Wednesday, July 16, 2025
In a move that will help preserve a robust post-pandemic tourism bounce, Thailand will delay the launch of its much-discussed tourist entry feed until 2026. Officials attributed their reluctance to adding more travel costs to a combination of global economic uncertainties, skittish travel demand and the urge to monitor high-season visitor trends. By postponing the proposed fee until 2023, the Thailand government seeks to maintain its competitive advantages within the global tourism market, stimulate inbound tourism and ensure that the necessary supporting systems (such as the Thailand Digital Arrival Card) are effectively developed and ready to be put into operation at the appropriate time.
Thailand Delays Long-Delayed Tourist Entry Fee Until 2026 Amid Global Uncertainty

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Thailand has postponed implementation of its much discussed tourism entry fee again, with the planned implementation now expected in 2026 (2nd or 3rd quarter). The postponement is just the next installment in the nation’s long-drawn efforts to introduce a tourism tax in order to collect more revenues for destination management and visitor insurance protection.
SHUTTERSTOCKOn July 14, the Deputy Minister of Tourism and Sports of Thailand mentioned that 2025 will not be a possible starting year to begin the fee. Pointing to “uncontrollable external factors” and continued volatility in international travel demand, the Ministry said it would need to monitor upcoming peak tourist seasons before making any decisions.

An Extended Timeline, Tinged With Uncertainty
The entry fee, first announced in 2021 during the tenure of former Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, was slated to be implemented in 2022, with the original fee of B$300 – about USD 9.26 – first suggested. But that proposal faced backlash and a string of revisions that have delayed the implementation of the policy.
The same day the fee was announced and the National Tourism Policy Committee approved it, the Tourism Authority of Thailand suggested that the fee be raised to THB 500 (around USD 15.43). This drew sharp rebuts from business circles and a return to the initial amount of THB 300.
For the next two years, the plan was consistently delayed. The start date shifted from April 2022 to late 2022 and early 2023 and then to June 2023. And when, despite approval of the fee by the Thai Cabinet in February 2023, the fee was postponed again until September 2023 only to have been placed on-hold and entrenched in delay until 2024.
Political Transitions Impact Policy Direction
The turning point came in June 2024 when then-Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin signaled that the entry fee plan would be abandoned altogether. The provision was aimed at promoting Thailand’s post-pandemic recovery by eliminating potential obstacles to travel.
However, this decision was short-lived. The proposal was rekindled shortly after the new government was established, by the end of 2024, appointed Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Tourism Minister Sorawong Thienthong. The Ministry announced its intention to match the fee with the launch of the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC), a digital initiative developed to modernize and simplify the immigration process.
The TDAC system went live on May 1, 2025, in anticipation of actual fee application. Under the revamped policy, tourists would have had to pay THB 300 (USD 9.26) if they entered via air and THB 150 if they arrived by land and sea. Whoever this low-fee traveler would be, they would have cared for the multiple entries up to 30 or 60 days. Also anticipated was that the fee would cover basic insurance for foreign tourists for the time of staying in the country.
Status Quo Remains for 2025
Though it has already built supporting facilities like the TDAC, no entrance fee for foreign visitors has yet been introduced by Thailand. Diplomatic and tourist visa holders will not in mid 2025 be charged anything extra in comparison to the regular visa and immigration fees.
According to Tourism Minister Sorawong Thienthong, the policy is still in the process of being thoroughly considered. The Ministry was taking a cautious approach and monitoring the global tourism trends and geo-political situation which keeps influencing the international travel trends.
The Ministry will re-evaluate this position once the peak-season demand has been viewed in late 2025. It would not be until that juncture that the implementation timeline on the fee rollout could be nailed down, with the earliest possible go live date currently believed to fall between mid and late 2026.
Thailand has delayed the implementation of its proposed tourist entry levy until 2026, in a bid to safeguard travel recovery and instead encourage more international visitors. The hesitation gave us time to study demand and ensure the new digital arrival system could be smoothly implemented.
Industry Reactions and Expectations
Tourism operators in many parts of Thailand still split down the middle. Some back the fee as a way to invest in tourist infrastructure and provide critical insurance protection, while others are concerned that it could discourage budget-minded tourists — in a region that is especially price- and convenience-conscious.
The Thai authority still insist the intention is not to oppress nor burden the tourists, but rather to seek ways to improve traveller’s experience and boost the standard of the national service quality. With the TDAC in place and preparation complete for a resource-effective collection with the most impact, authorities say it’s not a matter of if, but when.
For as long as Thailand grapples with economic revival, political changeover, and travel’s rapidly changing ways, the delayed entry fee will be on hold and set to kick in only when things are globally stable and feasible locally.

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Tags: international visitors, Southeast Asia Travel, Thailand Digital Arrival Card, Thailand Tourism, Tourism news, Tourist Entry Fee, travel industry news, Travel News, travel policy delay

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