News Forum - Tourists will have to pay 300 baht ‘land entry fee,’ minister confirms

[CamPat]

Oh Thailand, will you ever learn ? Every other Tourist Destination around the Globe is just happy that the Tourists are coming back at all. Do you really need those 300 extra Bath ? Perhaps you should  change your mind.

[JMichaels]

58 minutes ago, riclag said:

There is a remote chance ,a sliver ,that if enough people complain by bringing up the ,what I call inequities set out by the regime,that you mentioned  in your comment ,someone in authority in the govt might get  the hint that these concerns are probably the reason why travelers aren't coming here !

Lastly if that doesn't work then falangs will see others complaining and have common sense enough to beware of the revenue schemes

I would love to believe that but I have my doubts.

I'm sure there are many in the Thai gov't and the TAT that still believe that Thailand is the destination of choice in SE Asia and tourists will flock there no matter what. As the neighboring countries open up (and even before COVID), we are already seeing the evidence this is not the case.

Hopefully they will see it as well and act... Cheers!

[HiuMak]

300 Bath is not much, but it is not a good feeling to have to pay this Tourist Tax.

[Cathat]

If they had any sense they would if anything reduce or waive fees directly aimed at tourists for the moment and try to rebuild the battered tourism industry. 

they do not have a unique or premium product irrespective of what they might think.

plenty of other countries in the region most certainly do want the dollars,euros,pounds and yen.

You don't choose tourists,they choose you if they like the look of what's on offer.

 

Edited February 26, 2022 by Cathat

[TSS]

btw- not just tourists. the 300, 500, 700 b departure tax has always been applied to my TW and T/US son as well. Assume the 300b entry tax will be as well

[longwood50]

15 hours ago, Benroon said:

$10 is not going to make a solitary person change their mind

Again, you miss the point.  The Thai government has already imposed significant expenses on incoming tourists.  The mandated PCR tests, the insurance, the quarantine.  This is just one more expense on top of those already incurred. 

Now if you run a restaurant and you increase the price of all of your items on your menu 20 baht and "think" it has no impact on the number of customers who dine at your restaurant I suggest you need to go back to school and study economics. 

The higher the price the less of it your sell.  Whether it is 1 baht, 100 baht, 300 baht, or 10,000 baht it is only the "level" of disincentive being imposed.   I can assure you that in business if you want to attract "more" customers one of the strategies you don't employ is to raise prices. 

 

[Soidog]

On 2/24/2022 at 1:19 PM, longwood50 said:

I see your point, however the stated is "foreign emergencies"  However I would suggest that they are being penny wise and pound foolish.  Average spending per tourist in 2019 was 48,580 Thai baht.  So for each tourist "discouraged" by whether it is the 300 baht fee, the manadatory PCR testing, the mandatory quarantine, it costs the economy 161 times the 300 baht fee.  Assuming that all of the 48,580 aveage spending was subject to VAT, the government loses 3,400 baht in income chasing 300 baht.  

Businesses run sales to encourage more customers to shop and come to their store. Thailand is doing the opposite. 

Spot on comments. There are one or two people who can see what you are saying but chose to use it to continue with their Troll activities and push their warped agenda. You are applying quality business sense and trying to have a sensible debate. You are wasting your time engaging with the Trolls that just want to inflame debate. They offer no counter argument as to why the charge makes sense or is good business practice. They just use it to call people cheap. 

[LoongFred]

17 minutes ago, longwood50 said:

Again, you miss the point.  The Thai government has already imposed significant expenses on incoming tourists.  The mandated PCR tests, the insurance, the quarantine.  This is just one more expense on top of those already incurred. 

Now if you run a restaurant and you increase the price of all of your items on your menu 20 baht and "think" it has no impact on the number of customers who dine at your restaurant I suggest you need to go back to school and study economics. 

The higher the price the less of it your sell.  Whether it is 1 baht, 100 baht, 300 baht, or 10,000 baht it is only the "level" of disincentive being imposed.   I can assure you that in business if you want to attract "more" customers one of the strategies you don't employ is to raise prices. 

 

It won't make any difference from tourist that spend and spend big in Thailand.  It will possibly make a difference in the cheap charlie and backpacker groups though. Good riddance. 

[TSS]

my ex worked at a large BKK hotel restaurant that, of course, added 10% service to meal tabs. She said servers saw 0% of that. Wages only were paid. Isolated case, yeah. But, if you are OK with tipping for good service, it's something to think aboutor not...

[Thaidup]

Really, complaining about $10 here or $5 there, talk about "cheap charlies". Most people save up extra money to go on a holiday so they splurge and enjoy some extra luxury or fun and food.

If 10 bucks is going to kill your budget than I might suggest leaving the trip for another decade or so when you have saved up a bit more.

