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Thailand will charge tourist tax from 2026: What travelers need to know!
Thailand plans to introduce a tourist tax of 300 baht for air travelers from May 1, 2026. Critics express concerns.
Thailand will charge tourist tax from 2026: What travelers need to know!
Significant changes are coming for travelers in Thailand. The new Minister of Tourism and Sports, Atthakorn Sirilatthayakorn, has announced that a tourist tax will be introduced. Starting next year, foreign visitors arriving by plane will have to pay a fee of 300 baht, about 7.70 euros. A reduced fee of 150 baht may apply for arrival by land or sea; However, this measure has not yet been finally decided. The idea of such a tax has been discussed since 2020 and was temporarily put on hold in spring 2025, taking into account resistance and concerns, as Bild reports.
The proposed tax not only has financial aspects, but also far-reaching goals. The income should primarily flow into improving infrastructure, providing public toilets and security services in tourist hotspots. An essential part of the fee is automatic insurance protection for travelers: in the event of the death of a vacationer, up to 1.5 million baht is insured, and in the event of injury, 500,000 baht. This could reassure many travelers who have safety concerns.
Digital entry cards will become standard
An important component for the implementation of the tourist tax is the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC), which has already been introduced and has been mandatory for all entries since May 1, 2025. This digital entry card replaces the traditional paper form and must be completed within 72 hours before arrival. The application is made via an online portal and registration remains free for the time being, according to ADAC.
The tax should be linked to the TDAC. Travelers can pay the fee directly via the app or website, even in combination with the flight ticket. However, critics fear that this additional burden could deter price-sensitive tourists in particular. According to [Schönes Thailand](https://www.schoenes-thailand.at/2025/10/04/countdown-zur-tourismussteuer-thailands-300-baht-gebuehr-soll-nach-jahren-des-stillstands-realitaet- Werden/), the introduction could take until mid-2026 as a national information campaign needs to be launched in order to to clear up misunderstandings.
The levy is underpinned by hopes that Thailand can again attract 39.9 million tourists by 2025, as it did before the pandemic. So far in 2025, around 24 million tourists have visited Thailand. Industry experts see the tax as an opportunity to strengthen trust in Thailand as a safe and modern travel destination.
The entry tax could not only improve the domestic infrastructure, but also create the framework for sustainable and safe tourism. This could be a decisive advantage for Thailand, which is in competition with other Asian countries.