Thailand to Charge Tourists 300 Baht Per Entry: What Filipinos Should Know

Thailand is finally set to roll out its long-delayed 300-baht tourism tax. Officials say the new entry fee will go towards insurance and better facilities for visitors, though many remain unconvinced about the move.

Atthakorn Sirilatthayakorn, the newly appointed Minister of Tourism and Sports, confirmed that the long-discussed plan will likely push through during his four-month term. The idea first appeared in 2020 and even received cabinet approval in 2023, but past officials kept shelving it due to fears of backlash from the travel industry and the public.

Here’s the breakdown:

• Foreign tourists arriving by air will pay 300 baht (around PHP 460) per entry.

• Travellers entering by land or sea will pay 150 baht (around PHP 230).

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Image credit: Atthakorn Sirilatthayakorn | Palang Pracharath Party Website

The fee, according to Atthakorn, is not just another expense. It’s supposed to fund traveller insurance and improve tourist facilities across the country. He admitted that the government must be transparent in showing how this money benefits visitors. Without that, people will simply see it as a pointless charge that hurts Thailand’s image as an affordable destination.

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On top of this, the ministry plans to roll out fresh tourism campaigns before the year ends. These will be financed by the remaining budget from a 1.76-billion-baht domestic travel subsidy. The ultimate goal is to bring back pre-pandemic numbers of nearly 40 million foreign visitors a year. For comparison, Thailand welcomed 35.5 million tourists in 2024 and is targeting about 33.4 million this year.

Image credit: cadop | Unsplash

For Filipino travellers, this new rule means adding a small but unavoidable cost to your Thailand adventures. Whether it’s a quick Bangkok shopping run, a Phuket beach holiday, or a Chiang Mai escape, the entry fee will now be part of your budget. And if you’re travelling as a group or planning multiple entries, the added expense can pile up faster than you think.

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Thailand’s 300-baht tourism tax is no longer just talk. If you’re flying there soon, expect to pay the fee and factor it into your travel budget so you don’t get surprised at the airport.