[LoongFred]

21 hours ago, Bangkok said:

It's not the 10 dollar fee, it's the fact they look at us with dollar signs in their eyes and think they can milk us for more money when they are already forcing perfectly healthy foreigners to purchase insurance, at least 1 mon trh even if you're only coming for 1 week.

And, all the other rippoffs where they racially discriminate against us and charge up to 10 times what they charge Thai citizens.

The only example of this is national parks, where they want to encourage Thai visitors. I look it as a Thai discount rather that a higher falang charge. If you visit nice national parks in other countries you most likely pay more.

[LoongFred]

On 2/24/2022 at 8:20 PM, Guest1 said:

There was a time, where the single males brought more money IN to Thailand, as a family of 4 or x, on a package deal. 

Single male often arrive on a plane ticket, only. And spend ALL the money for their trip in Thailand. And most often a big part of that went straight into the transfers to the north, into street vendors, gar kitchen pockets.

The Chinese, also most Russian and other western package tourists, paying the majority of their money in there home countries. And just part of that is coming to Thailand. 

Their was a big part of the Thais just living fine from the money of the "single males". Lots of houses and buffalos, pickups, motos got paid from there "input"! ;-)

So after 50 years of doing this the northeast must be very developed and very healthy buffalo's.  

[Guest1]

1 hour ago, LoongFred said:

So after 50 years of doing this the northeast must be very developed and very healthy buffalo's.  

We will never find out where the northeast would stand, without all the daughters, supporting there families with every inch of there body.

But looking at the eduacation and jobs, that are mostly and usually to be offered and found in the majority population of that area, that would often not explain the 2 trucks in front of the house, which also is already an upgraded version of a "thaigarage", with almost no one having a real (paid) job!

And mostly, to be in the "build a house" or "buy a pick up" supporting the family group, the girls need to become a wife. The Buffallo, however, better the sick Buffallo, or the moto, that is/was easy possible with  temporary boyfriends, imho. As more, as better. 

No, the northeast is not getting developed because of single tourists, but the life there got a lot better for many people, because of the direct money flow to the service girls and boys, which transfered it to their Mums for taking care there babies. Oh, and some girls are paying for education of brothers and sisters and their own kids. To try to  change the fait of the next generation girls. Which are sometimes "lug krueng". And they dreaming about, that this kid becomes a superstar, in the future. 

[LoongFred]

On 2/24/2022 at 11:47 AM, Grant said:

Wow Mr Smarty Pants American!

It is illegal to add  the service charge to non Hotels that are registered for Tax!

Mr I know everything!

It is also not customary to tip in Thailand if you read all the tourist books and blogs?

There are other countries apart from America in this World !

But big shot Americans think they know everything including not wearing masks and spreading the Virus and disobeying mask wearing?

Many countries in the world do not tip like America or do not tip at all!

Maybe because some countries actually pay their workers a fair wage !

Anyway the point is that it’s not just an added 300 Baht as they add on to everything at the moment!

The Government here also saying that price gorging is illegal!

add to that an extra night in a SHA hotel and a test for around $100 dollars a taxi fare to the Hotel .

Meals at the Hotel and The Taxes

Its not just 300Baht?

plus added to that is a departure tax of 700 Baht hidden!

Thailand should be grateful that a tourist chose their country to spend money here on Hotels and attractions and stop adding extra taxes to tourists!

Just another reason for tourists not to come!

Mr Big shot

Suggest you goggle tipping in Thailand. Yes it says people tip. In Asia only Japan says no to tips, but I assume you're in Thailand. 

[LoongFred]

On 2/24/2022 at 11:14 AM, LoongFred said:

How the fee is used is non of your concern. You should concentrate your energies on how fees are used in the UK. It has already be stated that the fees in the UK are very high. In Thailand it's only a concern for the Thais.

You can always save all your receipts and claim a vat tax refund when you leave. Thrifty foreigns can probably recover the cost. I don't know about you but it would too troublesome for me. 

[longwood50]

On 2/26/2022 at 12:53 PM, LoongFred said:

It won't make any difference from tourist that spend and spend big in Thailand.  It will possibly make a difference in the cheap charlie and backpacker groups though. Good riddance. 

Please tell me LoongFred at what point "does it make a difference"  500 baht, 5,000 baht, 10,000 baht. 

Also perhaps those most impacted would be those with larger families or backpacker groups.  Its fine that you are willing to see them go.  I suggest the Thai's who rely on them for earning part of their living don't share your enthusiam.  

Though it may only be a "straw" adding additional burdens whether administrative, insurance, testing, quarantines, or fees at some point the tourist just says "good riddance" to Thailand and goes where they are welcomed. 

