Thailand postpones proposed departure tax to protect tourism

The Thai government has placed a proposed 1,000-baht (approximately 27 euro) departure tax on hold. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas confirmed the decision, noting that the Ministry of Finance is evaluating the potential impact on international travelers and the airline industry.

The proposed levy would have applied to both Thai citizens and foreign visitors departing via air, with airlines collecting the fee during ticket purchases. While land and sea departures were initially intended to be exempt, the government has paused the measure to maintain tourism momentum and avoid placing additional financial pressure on passengers and airlines amid rising energy costs linked to Middle East conflicts.

In a separate effort to support the domestic sector, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has proposed a 3.5 billion baht credit program for 2027. This initiative, titled ‘Thai Teaw Thai Plus’, aims to provide subsidies for hotel stays and digital vouchers to 200,000 Thais to counteract the impact of high living costs and fuel prices on domestic travel.