Thailand’s tourist fee stalls as airlines refuse to collect it

Thailand plans to charge foreign air travellers a tourist arrival fee of THB300 to THB500 per trip, with collection targeted for early 2027. Airlines have rejected the government’s proposal to collect the levy through ticket sales, calling it technically unworkable and legally problematic.

The Ministry of Tourism and Sports may instead use the Thailand Digital Arrival Card, administered by the Immigration Bureau, as the collection channel. The outcome will determine whether travellers pay the fee at booking or face an extra step on arrival.

Thailand’s latest plan to charge foreign visitors a tourist arrival fee of THB300 to THB500 per trip has hit a wall. Airlines have told the government they cannot collect the levy through ticket sales, leaving the entire scheme in limbo just months before its intended start.

The Tourism and Sports Ministry wants the fee to take effect in early 2027. But with carriers refusing to act as tax collectors, officials are now weighing an alternative: routing payment through the Thailand Digital Arrival Card, the Immigration Bureau’s online entry system. That shift would move the payment from the booking page to the border—and create a very different experience for anyone holding a ticket.

Airlines say ticket collection is unworkable

The ministry’s proposal was straightforward: embed the fee in airfares, then reimburse Thai nationals who are exempt under the National Tourism Policy Act. Official documents show the levy applies only to foreign visitors, with Thais explicitly excluded. Airlines would charge all passengers and later refund citizens, covering administrative costs.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) told the ministry that airline booking systems typically require only a passenger’s name and destination—not nationality or passport details. Adding a nationality-based charge, IATA argued, would demand system overhauls that carriers are unwilling to undertake for a single country’s levy. The Airlines Association of Thailand noted that more than 100 foreign airlines serve the country, multiplying the complexity.

Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul has acknowledged the pushback but insists the fee will proceed. “The tourist arrival fee under the Thailand Tourism Promotion Fund could exceed THB300 per person,” he said, signalling upward pressure on the rate. His predecessor, Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, had already warned that adding the fee to airfares risked violating IATA’s Chicago Convention equality principles.

The repeated delays tell their own story. Officials first targeted mid-2025, then the second or third quarter of 2026, and now early 2027. Each postponement has left travellers and small travel businesses without clear procedures or pricing certainty.

The ministry’s fallback—collecting the fee through the Thailand Digital Arrival Card—would shift the burden to travellers at the point of entry. That system, run by the Immigration Bureau, already handles arrival formalities. Adding a payment step could mean longer queues, but it avoids the airline industry’s legal and technical objections.

Why the fee keeps stalling

The impasse is not about the amount. It is about the machinery. To operationalise the levy, the Tourism and Sports Ministry must coordinate with the Transport Ministry, airlines, and the Immigration Bureau—aligning collection with international aviation norms and domestic law that exempts Thai nationals. The Thailand Tourism Promotion Fund, which would receive the revenue, requires Cabinet‑approved rules that still do not exist in final form.

For Western travellers, the current reality is unchanged. US and UK advisories treat Thailand as a standard‑risk destination, and no airline fare yet includes the levy. Flight access from Europe, North America and Australia remains robust, with major carriers transiting hubs such as Singapore, Doha and Dubai. But that could shift quickly once a collection mechanism is locked in.

The decision, when it comes, will answer the question every traveller booking a Thailand trip for next year is already asking: will the fee appear on my ticket, or will I face an extra step at immigration? The clock is ticking toward early 2027, and the gap between political commitment and operational readiness remains wide.

Beyond the headline

The Bigger Picture

Thailand’s tourist levy is tiny—a few hundred baht. But the years of delays show how hard it is to bolt a digital payment onto a system built for mass, low‑margin tourism. Airlines do not want to be tax collectors, and border systems were not designed to take payments. The struggle is a warning for any destination trying to add user‑pay fees without modernising its infrastructure first.

The Response Gap

Ministers keep saying the fee is coming. Airlines keep saying they cannot collect it. Meanwhile, there is still no clear procedure for travellers. That gap risks last‑minute rule changes that catch passengers and small travel businesses off guard, forcing hurried adjustments to booking practices and pricing just as the peak season approaches.

The Reach

If the fee ends up in your ticket, airline reservation systems across the globe will need reconfiguring. If it is collected on arrival, expect longer queues at immigration. Either way, tour operators packaging Thailand will have to adjust pricing, and travellers may start comparing with regional destinations that do not charge extra. The levy’s final shape will ripple far beyond Bangkok’s airports.

What the levy means for your next Thailand trip

With the fee likely to take effect in early 2027, anyone booking travel to Thailand now faces a decision shaped by uncertainty over how it will be collected.

• Western holidaymaker

  Check the official Thai government portal or your local Royal Thai Embassy website before booking. If the fee is added to tickets, expect a small fare increase. If it shifts to the digital arrival card, budget extra time at immigration. Monitor US State Department or UK FCDO travel advisories for updates as the start date nears.

• Business traveller

  Factor potential delays into your arrival schedule. If TDAC‑based payment is chosen, you may need to complete an online form and payment before or at the border. Keep an eye on airline communications—carriers will likely notify passengers once the collection method is finalised, and that could affect your corporate travel policy.

• Travel agent or tour operator

  Adjust package pricing to account for the levy, even if the exact collection method is not yet set. Inform clients that a fee of THB300–500 per person is expected from early 2027 and may be added to airfares or collected on arrival. Build flexibility into bookings made for travel after January 2027.

FAQ

Explainer

Thailand Digital Arrival Card

The Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) is an online system introduced in 2025 to replace paper TM6 immigration forms for foreign travellers. It is administered by the Immigration Bureau and collects arrival information electronically. If used for the tourist levy, it would add a payment step to the existing digital entry process, potentially increasing processing time at borders.

Thailand Tourism Promotion Fund

The Thailand Tourism Promotion Fund is a government fund established under the National Tourism Policy Act to finance tourism development, insurance, and infrastructure. Revenue from the proposed tourist arrival fee would flow into this fund. Its rules require Cabinet approval for spending and collection mechanisms, which are still being finalised.

National Tourism Policy Act

The National Tourism Policy Act provides the legal framework for Thailand’s tourism policies, including the authority to impose a tourist levy. It explicitly exempts Thai nationals from any such fee. The act underpins the current proposal and mandates coordination among multiple ministries for implementation.

International Air Transport Association

IATA is the trade association representing about 300 airlines worldwide, setting standards for ticketing, safety, and security. Its booking systems typically use passenger name and destination, not nationality. IATA has argued that adding a nationality‑based tax to tickets would require significant system changes that violate the Chicago Convention’s equality principles.