Planning to travel abroad? Thailand mulls exit fee for outbound travellers
Thailand is considering an exit fee on citizens traveling abroad, with revenues of around 10 billion baht annually potentially funding domestic tourism subsidies and travel incentives.
BANGKOK — Thailand is considering introducing a fee on Thai nationals travelling abroad, or an "exit fee", as part of a plan to generate funding to support domestic tourism promotion, Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul said.
Surasak said the proposal is a joint policy initiative with the Ministry of Finance and is aimed at strengthening Thailand's "Thai travel within Thailand" campaign by creating a dedicated funding mechanism for domestic tourism programmes.
He said, for example, a fee of 1,000 baht per outbound traveller could generate around 10 billion baht annually, based on an estimated 10 million outbound trips by Thai nationals each year.
The revenue could then be used to subsidise domestic travel, such as providing 1,000-baht support per trip for Thai travellers within the country, or other incentive schemes depending on suitability.
"This type of programme will help strengthen the long-term sustainability of Thailand's tourism sector without relying on annual government budgets," Surasak said, adding that it would also allow for clearer long-term planning.
He said the ministry is currently preparing short-term domestic stimulus measures to offset a slowdown in international tourism caused by geopolitical tensions, including conflicts in the Middle East.
The ministry is reviewing previously successful domestic tourism schemes for possible revival, such as the "We Travel Together" co-payment programme and other travel subsidy initiatives, including bus travel promotions, tax incentives and measures to boost secondary-city tourism.
