Tourism Tax on the Table Again

[Udon Map]

Tax could cover pandemic insurance

From: The Bangkok Post

Tourists and officers at Suvarnabhumi airport wear face masks. Travellers entering Thailand via air travel could be charged a new tax as part of their tickets. (Photo by Pornprom Satrabhaya)

The Tourism and Sports Ministry is considering a tax of 300 baht or less per person for foreign arrivals that could cover pandemic insurance, once inbound flights and tourism activities resume in the country.

Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, the tourism and sports minister, said the tax would be collected once foreigners arrive by air, land or sea transport.

The scheme is part of the 20-year national strategic plan that requires government agencies to have recurring income to sustain and stabilise the national economy.

The levy will be added to the tourism fund managed by the ministry that aims to rebuild and develop tourism supply chains here, as well as offer safety and security protection for tourists.

He said this idea was initiated last year but was delayed because of the pandemic. Now is the right time to initiate collection, said Mr Phiphat.

The goal is to have tourists entering via air travel charged as a part of their air tickets, but the government has not finalised how collection for land and sea transport would work.

"The pandemic has had a severe impact on tourism confidence, and the tourism fund should set aside a budget for state agencies to carry on when looking after tourists affected by the pandemic," he said.

Mr Phiphat said the ministry assigned Naresuan University to conduct a feasibility study on a reasonable tax burden for visitors. The ministry estimates the maximum should not exceed 300 baht per person.

He said Japan implemented similar measures, commencing a departure tax of ¥1,000 [around 300 baht] per person.

Mr Phiphat favours a levy of 100-200 baht.

After the feasibility study is finished, the ministry will submit it to the cabinet for approval. The ministry intends to announce the new tax before the fourth quarter to let tourists prepare, he said.

"The Tourism Authority of Thailand's [TAT] new target is 16 million arrivals this year, but I'm not optimistic we can reach that goal as international tourists will not come back before the fourth quarter. Compared with the last quarter of 2019, when we had 11-12 million arrivals, the new goal is too high amid these circumstances," said Mr Phiphat.

TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn said the amendment of the National Tourism Policy Act at the end of last year allows the ministry to tax foreign tourists. The ministry's measures are part of the long-term tourism development plan.

"As long as Thailand has a clear plan on how to use the fund effectively and benefit international tourists, it should not create any obstacles," said Mr Yuthasak.


Courtesy of The Bangkok Post
https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/19 ... E5DVrzaE18

[vincemunday]

To be fair if it includes cover for being treated for Covid 19 it’s not a bad thing and it’s quite cheap too.

[Udon Map]

To be fair if it includes cover for being treated for Covid 19 it’s not a bad thing and it’s quite cheap too.

Fair enough, assuming that it includes hospitalization if necessary. And when a vaccine is widely available? The tax will be rescinded because no one will need treatment any more, yes?

[stattointhailand]

obviously another well thought out idea

The Bht is so strong tourists are staying away
We have about a dozen or so days a year when we deny tourists the chance to be tourists
We have a double pricing system at many tourist loations
Our main beaches are filthy as are the streets
Our air quality is dangerous for large parts of the year

Wonder what we can do to re attract the tourists .....I know lets charge them extra to come here rather than go elsewhere

[Udon Map]

Wonder what we can do to re attract the tourists .....I know lets charge them extra to come here rather than go elsewhere

Exactly. On one hand, arrival and departure taxes are not unusual. I used to own a condo in St. Maarten, and the departure tax is built into the ticket price there, so most people never even knew. But I would have guessed that it made more sense NOT to start a new one now, when you're trying to encourage people to come, as Statts said.

[jackspratt]

Close to 40 million tourists last year missed your memo, statts.

If 100 - 300 baht means the difference in deciding whether you book an international flight, plus accommodation and living costs while you are here, you probably couldn't afford to come in the first place.

[vincemunday]

Yes I get that but as a tourist 300 baht (this will be the max) isn’t a great deal of money, it wouldn’t be a game changer for me nor for many people I know, however, the crappy exchange rate and filthy beaches are.

[Udon Map]

If 100 - 300 baht means the difference in deciding whether you book an international flight, plus accommodation and living costs while you are here, you probably couldn't afford to come in the first place.

True enough, but people don't always act rationally, as we know. Look all the complaints on the forum about the falang surcharge at some museums, parks, etc. It's not really that much money.

[vincemunday]

If 100 - 300 baht means the difference in deciding whether you book an international flight, plus accommodation and living costs while you are here, you probably couldn't afford to come in the first place.

True enough, but people don't always act rationally, as we know. Look all the complaints on the forum about the falang surcharge at some museums, parks, etc. It's not really that much money.

That’s by people who live here not tourists Paul, by the way there is no Z In hospitalisation.

[stattointhailand]

If 100 - 300 baht means the difference in deciding whether you book an international flight, plus accommodation and living costs while you are here, you probably couldn't afford to come in the first place.

True enough, but people don't always act rationally, as we know. Look all the complaints on the forum about the falang surcharge at some museums, parks, etc. It's not really that much money.

My point was that weakening the Bht, doing something to clean the country and not doing things like closing bars for every birthday/religious holiday and election would have far more benefit to attract the tourists back

[newtovillagelife]

If 100 - 300 baht means the difference in deciding whether you book an international flight, plus accommodation and living costs while you are here, you probably couldn't afford to come in the first place.

True enough, but people don't always act rationally, as we know. Look all the complaints on the forum about the falang surcharge at some museums, parks, etc. It's not really that much money.

