Surasak clarified that the proposed 1,000 baht fee for Thai travelers going abroad is only at the study stage, with no set date for cabinet approval. The measure aims to stimulate domestic tourism and will not affect those traveling for study or work purposes.
At 14:40 on 28 Apr 2026 GMT+7 at the Bhumjaithai Party, Surasak Pancharoenworakul, Minister of Tourism and Sports, spoke about the idea of charging a 1,000 baht fee for Thai tourists traveling abroad. He said this relates to the Royal Decree on the Collection of Taxes for Departing the Kingdom, which was established in 1983 and had been implemented in the 1990s.
However, this is a concept for the Ministry of Finance to study. When reporters asked, it seemed he was the one collecting the fee, but the Ministry of Tourism and Sports does not have authority to collect it. The Ministry of Finance invited the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) and related agencies to discuss concerns about how the collected funds would be used and managed.
Surasak added that the tax collection principle targets only those traveling abroad for tourism. Other visa types, such as diplomatic, Work Permit, and various other visas, will be considered for exemptions. He emphasized that this is not the time to finalize the measure; it is just a way to gather opinions. The 1,000 baht figure is based on the amount previously collected in the past. The funds collected would be used to stimulate tourism within Thailand. ATTA and other associations have submitted letters and suggestions regarding domestic tourism promotion policies, such as the "We Travel Together" scheme and nationwide tours, which align with government thinking. However, supporting all these requires budget, and the government must borrow funds to stimulate the economy. While borrowing inevitably burdens the public, the question is how to generate revenue to help tourism.
"Simply put, the fee would be collected from those traveling abroad for tourism to assist Thai people who do not have the opportunity to travel abroad or who prefer to travel within Thailand, providing them with support. It is not a fee for those traveling to study or work. The Royal Decree specifies a maximum fee of 5,000 baht, but I confirm that this is still just a study and no decision has been made about when it will be submitted to the Cabinet. We have carefully considered that the funds from those traveling abroad for tourism will be used to support domestic tourism for Thai people," Surasak said. .
When asked if the study would lead to actual implementation, Surasak said that they are currently gathering opinions from various agencies to reconsider the principles. They will assess whether there is agreement on the fee collection, what the appropriate amount should be, the duration for collecting the fee, and which groups should be exempt. The Ministry of Finance and government will compile information for further study.