Tourist tax, COVID-19 regulations and visa policy: everything you want to know in Thailand now

Thailand is, in fact, a magical destination. The bustling city of Bangkok offers gold-covered temples and attractive cultural sites, while the country’s stunning islands and beautiful beaches are home to some of the world’s most sumptuous resorts. The jungle-filled northern province invites travelers to spend time hiking with elephants and exploring pristine wilderness.

To those herbal resources, the Tourism Authority of Thailand says it will focus the component of its 2023 guest marketing crusade on meaningful travel, adding blame tourism and sustainable initiatives. Part of that plan is a proposed three-hundred-baht (about $9) tourist tax for foreign tourist arrivals.

The country’s tourism minister, Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, said the budget raised will be used for visitors affected by injuries and expand tourist destinations. Payment will be charged immediately to air travelers upon arrival in the country, The Independent reports.

If this sounds familiar, it’s because it’s rarely the first time Thailand has introduced this kind of “tourist tax. “Last January, the country proposed a similar payment that has never been implemented. Again, last summer, a rumor of a “sustainability tax” of a similar amount was also announced, but it never materialized.

Lifestyle Asia reports that if this new payment proposal is approved, it will happen in June.

Related: The Best Ways to Get to Thailand Using Points and Miles

In particular, since October 2022, Thailand has stated that all foreign tourists are welcome as part of its “full reopening to tourism” policy.

After some confusion over vaccination policies this week, the country’s deputy prime minister and public health minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, said that “international travelers arriving in Thailand must provide proof of vaccination. “

However, to avoid paying the repair costs of uninsured foreigners who catch COVID-19 in the country, the Thai government says tourists will want to have medical insurance if they travel to or from a country that requires a PCR check to enter, such as China. or India.

“While Thailand welcomes all visitors, a visitor’s home country or destination country is likely to require incoming visitors, adding their own returning nationals, to go through a negative PCR test,” the Tourism Authority of Thailand said in a statement.

Thailand has also temporarily extended the visa waiver rule from 30 days to forty-five days for those arriving before March 31. Those who meet the requirements for a visa on arrival will be able to stay 30 days of the same 15 above.

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