That’s by people who live here not tourists Paul, by the way there is no Z In hospitalisation.

Nothing wrong with his use of the word, or spelling.

As nouns the difference between hospitalisation and hospitalization. is that hospitalisation is (british) while hospitalization is the hospitalizing of a patient, the condition of being hospitalized, or the period a patient stays in hospital.

[vincemunday]

Ermmmm I’m joking Village, I’m sure Paul knows this too...

[Drunk Monkey]

Statts i would be overjoyed just to have a pint of OSH with my Haddock chips n mushy peas at the Brick House on Friday !!

As mentioned on another thread dont forget the old days where you were escorted to Don Muang airport by the love of your life .. fighting back the tears , broken heated goodbyes ..then wallop had to pay 500bt for the pleasure of leaving the kingdom ..

Yeah Vince .. didnt you know that .. like what me n newt did ..

DM

[vincemunday]

Ah so you and ermmm “newt” are best buddies now eh! Don’t start on me with your bloody gang Jonski or the missus will duff you in for sure. Most of my working life was spent in American Brokerage houses so I might understand the nuances (some might say butchery) of American English.

[stattointhailand]

"Statts i would be overjoyed just to have a pint of OSH with my Haddock chips n mushy peas at the Brick House on Friday"


Proper Haddock with Proper chips (not bloomin' french fries or leys) n petit pois please (we're not all Northern heathens) surprised ya didnt want gravy on it and a luvery pint of Youngs special would do a treat

[Bandung_Dero]

Looking forward to dropping into Bankok Hospital, airline ticket stub in hand, and ask for medical care for some sort of problem I have contracted here.

These jerkoffs are obviously on some sort of a physic trip again. "We want the tourists back, OH! I can see another way we can screw em." Not well thought out as the tax will effect the Thai's also.

[Khun Paul]

"As long as Thailand has a clear plan on how to use the fund effectively and benefit international tourists, it should not create any obstacles," said Mr Yuthasak.


The idea is basically a good idea, for treating Tourists who fall foul of probably Covid 19, however , as per usual as shown above, if Thailand has a clear plan on how to use the fund effectively , and published those plans so that each and every International tourist knows what is on offer and followed strictly by all Government Agencies then it would be okay. But sadly we all know that will never happen.

[mickojak]

If the tax replaces the (Impossible) to get insurance, and administered properly, I'm happy to pay it.

I'd also be happy to pay another 100bht to have all the immigration booths manned, 24/7, in & out.

That's been my biggest grief, coming and going!

[Udon Map]

Paul, by the way there is no Z In hospitalisation.

Speaking of correct spelling....


The European Union commissioners have announced that agreement has been reached to adopt English as the preferred language for European communications, rather than German, which was the other possibility. As part of the negotiations, Her Majesty’s Government conceded that English spelling had some room for improvement and has accepted a five-year phased plan for what will be known as “EuroEnglish” (“Euro” for short).

In the first year, “s” will be used instead of the soft “c.” Sertainly, sivil servants will reseive this news with joy. Also, the hard “c” will be replased with “k.” Not only will this klear up konfusion, but typewriters kan have one less letter.

There will be growing publik enthusiasm in the sekond year, when the troublesome “ph” will be replased by “f.” This will make words like “fotograf” 20 persent shorter. In the third year, publik akseptanse of the new spelling kan be expekted to reach the stage where more komplikated changes are possible. Governments will enkourage the removal of double letters, which have always ben a deterent to akurate speling. Also, al wil agre that the horible mes of silent “e”s in the languag is disgrasful, and they would go.

By the fourth year, peopl wil be reseptiv to steps such as replasing “th” by “z” and “w” by “v.” During ze fifz year, ze unesesary “o” kan be droped from vords kontaining “ou;” and similar changes vud of kors be aplid to al ozer kombinations of leters.

After zis fifz yer, ve vil hav a reli sensibl riten styl. Zer vil be no mor trubls or difikultis and evrivun vil find it ezi to understand ech ozer.

Ze drem vil finali kum tru.

[vincemunday]

Paul, by the way there is no Z In hospitalisation.

Speaking of correct spelling....


The European Union commissioners have announced that agreement has been reached to adopt English as the preferred language for European communications, rather than German, which was the other possibility. As part of the negotiations, Her Majesty’s Government conceded that English spelling had some room for improvement and has accepted a five-year phased plan for what will be known as “EuroEnglish” (“Euro” for short).

In the first year, “s” will be used instead of the soft “c.” Sertainly, sivil servants will reseive this news with joy. Also, the hard “c” will be replased with “k.” Not only will this klear up konfusion, but typewriters kan have one less letter.

There will be growing publik enthusiasm in the sekond year, when the troublesome “ph” will be replased by “f.” This will make words like “fotograf” 20 persent shorter. In the third year, publik akseptanse of the new spelling kan be expekted to reach the stage where more komplikated changes are possible. Governments will enkourage the removal of double letters, which have always ben a deterent to akurate speling. Also, al wil agre that the horible mes of silent “e”s in the languag is disgrasful, and they would go.

By the fourth year, peopl wil be reseptiv to steps such as replasing “th” by “z” and “w” by “v.” During ze fifz year, ze unesesary “o” kan be droped from vords kontaining “ou;” and similar changes vud of kors be aplid to al ozer kombinations of leters.

After zis fifz yer, ve vil hav a reli sensibl riten styl. Zer vil be no mor trubls or difikultis and evrivun vil find it ezi to understand ech ozer.

Ze drem vil finali kum tru.

You’re a bad man.