Thailand’s tourism sector is proposing a 300 baht tax to combat overtourism

Thai tourism operators what to advocate for government regulations to tackle the growing problem of overtourism in the country.

They propose the introduction of a 300 baht tourist tax, which they say could alleviate the problem. Their call to action is in response to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s pledge to make 2025 a pivotal year for Thai tourism.

The Federation of Thai Tourism Associations (FETTA) will present a white paper to the government with solutions to overtourism, a major problem in Thailand before the pandemic. FETTA Secretary General Adith Chairattananon pointed out that major tourist destinations such as Phuket, Samui and Pattaya are on the brink of overtourism, with an expected 40 million tourists.

During peak season, these popular destinations suffer from traffic congestion and water shortages, leaving international airports running out of slots for airlines. Adith suggests that a key strategy could be to direct tourists from these hubs to the country’s secondary cities. These cities offer numerous potential attractions and have enough space to accommodate the influx of tourists.

Adith also proposed incentives for airlines to operate direct flights to provincial airports such as U-Tapao, Khon Kaen and Krabi. Such a move would reduce congestion at major airports such as Phuket Airport or Suvarnabhumi Airport and boost regional business opportunities.

Vice-chairman of the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT), Surawat Akaraworamat, supports the idea of ​​a 300 baht tourism tax. He believes it can finance tourism development now that the plan and all related preparations have been completed. Surawat suggests the tax will not deter foreign tourists because the fee is minimal compared to countries like Bhutan, which charges a tourist tax of more than $100 (about 3,700 baht) per night.

The additional revenue could be used to develop infrastructure in second-tier provinces, draw tourists away from overcrowded locations and improve attractions that have deteriorated due to overtourism, Bangkok Post reported.

Surawat called for a pilot phase of tourist tax collection through a mobile application or kiosks, mirroring the approach of many countries that collect taxes from tourists through airline tickets or hotel stays.

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