Thailand considers tourism fee to create new source of funding

Under the current draft, foreign tourists would pay 450 THB per person, regardless of whether they eventually enter Thailand by air, land or sea.

Visitors to a destination in Bangkok, Thailand, on July 10, 2026 (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)
Visitors to a destination in Bangkok, Thailand, on July 10, 2026 (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)

Bangkok (VNA) – Thailand is moving closer to introducing a 450 THB (15 USD) fee for foreign tourists, with the Government aiming to create a new source of funding worth more than 10 billion THB a year to support visitor insurance, tourism infrastructure and destination development.

The proposal is undergoing public consultation until September 28 before being returned to the National Tourism Policy Committee for consideration and subsequently submitted to the Cabinet. The Government hopes to begin collecting the fee in the first quarter of 2027.

Under the current draft, foreign tourists will pay 450 THB per person, regardless of whether they eventually enter Thailand by air, land or sea.

Several categories will be exempt, including royal guests and official guests of the government, holders of diplomatic and official passports, foreign nationals with work permits, border-pass holders, transit passengers, crew members and children under two.

Visitors who pay the fee will be able to enter and leave Thailand multiple times within a 30-day period without paying again, provided they remain covered by the insurance protection linked to the levy.

Collection will initially apply to arrivals by air. Land and sea arrivals will be brought into the system later./.

VNA

See more

A view of Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia (Photo: AFP/VNA)

Malaysia's exports projected to moderate next year

Malaysia's exports in the first seven months of 2026 rose 29.2% year-on-year to 290 billion USD. Total trade increased by 24.7% to nearly 540 billion USD, while the trade surplus more than doubled to 42 billion USD.

At a supermarket in Bangkok, Thailand (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)

Thai economy under pressure from weak purchasing power

The Kasikorn Research Centre anticipates that the Thai economy will slow down in the second half of the year compared to the first half, with the "Thai Chuay Thai Plus" initiative offering some support to consumption in Q3 2026.

Malaysia tightens scrutiny of data centres

Malaysia tightens scrutiny of data centres

The Data Centre Task Force (DCTF) evaluates applications not only based on investment value but also on their requirements for energy, water and connectivity, as well as their potential contributions to Malaysia's long-term economic and digital goals.

Consumers select goods at a supermarket in Kuala Lumpur. (Photo: VNA)

Malaysian consumers tighten non-essential spending

CIMB Securities Sdn Bhd analyst Walter Aw Lik Hsin said shoppers are increasingly seeking cheaper products, convenience and value, while cutting back on clothing, lifestyle goods and other non-essentials.

Cambodian Chamber of Commerce president Kith Meng (right) meets with Malaysian ambassador to Cambodia Shaharuddin Onn on September 14. (Photo: phnompenhpost.com)

Cambodia, Malaysia pledge increased trade, investment cooperation

The General Department of Customs and Excise (GDCE) reported that Cambodia-Malaysia trade totaled 1.07 billion USD from January to August 2026, up 55.5% from the same period last year. Cambodia exported 151.76 million USD worth of goods to Malaysia, up 71.8%, while imports reached 921.19 million USD, an increase of 53.1%.

Smoke rises from a land fire in South Sumatra, Indonesia (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)

Indonesia: Thick smoke from forest fires disrupts flights

In a written statement on September 14, the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry said the latest monitoring data shows a significant decrease in so-called “high-confidence” hot spots, strongly suspected to be caused by forest fires, in Central Kalimantan and West Kalimantan.

Thailand upgrades GDP growth to 2.5% in 2026

Thailand upgrades GDP growth to 2.5% in 2026

Thailand's economic recovery will follow a K-shaped model, with growth concentrated in high-tech industries and large companies, according to the Centre for Economic and Business Forecasting at the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC).

A pepresentatives of UXO Lao programme briefs on mine survey and clearance in Luang Prabang province (Photo: VNA)

International delegates inspect UXO clearance efforts in Laos

To realise the Convention on Cluster Munitions’s goals, the Lao Government has incorporated all international targets into its “Safe Path Forward III 2021–2030” national strategy and stayed committed to its national Sustainable Development Goal 18 – “Lives Safe from UXO”.

The forum on ASEAN's role in the Indo-Pacific region and prospects for cooperation with Argentina takes place on September 10 (Photo: VNA)

ASEAN highlights its central role in Indo-Pacific

The Ambassador of Indonesia, the country holding the rotating chairmanship of ASEAN in Argentina, stressed that maintaining peace and stability, along with an open, transparent regional environment based on mutual respect, are fundamental conditions for a peaceful, inclusive, and prosperous Indo-Pacific.