Foreigners now must pay 500 THB fee to enter Thailand
Foreigners now must pay 500 THB fee to enter Thailand
Collection of B500 fee from foreigners starts next year
Want to spend a holiday in Thailand ? Cough up 500 Bath as entry fee. You have to credit the Thai's to be so illusionists and really believe that will kick-start Tourism again. What about all the other costs that lurk in the Thai System like possible Quarantine, Deposits etc. Let alone rising prices from Food to Accomodation.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/21 ... -next-year
Want to spend a holiday in Thailand ? Cough up 500 Bath as entry fee. You have to credit the Thai's to be so illusionists and really believe that will kick-start Tourism again. What about all the other costs that lurk in the Thai System like possible Quarantine, Deposits etc. Let alone rising prices from Food to Accomodation.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/21 ... -next-year
Don’t many countries do this, usually hidden in the air ticket?
I’m not so sure it’s a bad thing. One of the objectives of tourism taxes is to engineer tourism, sometimes to reduce tourist numbers (eg Bhutan which charges a tourism tax of $200 per day!) or to deter low end travellers.
That can’t be a bad thing. Perhaps Cambodia would benefit from such a strategy also.
I’m not so sure it’s a bad thing. One of the objectives of tourism taxes is to engineer tourism, sometimes to reduce tourist numbers (eg Bhutan which charges a tourism tax of $200 per day!) or to deter low end travellers.
That can’t be a bad thing. Perhaps Cambodia would benefit from such a strategy also.
Not exactly a lot of money is it?
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That was my thought to. It’s been so long since I have flown that I can’t recall - but I have a vague recollection of entry/exit ‘taxes’.Guest wrote: ↑Wed Oct 06, 2021 2:11 pmDon’t many countries do this, usually hidden in the air ticket?
….
No big deal
The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled.
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I think "Backpacker" can be too broad a term to be usefully used in these discussions. For some, it is identical to "bad tourists". Other's, "Cheap tourists". And others, like me, merely, "independent longer-term travellers who find a pack suits them better than a suitcase."
I don't think this Thai program is particularly focused on reducing the longer-term travellers who have searched out places and experiences in Thailand since Lonely Planet's first guidebook. The Bangkok Post article mentions the desire to transition away from "mass tourism" to "high-value or a bio-, circular and green economic model; and environmentally concerned tourism." To me, this more implies reducing big tour-groups, those where a fairly low % of what they individually pay stays in the country.
Some in tourism love these kind of tour groups. They are easy to regulate (do what they are told, where they are told), and bring in sizeable chunks of cash for those that are well linked in. However, often, especially with the mass of Chinese groups over the last 10 years, not only does a large slice of their tour payment never leave China, but it is also paid to mainland Chinese owners in the countries visited, including food, accommodation, and even, more and more, souvenir shops selling Chinese made T-Shirts, stickers, key chains, and wood nick-nacks. (I don't know the % of Siem Reap's Pasar Cha tourist trivia made outside Cambodia, but I'd guess not more than 50% by value is made in-country).
As a tourism watcher/participant all my life, I think the goal for countries, if not individual businesses, should be "big tent", not small market segments. Bhutan, good for them! Certainly collect lots of data on tourism and work to mitigate negative effects - trash and overcrowding is real and needs control. However, market resilience comes from keeping as broad a range as possible.
That said, 500 baht is minor, especially if tucked into an air ticket, and isn't likely to dissuade anyone. If you are staying a month, it is pennies a day. If you are flying in from PP for a long weekend, it is still nothing compared to the total spent. For the Chinese mass tourist, they won't know anything about it.
I don't think this Thai program is particularly focused on reducing the longer-term travellers who have searched out places and experiences in Thailand since Lonely Planet's first guidebook. The Bangkok Post article mentions the desire to transition away from "mass tourism" to "high-value or a bio-, circular and green economic model; and environmentally concerned tourism." To me, this more implies reducing big tour-groups, those where a fairly low % of what they individually pay stays in the country.
Some in tourism love these kind of tour groups. They are easy to regulate (do what they are told, where they are told), and bring in sizeable chunks of cash for those that are well linked in. However, often, especially with the mass of Chinese groups over the last 10 years, not only does a large slice of their tour payment never leave China, but it is also paid to mainland Chinese owners in the countries visited, including food, accommodation, and even, more and more, souvenir shops selling Chinese made T-Shirts, stickers, key chains, and wood nick-nacks. (I don't know the % of Siem Reap's Pasar Cha tourist trivia made outside Cambodia, but I'd guess not more than 50% by value is made in-country).
As a tourism watcher/participant all my life, I think the goal for countries, if not individual businesses, should be "big tent", not small market segments. Bhutan, good for them! Certainly collect lots of data on tourism and work to mitigate negative effects - trash and overcrowding is real and needs control. However, market resilience comes from keeping as broad a range as possible.
That said, 500 baht is minor, especially if tucked into an air ticket, and isn't likely to dissuade anyone. If you are staying a month, it is pennies a day. If you are flying in from PP for a long weekend, it is still nothing compared to the total spent. For the Chinese mass tourist, they won't know anything about it.
What's that, around $12.50 or $15? No biggie.
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a few things they are missing.
$15 wont mean fuck all to those "tourists" travelling for 2 + weeks>
BUT
what about those that live in thailand and hold a type B visa an wp and travel frequently?
those on non o tat travel out of the country often
the 100,000 of thousands of Malaysians that travel to thailand for weekends of fun
the thousands of people in Laos that travel flor shopping?
the tens of thousands of Singaporeans and HK'ers that travel for a long weekend?
