Travellers haul luggage at Suvarnabhumi airport. A new levy on foreign visitors is under consideration.(Source: bangkokpost.com) Bangkok (VNA) – Thailand’s Ministryof Sports and Tourism is considering the possibility of imposing a tourist levyto use for improving local attractions and insurance coverage for foreign visitors.
The ministry floated the initiative after the NationalTourism Policy Act was enacted and published in the Royal Gazette.
Permanent Secretary for Tourism Chote Trachu said thatthe ministry is in talks with Naresuan University and the Office of InsuranceCommission to further study the potential tourism tax and will be careful infinding a solution with minimal impact on the country’s tourism.
The study is likely to take six months tocomplete, he said, adding that it will attempt to determine an appropriate feeand where to collect the sum.
The study will also include the environmental impactof excessive visitors on popular tourism destinations and whether a limit inthe number of visitors at some venues is possible in order to promote sustainabletourism in the long run.
He said the tourism levy will not only preventtourists from unpredictable situations and raise their confidence, but alsoreduce medical expenses for the state. But the priority of the levy is torehabilitate tourism sites across the country. Part of the funds will also beused to improve infrastructure to facilitate tourists.
Tourism has been an economic driver for Thailandover the past decade. Last year the country welcomed over 38 million arrivals,contributing more than 2 trillion THB of income. Combined with domestic travel,tourism receipts totalled 3 trillion THB in 2018.
This year the ministry expects 41 million arrivals,generating 2.2 trillion THB.
Chote said Thailand is responsible for some 300million THB in tourist medical expenses every year.
Several countries have put in place a tourismlevy, aiming to use the funds to improve local destinations.
Earlier this year, Japan imposed a 1,000 JPY(9.17 USD) "sayonara" levy, while Malaysia recently started charginga departure tax of 5 USD for tourists from ASEAN countries and 10 USD forinternational tourists.–VNA
VNA
