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  1. #1
    Thailand Expat harrybarracuda's Avatar
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    THAILAND: Tourism fee to help insure foreigners visiting the kingdom

    The National Tourism Policy Committee has approved the proposed guidelines for the collection of a 300-baht tourism fee from each international visitor for the management of local tourist destinations.

    The money will also be used to provide insurance benefits to international tourists visiting the country.

    Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said each foreign visitor will be charged US$10 (300 baht) per visit. The details of the fee collection will be announced in the Royal Gazette once the policy has taken effect.


    According to Mr Phiphat, Thailand expects to receive some 10 million visitors this year.

    He said the merit of the 300-baht tourism fee is that foreign tourists who fall sick or are injured will be taken care of and given adequate medical care.

    The ministry will have to discuss the details with the Finance Ministry and the Office of Insurance Commission.

    Of the 300-baht fee, 34 baht is expected to be used for the insurance coverage, Mr Phiphat said.

    The fee collection is in line with the revised National Tourism Policy Act, which authorises the ministry to impose a tourism fee for use in developing local destinations and providing insurance coverage to foreign tourists.


    Tourism permanent secretary Chote Trachu on Thursday said the fee collection was initially due to begin last year, but it was put on hold due to the Covid-19 pandemic.


    He said the National Tourism Policy Committee has assessed the situation and agreed the tourism fee collection should go ahead this year.


    According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the country had been forecast to close last year with merely 6.7 million international tourists -- not much more than the number prior to last year's outbreak of Covid-19 -- despite government attempts to activate entry schemes for foreigners via Special Tourist Visas (STVs).


    With a second wave of outbreaks gripping many countries around the world, particularly during the winter months, triggering new rounds of lockdowns, Thailand is expected to wait longer -- until the second half of this year -- to see more visitors file back into the kingdom and revive the ailing industry.


    While the TAT previously predicted the domestic market would reach 100 million trips last year, the recent spike in local cases led the agency to revise down the target to 95 million trips, a result of the partial lockdowns in some provinces.

    https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2051039/tourism-fee-to-help-insure-foreigners-visiting-the-kingdom

  2. #2
    I am not a cat
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    Quote Originally Posted by harrybarracuda View Post


    The money will also be used to provide insurance benefits to international tourists visiting the country.



    Well, OK.

    Quote Originally Posted by harrybarracuda View Post


    He said the merit of the 300-baht tourism fee is that foreign tourists who fall sick or are injured will be taken care of and given adequate medical care.



    yeah - OK, I suppose it could be needed.


    Quote Originally Posted by harrybarracuda View Post


    Of the 300-baht fee, 34 baht is expected to be used for the insurance coverage, Mr Phiphat said.


  3. #3
    I Amn't In Jail PlanK's Avatar
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    So for 300 baht I get travel insurance in Thailand.


    Score!

  4. #4
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    hmm, so now you can't visit Thailand without insurance, so why would they need to do.

  5. #5
    Thailand Expat

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    I can think of no valid reason for recommending this country as a suitable tropical holiday destination to civilised people.

  6. #6
    Thailand Expat tomcat's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by harrybarracuda View Post
    He said the National Tourism Policy Committee has assessed the situation and agreed the tourism fee collection should go ahead this year.
    ...because the more you charge, the greater the number of arrivals...it's just good economic sense...

  7. #7
    Thailand Expat jabir's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Plan B View Post
    So for 300 baht I get travel insurance in Thailand.

    Score!
    Only if you don't end up needing it.

    Best way to attract tourists, tell them you're increasing the bureaucracy and they can pay for it as the end beneficiaries. And don't bury the extras into ticket surcharges, because most visitors wouldn't notice that.

  8. #8
    Thailand Expat
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    Quote Originally Posted by harrybarracuda View Post
    According to Mr Phiphat, Thailand expects to receive some 10 million visitors this year.
    A 75% drop from 2019 numbers but still optimistic...

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by Troy View Post
    According to Mr Phiphat, Thailand expects to receive some 10 million visitors this year.
    They hope.

