Thailand moves ahead with 450-baht tourist entry fee, eyes film incentives

BANGKOK — 9 October 2026, Thailand is moving ahead with plans to collect a 450-baht entry fee from foreign visitors, with Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun ordering officials to establish transparent rules for collecting and spending the revenue before submitting the proposal to the Cabinet.

Suphajee, who oversees the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, said the proposal had already been discussed by the National Tourism Policy Committee, with the ministry recommending a fee of 450 baht per person.

Relevant agencies have been instructed to prepare comprehensive details covering collection procedures, disbursement rules and the purposes for which the money can be used. All processes must be transparent and open to scrutiny before the proposal undergoes public consultation and is submitted to the Cabinet for consideration.

Addressing concerns that the fee could affect tourism, Suphajee said many countries impose similar charges. Thailand, she said, must clearly define how the revenue will be used, including improving tourist safety, providing insurance coverage for foreign visitors and developing tourist attractions that lack sufficient funding.

Suphajee has also assigned Veerasak Kowsurat, an adviser to the deputy prime minister, to examine whether part of the revenue could legally be used to support the Cash Rebate scheme for foreign film productions, particularly if the number of productions coming to Thailand increases to the point that the regular budget is insufficient.

Regarding the Cash Rebate scheme, Suphajee said the latest meeting did not introduce new rules but focused on addressing delays in payments to ensure operators receive their rebates more quickly. The government transition had delayed the appointment of the relevant committee, but a new committee has now been established, allowing officials to accelerate the processing of outstanding cases.

She also outlined plans to make support for the film industry more equitable between foreign productions overseen by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports and Thai film operators under the Ministry of Culture.

Suphajee said closer integration of the two ministries’ work in the future could help streamline the administration of film industry incentives and ensure that support measures are managed more systematically and in a more coordinated direction.