Foreign tourists in Thailand could soon pay about 2,570 baht, or 77 dollars, in travel charges. Two new levies are under discussion: a 450-baht entry fee and a 1,000-baht departure tax. They would come on top of the airport passenger service charge, which rose from 730 to 1,120 baht on June 20.
The entry fee would start with tourists arriving by air; visitors by land and sea would pay a year later. Part of the money would fund medical and life insurance, and the rest would support tourist sites. The departure tax would also apply to Thais leaving by air. The tax office is collecting public comments until October 29, and no start date has been set. The Association of Thai Travel Agents opposes the departure tax. It warns that several charges on one trip would raise costs and put more pressure on tourism businesses.