  10. #10
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    Tourists already pay taxes, about 700b included in their fare (in replacement of the 500b tax fee we had to pay at the airport before going through immigration on our way back home).
    So now that will be about 1000b per tourist + vat on their purchases + the price gauging to enter national parks and other tourism attractions and activities.

    I read somewhere that about 36b would be allocated to compensating hospitals for tourists skipping their bills...I think the current hospital funds deficit caused by unpaid bills by tourists would be covered by a 10b or so fee if their expected numbers actually come, which I don't see it happening in 2021 nor 2022 ...imagine collecting billions to cover a debt in the millions range, sweet!
    And we don't know if the said debt figure as been calculated on the rich farang tier price or, neighbouring countries price, Thai price or actual costs.

    As for taking care of tourist spots, does that mean that dual pricing would then be forbidden at those places?

    Problem is that tourism was already going downhill pre-covid situation mainly because Thailand wasn't as cheap as it was before and the value for money it offers has taken a dent compared to other destinations that improved their offer. And of course the scam and other dodgy practices don't help. Not sure why they think adding more cost is the way to go, they think people are fretting at the gates? If the gates open they expect the flow to be the same as 2019 ? Delusional at best, people might want to let the steam off with some exotic holidays but others had lost their jobs and/or dented their savings during the crisis...or people will simply get holidays closer to home to reduce health risks.
    Last edited by Farang Ky Ay; 16-01-2021 at 10:30 PM.

  11. #11
    Isle of discombobulation Joe 90's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by harrybarracuda View Post
    Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn
    I wonder how long it took for him to come up with this original and innovative idea?

    Give him a cigar and a slap on the back.


    Btw what tourists?

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by Chico View Post
    They hope.
    No . . .
    Quote Originally Posted by Chico View Post
    expects

  13. #13
    Days Work Done! Norton's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Troy View Post
    A 75% drop from 2019 numbers but still optimistic...
    Another pipe dream. Covid was the final nail in the coffin. Thailand is no longer an attractive tourist destination compared to competing nation in the region. Certainly not the lowest cost anymore and high end, higher cost holiday destination infrastructure in the region have surpassed Thailand. Throw in all the double pricing nonsense, far from the easiest visa requirements and far from the best environmental conditions, you have a situation where Thai tourism are over and will not recover to it's once halcyon days.
    "Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect,"

  14. #14
    CCBW Stumpy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Norton View Post
    Another pipe dream. Covid was the final nail in the coffin. Thailand is no longer an attractive tourist destination compared to competing nation in the region. Certainly not the lowest cost anymore and high end, higher cost holiday destination infrastructure in the region have surpassed Thailand. Throw in all the double pricing nonsense, far from the easiest visa requirements and far from the best environmental conditions, you have a situation where Thai tourism are over and will not recover to it's once halcyon days.
    Good point Norton but let's be realistic. We can't have it both ways, Low cost and emerging to be a developed country. Many rant on here about the poor infrastructure, lousy services etc and as they fix and introduce change it comes with a price tag. People have to be careful what they wish for. The more "Western" Thailand becomes somebody has to pay for it.

    Tourism is a cash cow for countries. If they raise prices it shouldn't surprise anyone. One always has the option of not going.

  15. #15
    Thailand Expat jabir's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Joe 90 View Post
    I wonder how long it took for him to come up with this original and innovative idea?

    Give him a cigar and a slap on the back.


    Btw what tourists?
    Millions of them, dossing beyond Thai borders and bobbing offshore for permission to enter.

    In the end these monkeys will get what they really want, Thailand for Thais; and when that happens they'll blame the farangs.

  16. #16
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    I actually think it's a good idea, if administered right. If. It seems to me though that Thailand is headed for such dire economic straits the emphasis will be on making it easier for foreigners to enter, for both holidaymakers, Fifos and retirees. The Generals & other Fascists xenophobia may well be outranked by the Oligarchs greed, plus the Peoples need.

  17. #17
    Hangin' Around cyrille's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Norton View Post
    Thai tourism are over and will not recover to it's once halcyon days.
    Reckon I've just about worked out what you mean there, and it would all change if the exchange rate changed.

    People of your generation from your country may be done with it, but that still leaves lots of others.

