Thailand has announced a new tourist tax for foreign travelers that will be implemented next year. The plan is to charge 10 baht per day, per person on those who stay in hotels and guesthouses.
Thailand is set to impose a new tourist tax next year. The new tax will be imposed on foreign tourists visiting the country, and will raise $1 billion for government spending.
The COVID-19 epidemic has caused several major tourist locations, particularly those suffering from overtourism, to reconsider how the industry is permitted to operate. Thailand, which has been largely closed to foreign tourists since March 2020, seems to be one of them, with plans to concentrate on the “quality market” from now on.
As a result, Thailand’s Center for Economic Situation Administration has authorized a proposal to levy a 500-baht (less than $15) visitor tax to finance a “tourism reform fund.” The nation’s Tourism and Sports Ministry will begin collecting the new tourist charge next year, according to the Bangkok Post, and its budget will be based on a co-payment basis.
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The National Tourist Policy Committee had previously approved the fund’s establishment earlier this year, suggesting a 300-baht charge per person (later increased to 500 baht), with the profits going to initiatives aimed at improving the tourism sector.
The extra 200 baht would be directed towards initiatives started by the private sector or community to change their operations to line with the fund’s strategic emphasis on high-value and sustainable tourism, according to Yuthasak Supasorn, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). The government estimates that the fund would earn 5 billion baht by 2022 if the country receives approximately 10 million international visitors.
The additional funds will also be used to assist the nation in reshaping its tourist sector from mass tourism to a high-value economic model that is ecologically conscious. It’s also intended to assist fund budget insurance for foreign tourists and other government-led development projects rather than private-sector ones.
“The initiatives should be co-created, and the money should be used to assist enterprises with a positive economic effect. Depending on how much we want to make such projects materialize, the percentage of public-private financial assistance might be 50:50, 60:40, or 70:30 “Supasorn said.
He said that the fund is designed to promote long-term, local economic development rather than compensate for financial losses caused by the epidemic.
Mr. Yuthasak said, “The extra fee will have no effect on visitors since we want to concentrate on the quality market.” “We believe that this fund will help to finance a national tourist makeover that will result in more safe and clean destinations.”
Following the scheme’s approval, TAT and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports must work with other sector authorities to establish how the fund will be set up and operated. The same committee will be in charge of determining whether projects are eligible for financing.
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Thailand has announced that it will impose a new tourism tax next year. The tax will be imposed on foreign travelers and is expected to raise $3 billion in revenue for the country. Reference: thailand foreign travel.
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