Thailand is looking at two ways to give its tourism economy a boost, and they take rather different approaches. While the government is preparing a new subsidy to encourage Thais to travel within the country, it is also considering a fee for foreign visitors that could help pay for better attractions, visitor safety and environmental restoration.
The proposed foreign visitor fee was presented by Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul on August 10, alongside details of the Thai Travel Thai Plus domestic tourism programme. The fee is still at an early stage, with no amount, collection mechanism or launch date announced yet. If introduced, the proceeds would be channelled into the Thailand Tourism Promotion Fund.
A Fee For Tourism
The proposed fee is intended to put some of the money generated by international tourism back into the destinations that welcome visitors. According to the ministry, the fund could support the development of existing attractions as well as purpose-built sites, particularly as Thailand looks to promote secondary destinations and spread tourism beyond its best-known cities and islands.
Another proposed use is visitor protection. Funds would go towards insurance and safety measures, while a portion would also support the restoration of natural environments affected by tourism. The idea comes as Thailand continues to balance the economic benefits of high visitor numbers with the pressure tourism can place on infrastructure, communities and fragile ecosystems.
The proposal forms part of a wider effort to strengthen Thailand's tourism competitiveness. The government is also looking at developing secondary destinations under its "Must-Visit Cities" strategy and ensuring that smaller tourism businesses and local communities benefit more directly from visitor spending.
A Domestic Travel Push
At the same time, Thailand is preparing Thai Travel Thai Plus, a four-month domestic tourism subsidy expected to launch in September, subject to final approval and funding arrangements. The programme has a preliminary budget of THB 1.75 billion and is expected to offer 500,000 entitlements through Krungthai Bank's Pao Tang application.
Under the scheme, the government would subsidise 50 per cent of eligible spending, capped at THB 3,000 per entitlement. Each participant could claim up to five entitlements, while a separate voucher worth THB 1,000 would be available for a broader range of tourism-related spending.
The revised voucher is designed to take domestic tourism spending beyond restaurants and hotels. Travellers could use it for meals, attraction entry, tourism products, community goods, guided tours and car hire, allowing smaller operators to participate in the programme and potentially spreading the economic impact across all 77 provinces.
The government estimates that the four-month initiative could generate more than THB 26 billion in economic circulation. It comes as domestic tourism revenue declined by 4 per cent during the first five months of 2026, with higher fuel costs, the conflict in the Middle East and the traditional low season between May and October weighing on spending.
What Happens Next
The domestic subsidy is still being finalised, with the Tourism and Sports Ministry working with the Finance Ministry on funding and eligibility conditions. The preliminary THB 1.75 billion budget is expected to come through borrowing, while further discussions will determine how businesses across different tourism sectors can participate.
The Cabinet is expected to consider the scheme by August 31, with the ministry targeting a September launch during Thailand's Green Season. If the programme performs well, it could be extended through subsequent phases.
The foreign visitor fee, however, is further from implementation. The ministry has yet to announce how much international travellers would pay, when the fee could take effect or how it would be collected. For now, it remains part of a broader tourism strategy that seeks to make Thailand's visitor economy more resilient while ensuring that some of the revenue generated by tourism is reinvested in the places and people supporting it.
FAQs
1. Is Thailand introducing a tourist fee for foreign visitors?
Thailand has proposed a fee, but no amount or implementation date has been announced yet.
2. Why is Thailand proposing a foreign visitor fee?
The revenue could fund attractions, visitor safety, insurance and environmental restoration.
3. How much is Thailand's domestic travel subsidy worth?
The Thai Travel Thai Plus programme has a preliminary budget of THB 1.75 billion.
4. How much can travellers receive under the domestic scheme?
The government would subsidise 50 per cent of eligible spending, capped at THB 3,000 per entitlement, with up to five entitlements per person.
5. When could the Thai Travel Thai Plus scheme begin?
Thailand is targeting a September 2026 launch, subject to final approval and funding arrangements.