    Of course the halcyon days of unspoilt environments are largely over, but younger generations have never even seen them.

    People who visited 20 years before you first visited were probably very nostalgic too. What impact did it have on your appreciation of your surroundings?

  18. #18
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    Having worked for TTA, STB, TM (now MoT), Thailand still has an enormous advantage over all of its neighbours and countries like Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar, Cambo, PIs, Indon - no-one can catch up let alone beat Thailand in the tourism arrivals and dollar stakes.

    Double-pricing structures exist in most countries, here in NZ as well, and the total dollar amount spent in Thailand is still quite small when compared to Spain, Portugal, Greece, France etc... A few hundred baht entry fee, or whatever they want to call it, will not deter people from flying ten hours to enjoy what the country has to offer.

    Cambodia is seen as being Angkor Wat
    Malaysia is seen as being Sabah/Sarawak and KL shopping
    Indon is seen as . . . not much
    The PIs are seen as having a few beautiful places but the infrastructure and political crap is obvious - plus it's a few hours more flying
    Vietnam . . . not really on the tourist map yet
    Myanmar is for intrepid explorers
    Singapore - three days stay and a hub to elsewhere.

    That's the competition. Thailand wins

  19. #19
    Hangin' Around cyrille's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by panama hat View Post
    Thailand wins
    Well, Singapore and HK have the SEA tourist board nirvana...short stay visitors spending plenty of money.

    But imo Thailand is still in that sweet spot of the Venn diagram ... 'westernisation' and 'exoticism'.

    Though of course the current shit storm is causing massive problems with tourism worldwide.

  20. #20
    Thailand Expat
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    Quote Originally Posted by cyrille View Post
    Well, Singapore and HK have the SEA tourist board nirvana...short stay visitors spending plenty of money.
    Of course, but nothing beats 2-4 weeks of hotel, food, transportation expenditure/income etc...



    Quote Originally Posted by cyrille View Post
    But imo Thailand is still in that sweet spot of the Venn diagram ... 'westernisation' and 'exoticism'.
    Precisely

  21. #21
    Hangin' Around cyrille's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by panama hat View Post
    nothing beats 2-4 weeks
    Successive ministers of tourism in Thailand have sought visitors who empty their pockets fast and leave early.

    I'm not saying that's the best approach, but it's definitely been the approach.

  22. #22
    CCBW Stumpy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by cyrille View Post
    But imo Thailand is still in that sweet spot of the Venn diagram ... 'westernisation' and 'exoticism'
    I wholeheartedly agree. It still has a plethora of things to do inexpensively but you just need to know your way around to find them. For the 2 week tourist, they simply do not care. They find a nice 5 star hotel typically at a beach resort and just run up their card. They are not going to sweat a 200 bht entrance fee to a park. Its noise.. Most do care or even pay attention to double pricing because the seasoned traveler knows it exists everywhere in virtually every country.
    Last edited by Stumpy; 17-01-2021 at 12:25 PM.

  23. #23
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    Quote Originally Posted by panama hat View Post
    Vietnam . . . not really on the tourist map yet
    I was there last year, and even for the low season in Da Nang, it was loaded with tourists. Mostly Koreans, but plenty of Westerners around. Accommodation is much better value than Thailand as well.

  24. #24
    Thailand Expat
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    Quote Originally Posted by pickel View Post
    I was there last year,
    Same here, in January along with Cambo and Taiwan, and it was packed . . . but that only pertains to a small number of locations. Vietnam hasn't developed nor rolled out a working and contemporary tourism roadmap, not does it have the infrastructure to support it.

    It simply lacks the 'charm' of Thailand

  25. #25
    Thailand Expat harrybarracuda's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Norton View Post
    Certainly not the lowest cost anymore and high end, higher cost holiday destination infrastructure in the region have surpassed Thailand. Throw in all the double pricing nonsense, far from the easiest visa requirements
    "Far from the easiest visa requirements"?

    Granted things are a bit shitty in the pandemic, but Thailand's list of visa-exempt countries was far bigger than its neighbours, meaning you could just arrive and get a 30-day stamp.

    Why is that not easy?

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