Thai travel businesses are objecting to the clarification of the 300 baht tourism fee, which was moved from June to September.
With the justification that airlines cannot distinguish between foreign visitors, Thais, and expats, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports has delayed the implementation of the fee on foreign travelers arriving by air. Airlines have stated that rules must be implemented equally to all passengers, but the tourism ministry does not want the tourism levy to apply to specific categories of expats and Thai citizens. This has resulted in the delay.
Bhummikitti Ruktaengam, advising chairman of the Phuket Tourist Association, urged that for consistency’s sake, the charge postponement should apply to both land and marine arrivals.
Instead of placing the responsibility of collecting fees for all foreign arrivals, regardless of method of transportation, on the shoulders of airlines, he suggested that the Tourism Ministry create a new entity.
Bhummikitti, on the other hand, voiced his support for the new fee, claiming that it would aid in the growth of tourist destinations and communities in Thailand and pay for certain foreign tourists’ medical costs in public hospitals, which total more than 10 million baht annually.He also mentioned how the levy would affect cross-border travelers, such Malaysian visitors to Songkhla region who routinely visit Thailand each month for weekend getaways.
The delay in applying the tax, according to Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi, head of the Thai Hotels Association, would give travelers some respite from escalating travel expenses.
Although there are still many unregistered hotels in Thailand, whose owners might not follow the same standards for their visitors, she disagreed with certain ideas that they help with fee collection.
