the recovery remains tepid and fragile.
"If the country wants to welcome back tourists, the tourism fee has to be put off until at least 2023 as the sector has to be rebuilt from the ground up because of the Omicron variant," said Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi, president of the Thai Hotels Association.
She said even though the amount of the fee is small, it would have a psychological impact on tourists, particularly those who travel as a group as well as cross-border travellers who frequently visit the country.
Mrs Marisa said the idea of using the fund for tourist insurance and developing tourism sites is worthwhile, but the timing is off because the country will lose out amid intense competition.
Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn, president of the Association of Thai Travel Agents, said the new fee will worsen travel confidence following the indefinite suspension of the Test & Go scheme and the country's ongoing battle against Covid-19.
He said a more appropriate time to enforce the fee would be when Thai tourism returns to 2019 levels, after Chinese tourists start to come back and global travel properly resumes.
Chamnan Srisawat, president of the Tourism Council of Thailand, said he agreed with the plan to use tourism fees to develop the travel industry's supply side. However, the council would like more clarity regarding the funding mechanism.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/22 ... -entry-fee
Thailand to charge foreign tourists 300 baht entry fee starting April 1
https://thethaiger.com/news/national/th ... ng-april-1
The new 300-baht tourism fee due to take effect in April is drawing mixed reactions from tourism operators as the recovery remains tepid and fragile.
"If the country wants to welcome back tourists, the tourism fee has to be put off until at least 2023 as the sector has to be rebuilt from the ground up because of the Omicron variant," said Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi, president of the Thai Hotels Association.
She said even though the amount of the fee is small, it would have a psychological impact on tourists, particularly those who travel as a group as well as cross-border travellers who frequently visit the country.
Mrs Marisa said the idea of using the fund for tourist insurance and developing tourism sites is worthwhile, but the timing is off because the country will lose out amid intense competition.
Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn, president of the Association of Thai Travel Agents, said the new fee will worsen travel confidence following the indefinite suspension of the Test & Go scheme and the country's ongoing battle against Covid-19.
He said a more appropriate time to enforce the fee would be when Thai tourism returns to 2019 levels, after Chinese tourists start to come back and global travel properly resumes.
Chamnan Srisawat, president of the Tourism Council of Thailand, said he agreed with the plan to use tourism fees to develop the travel industry's supply side. However, the council would like more clarity regarding the funding mechanism.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/22 ... -entry-fee
Thailand to charge foreign tourists 300 baht entry fee starting April 1
https://thethaiger.com/news/national/th ... ng-april-1
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
Re: Thailand to introduce compulsory travel insurance/tourist tax
According to the BK post, the 300 baht will provide 500k of medical insurance. Sounds like a good deal. Will be cheaper to do a quick in and out to Laos/Cambodia/Vietnam than buy an insurance policy.
Can't wait to read the small print....
Can't wait to read the small print....
Re: Thailand to introduce compulsory travel insurance/tourist tax
Must be like that fake 7,000 baht insurance policy OA visa holders have to buy for immigration. 
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
Re: Thailand to introduce compulsory travel insurance/tourist tax
B300 tourism fee postponed
The 300-baht tourism fee faces a delay in implementation, beginning in the fourth quarter at the earliest, while the cancellation of Thailand Pass is expected from July 1, according to the Tourism and Sports Ministry.
"Fee collection for tourists arriving by land requires further study, such as determining if the fee amount should be less than 300 baht because the average length of stay for these visitors is only 1-2 nights," said Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Tourism and Sports Minister.
The tourism fee was previously on the agenda for the cabinet meeting this week, but the ministry withdrew the proposal to sort out fee collection for land entry.
He said the ministry plans to resubmit the proposal to the cabinet within two months, with fee collection beginning 90 days after publication in the Royal Gazette. The starting date for fee collection is likely to be delayed from between August and September to the final quarter this year or the first quarter of 2023 at the latest, said Mr Phiphat.
The ministry also plans to propose on June 17 the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) terminate Thailand Pass registration for international visitors from July 1.
"Eliminating the Thailand Pass system means tourists don't have to buy travel insurance anymore, which should help make travel more convenient," he said.
Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) governor Yuthasak Supasorn said the agency will discuss with tourism operators this Friday about other urgent inquiries before the next CCSA meeting.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/23 ... -postponed
The 300-baht tourism fee faces a delay in implementation, beginning in the fourth quarter at the earliest, while the cancellation of Thailand Pass is expected from July 1, according to the Tourism and Sports Ministry.
"Fee collection for tourists arriving by land requires further study, such as determining if the fee amount should be less than 300 baht because the average length of stay for these visitors is only 1-2 nights," said Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Tourism and Sports Minister.
The tourism fee was previously on the agenda for the cabinet meeting this week, but the ministry withdrew the proposal to sort out fee collection for land entry.
He said the ministry plans to resubmit the proposal to the cabinet within two months, with fee collection beginning 90 days after publication in the Royal Gazette. The starting date for fee collection is likely to be delayed from between August and September to the final quarter this year or the first quarter of 2023 at the latest, said Mr Phiphat.
The ministry also plans to propose on June 17 the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) terminate Thailand Pass registration for international visitors from July 1.
"Eliminating the Thailand Pass system means tourists don't have to buy travel insurance anymore, which should help make travel more convenient," he said.
Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) governor Yuthasak Supasorn said the agency will discuss with tourism operators this Friday about other urgent inquiries before the next CCSA meeting.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/23 ... -postponed
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
Re: Thailand to introduce compulsory travel insurance/tourist tax
That's the first I've seen of that."Eliminating the Thailand Pass system means tourists don't have to buy travel insurance anymore, which should help make travel more convenient," he said.
Re: Thailand to introduce compulsory travel insurance/tourist tax
He probably hasn't run it by the esteemed health minister yet.
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson