Thailand has postponed plans for a 1,000-baht departure tax, roughly US$30 per person, as the Finance Ministry seeks to protect tourism demand. Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas said the government would not proceed with collection for now, Matichon reported on October 22.
The minister cited the risk of adding costs for travellers and airlines while conflict in the Middle East keeps energy prices and operating conditions uncertain. He wants to preserve momentum during the fourth-quarter tourism season. We previously examined how those disruptions were creating tourism pressures for Thailand.
The Revenue Department’s consultation notice confirms that the draft legislation covers departing travellers of all nationalities, with public comments invited from September 30 to October 29. The proposed initial charge was 1,000 baht for each air departure; the draft’s 5,000-baht ceiling was not the intended starting rate.
The postponement concerns the departure-tax proposal, which has not taken effect. It does not cancel the separate planned 450-baht tourist entry fee overseen by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, a distinction Ekniti stressed, according to The Nation’s coverage.
No revised implementation date was announced. For travellers budgeting a Thailand trip, the decision removes the immediate prospect of this additional exit levy, but should not be read as the removal of existing airport charges or confirmation that all proposed tourism fees have been abandoned.
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