Shortsighted
FYI:
you pay $200 -250/day ( depending on season) to enter Bhutan., it is NOT a tax
for that you get;
a 4 wd car or a seat in a van if ur on a tour, a guide, a driver, 3 star accommodations, and 2 meals/day for ur entire stay
$15 wont mean fuck all to those "tourists" travelling for 2 + weeks>
BUT
what about those that live in thailand and hold a type B visa an wp and travel frequently?
those on non o tat travel out of the country often
the 100,000 of thousands of Malaysians that travel to thailand for weekends of fun
the thousands of people in Laos that travel flor shopping?
the tens of thousands of Singaporeans and HK'ers that travel for a long weekend?
Shortsighted
FYI:
Pure BS:..(eg Bhutan which charges a tourism tax of $200 per day!) or to deter low end travellers.
you pay $200 -250/day ( depending on season) to enter Bhutan., it is NOT a tax
for that you get;
a 4 wd car or a seat in a van if ur on a tour, a guide, a driver, 3 star accommodations, and 2 meals/day for ur entire stay
"We are turning into a nation of whimpering slaves to Fear—fear of war, fear of poverty, fear of random terrorism, or suddenly getting locked up in a military detention camp on vague charges of being a Terrorist sympathizer." HST
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I am not as rude as you, but yes: this is wrong. I went with my family a few years ago and for the four of us, it came to about USD 160.00 per person. Private car, driver, guide, decent accommodation, breakfast, lunch, and dinner.Phuket2006 wrote: ↑Thu Oct 07, 2021 7:27 ama few things they are missing.
Pure BS:
you pay $200 -250/day ( depending on season) to enter Bhutan., it is NOT a tax
for that you get;
a 4 wd car or a seat in a van if ur on a tour, a guide, a driver, 3 star accommodations, and 2 meals/day for ur entire stay
"I realized that If I had to choose, I would rather have birds than airplanes."
Charles Lindbergh
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The Malays and Sings will probably just pay, as I doubt they go whoring more than once a month or so.
Can't see it applying to border traders from Laos in particular...they just flash ID cards if that, don't they?
Can't see it applying to border traders from Laos in particular...they just flash ID cards if that, don't they?
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I do not understand the fuss. Isn't the Thai visa free for most people whereas neighbouring countries charge a fair bit for visas?
Isn't there something like transient occupancy tax in most of the USA? Or, similarly "Kurtaxe", in Germany, Switzerland, and many neighbouring countries? When I worked in the UAE, there was a "bed tax", if I remember correctly EUR 3 or 4 per day and person.
Isn't there something like transient occupancy tax in most of the USA? Or, similarly "Kurtaxe", in Germany, Switzerland, and many neighbouring countries? When I worked in the UAE, there was a "bed tax", if I remember correctly EUR 3 or 4 per day and person.
"I realized that If I had to choose, I would rather have birds than airplanes."
Charles Lindbergh
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there are NO FREE visas;
there is a 30 day FREE visa exempt entry for most western passports, (64 in all)
everyone else must posses a visa ( some; like china, india) can obtain it on arrival
VS
Cambodia $30
Laos $30-45
Burma $50
Malaysia free 90 day for most western passports
there is a 30 day FREE visa exempt entry for most western passports, (64 in all)
everyone else must posses a visa ( some; like china, india) can obtain it on arrival
VS
Cambodia $30
Laos $30-45
Burma $50
Malaysia free 90 day for most western passports
"We are turning into a nation of whimpering slaves to Fear—fear of war, fear of poverty, fear of random terrorism, or suddenly getting locked up in a military detention camp on vague charges of being a Terrorist sympathizer." HST
I don't get it, Richard. You seem to be saying it's cheaper to enter Thailand for most people than most of its neighboursPhuket2006 wrote: ↑Thu Oct 07, 2021 10:33 amthere are NO FREE visas;
there is a 30 day FREE visa exempt entry for most western passports, (64 in all)
everyone else must posses a visa ( some; like china, india) can obtain it on arrival
VS
Cambodia $30
Laos $30-45
Burma $50
Malaysia free 90 day for most western passports
Phuket2006 wrote: ↑Thu Oct 07, 2021 7:27 ama few things they are missing.
$15 wont mean fuck all to those "tourists" travelling for 2 + weeks>
BUT
what about those that live in thailand and hold a type B visa an wp and travel frequently?
those on non o tat travel out of the country often
the 100,000 of thousands of Malaysians that travel to thailand for weekends of fun
the thousands of people in Laos that travel flor shopping?
the tens of thousands of Singaporeans and HK'ers that travel for a long weekend?
Shortsighted
FYI:Pure BS:..(eg Bhutan which charges a tourism tax of $200 per day!) or to deter low end travellers.
you pay $200 -250/day ( depending on season) to enter Bhutan., it is NOT a tax
for that you get;
a 4 wd car or a seat in a van if ur on a tour, a guide, a driver, 3 star accommodations, and 2 meals/day for ur entire stay
The point is it is compulsory. If you don’t pay that fee and take those benefits you don’t enter the country. In that sense it is a payment / tax that aims to do precisely what Thailand is doing - engineering what it wants from its tourism sector.
If you couldn’t enter Thailand without paying a hefty per diem fee (even if it came with those benefits) I guarantee you would be up in arms calling it a tax.
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