BANGKOK, THAILAND – The Thai government planned to introduce a 300-baht entry fee for foreign tourists arriving by air, alongside a major restructuring of its tourism administration.
Introduction of the entry fee
The new administration under Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul moved to fast-track the contentious 300-baht (about USD 9) entry charge for foreign visitors. The fee applied only to tourists entering the country by plane.
An earlier proposal for a 150-baht (about USD 4.50) levy on land and sea arrivals was put on hold. The pause aimed to avoid possible negative effects on cross-border commuters.
Rebranding the fee
Deputy Prime Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn suggested renaming the fee, known in Thai as “ka-yiab-phaen-din”. The goal was to improve public perception and create a more welcoming impression.
According to the plan, a new designation could help increase acceptance of the fee among tourists. Officials hoped it would also reduce the negative connotations associated with the existing term.
Structural reforms in the Tourism Ministry
In addition to the entry charge, the Bhumjaithai Party pursued a far-reaching reform of the civil service. The programme included merging the Ministry of Tourism and Sports with the Ministry of Culture to form a new Ministry of Tourism and Culture.
Minister Phiphat underlined that tourism in Thailand was closely linked to traditions and culture. He argued that integrating the ministries would allow a more coherent national strategy.
New Ministry for Sports
As part of the restructuring, the sports portfolio was set to be separated into an independent Ministry of Sports. This move was intended to provide more specialised oversight of the sector.
The reorganisation was expected to be completed within six months after the new government took office. Earlier reports indicated that Sabida Thaiseth was being considered as minister of the new Tourism and Culture Ministry, while Surasak Phancharoenworakul could lead the new Sports Ministry.
Outlook for implementation
Collection of the new travel fee was anticipated by mid-2026, after the Ministry of Tourism decided to delay its introduction. The postponement gave the government additional time to prepare the necessary systems and procedures.
In the meantime, Prime Minister Anutin ordered measures to assess the impact of the oil crisis. The government aimed to ensure that public transport would be ready to cope with demand over the holiday periods.
Your view
The planned entry fee raised questions about how it might affect Thailand’s appeal to visitors. Authorities invited the public to share their views on the reforms and their potential impact on the tourism sector.
Readers were encouraged to discuss whether the new fee could change travel decisions. The debate also extended to the broader consequences of the administrative overhaul for tourism and culture in Thailand.