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Collection of B500 fee from foreigners starts next year


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The Tourism and Sports Ministry is poised to start collecting a 500-baht tourism fee for a "tourism transformation fund" next year, with the budget following a co-payment model.

The Centre for Economic Situation Administration last week approved the creation of the fund, which is expected to subsidise projects that transform the industry, focusing on high-value and sustainable tourism.

Yuthasak Supasorn, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) governor, said the fee collection of 500 baht per person should start next year, with the aim of collecting 5 billion within the first year, assuming 10 million foreign arrivals in 2022.

The National Tourism Policy Committee already gave the nod to start the fund earlier this year, with a proposed fee of 300 baht per person.

Mr Yuthasak said the additional 200 baht will be earmarked for: projects initiated by the private sector, community enterprises, or social enterprises that would like to transform their business to meet the fund's strategy; helping the country restructure from mass tourism to high-value or a bio-, circular and green economic model; and environmentally concerned tourism.

"The projects should be co-creations and the government should use the fund to support projects that can create an economic impact. The proportion of public-private financial support could be 50:50, 60:40 or 70:30, depending on how much we want to make those projects happen," he said.

The fund is also meant to budget insurance and development projects for foreign visitors that require government initiatives rather than the private sector, including those needing matching grants from local administrations, said Mr Yuthasak.

After the concept is approved, the Tourism and Sports Ministry and TAT are required to have discussions with related authorities about setting up the fund committee and funding mechanisms, such as how to collect the fee from tourists, he said.

The committee must develop a criteria to determine which projects are eligible for financial support.

"The additional cost won't have an impact on tourists as we want to focus on the quality market," said Mr Yuthasak.

"We hope this fund will support a national tourism makeover creating more safe and clean places."

He said the fund's objective is not to tackle the financial impact of the pandemic, but rather focus on long-term local economic growth.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2191883/collection-of-b500-fee-from-foreigners-starts-next-year

 

The Borders aren’t even open yet and they are looking for new ways to scalp the foreigner

 

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I proposed the question "what happens if people just don't wannna travel for tourism anymore?", some time before Covid.

At the time no one could entertain the thought experiment.

Tourism may not be the same ever again, there will be ga-zillions thrown at it and it will become a "right" that people will fight and protest for.

 

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Didn't they used to do this? collected on the way out?

I guess the boys at the top of the pyramid, had trouble with the dosh flowing uphill from the airport and when they made the airlines collect it as part of the fare and pass it on at a higher level.

So now they're doing it again?

Did the other one go away or are they now getting double?

 

 

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4 hours ago, Coss said:

Didn't they used to do this? collected on the way out?

I guess the boys at the top of the pyramid, had trouble with the dosh flowing uphill from the airport and when they made the airlines collect it as part of the fare and pass it on at a higher level.

So now they're doing it again?

Did the other one go away or are they now getting double?

 

 

No, that is a departure tax, 500THB included in ticket price and still valid, this will be an additional arrival tax.

Once they have got this one imposed next will be a “being here tax” billed on a daily basis, most likely added to hotel charges.

8 hours ago, buffalo_bill said:

I still carry 5000 Bht in cash from last time. Enough for 10 trips. Velly goos

Bubi, it is not the money but the principal, as stated above they already have a departure tax, what next massage tax, boom boom tax,  breathing Thai air tax, umbrella in rainy season tax?

The tax On Socks with flip flops / sandals won’t bother me, only applies to Germans 
 

 

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On 10/8/2021 at 5:28 AM, Coss said:

Didn't they used to do this? collected on the way out?

I guess the boys at the top of the pyramid, had trouble with the dosh flowing uphill from the airport and when they made the airlines collect it as part of the fare and pass it on at a higher level.

So now they're doing it again?

Did the other one go away or are they now getting double?

 

 

It was 500 on the way out increased to 700 and there is another 100 on top forget what for, included in present tickets. So this will be 1300 tax all in to visit wonderland 😜

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