Surasak Says Proposed 1,000 Baht Departure Tax for Thai Travelers Abroad Still Under Study
Thailand's tourism minister said a proposed 1,000 baht departure tax on Thai travelers is still under feasibility study with no final decision, though the measure is legally authorized and would fund domestic tourism programs.
May 11, 2026 – Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Panchjaroenverkul addressed criticism regarding the proposed departure tax on Thais traveling internationally. He noted that the measure is authorized under the 1983 Outbound Travel Tax Decree, which remains legally valid, though enforcement has been suspended. The decision to implement collection falls under the Ministry of Finance's authority. Currently, the proposal is undergoing feasibility assessment with no conclusion yet on whether to impose the 1,000 baht rate as reported. The Finance Ministry plans to invite relevant agencies and business operators for consultation to evaluate potential impacts on the public. The departure tax aims to channel revenue from approximately 10 million annual outbound Thai travelers into a domestic tourism support fund, to be deployed through co-payment programs incentivizing domestic tourism. The principle redirects spending from outbound travel to stimulate internal economic circulation, reducing reliance on government budget allocations for tourism promotion. However, this remains a study proposal, and actual implementation would only proceed if benefits outweigh drawbacks.