[longwood50]

On 2/26/2022 at 12:47 PM, Soidog said:

Spot on comments

Why do restaurants run "specials"  Not because they make money on the low priced meal.  They are hoping it generates additional customers who will spend money on alcohol.  The same is true for shopping malls that run "loss leaders" to get people into the mall hoping they will buy other things. The Pattaya vendors report their business is down 90%.  I would guess that one of their "strategies" to deal with it is not to raise their prices. 

If anything, Thailand should be making travel to Thailand both easier and more affordable.  If they don't want tourists then just say so and adopt policies to restrict them.  This constant cry for more tourists with one side of the government while the other is slapping restrictions and fees on them is ludicrous. 


 

[LoongFred]

3 hours ago, Guest1 said:

We will never find out where the northeast would stand, without all the daughters, supporting there families with every inch of there body.

But looking at the eduacation and jobs, that are mostly and usually to be offered and found in the majority population of that area, that would often not explain the 2 trucks in front of the house, which also is already an upgraded version of a "thaigarage", with almost no one having a real (paid) job!

And mostly, to be in the "build a house" or "buy a pick up" supporting the family group, the girls need to become a wife. The Buffallo, however, better the sick Buffallo, or the moto, that is/was easy possible with  temporary boyfriends, imho. As more, as better. 

No, the northeast is not getting developed because of single tourists, but the life there got a lot better for many people, because of the direct money flow to the service girls and boys, which transfered it to their Mums for taking care there babies. Oh, and some girls are paying for education of brothers and sisters and their own kids. To try to  change the fait of the next generation girls. Which are sometimes "lug krueng". And they dreaming about, that this kid becomes a superstar, in the future. 

You really bit the story. Most are live in the moment types and spend money as fast as it comes. Easy come easy go.

It's up to you to believe or not.

[LoongFred]

2 hours ago, longwood50 said:

Why do restaurants run "specials"  Not because they make money on the low priced meal.  They are hoping it generates additional customers who will spend money on alcohol.  The same is true for shopping malls that run "loss leaders" to get people into the mall hoping they will buy other things. The Pattaya vendors report their business is down 90%.  I would guess that one of their "strategies" to deal with it is not to raise their prices. 

If anything, Thailand should be making travel to Thailand both easier and more affordable.  If they don't want tourists then just say so and adopt policies to restrict them.  This constant cry for more tourists with one side of the government while the other is slapping restrictions and fees on them is ludicrous. 


 

 Business in Pattaya are doomed and the smart ones have left. 

[Guest1]

25 minutes ago, LoongFred said:

 Business in Pattaya are doomed and the smart ones have left. 

So, no big changes?

[longwood50]

15 hours ago, LoongFred said:

Business in Pattaya are doomed and the smart ones have left. 

And so you have no problem in pouring just a little more gas (300 baht fee) to the fire. 

[LoongFred]

1 hour ago, longwood50 said:

And so you have no problem in pouring just a little more gas (300 baht fee) to the fire. 

OK if that's your answer. I don't go to Pattaya because it's full of falangs and not fun. The subject is the 300baht entry fee which I view as insignificant and doubt it would upset quality tourists. It doesn't seem right that some people don't want to provide support to a country they visit. 

If the fee deters any tourists they are most likely the ones who should not come.

[longwood50]

12 minutes ago, LoongFred said:

OK if that's your answer. I don't go to Pattaya because it's full of falangs and not fun. The subject is the 300baht entry fee which I view as insignificant and doubt it would upset quality tourists. It doesn't seem right that some people don't want to provide support to a country they visit. 

If the fee deters any tourists they are most likely the ones who should not come

Again, 

You miss the point.  You have tourism cratering, Now with the Russian/Ukraine situation the Russian tourist trade will likely go to almost non-existent and "you want to raise fees"  

It isn't the amount it is the lunacy of the policy.  It is like a restaurant whose customer traffic is down so their answer is to "raise prices"   

Just not a smart move.  Better that the Thai government gets it support 
from the money that tourists bring into the Thai economy rather than do anything no matter how small to make Thailand less attractive to visit . 

[Grant]

On 2/26/2022 at 12:53 PM, LoongFred said:

It won't make any difference from tourist that spend and spend big in Thailand.  It will possibly make a difference in the cheap charlie and backpacker groups though. Good riddance. 

You have no idea mate!

My French friends come here regularly!

They won’t come with all the paperwork and tests.

And people like you , who believe 300 Baht does not impact tourism have no idea!

Rich people in fact do not contribute much to the Thais struggles in street shops and small restaurants and Beach businesses!

Rich people stay in their Hotels and eat Hotel Food and stay by the pool!

All the money going to big company franchises from around the world!

How does that help Thailand Local Tourism and Island hoppers?

No DEAD wrong!

Thailand became what it is from everyday People spending money with locals.

This is why we laugh when the Thai government aims at Rich Arabs and Russians?

[Grant]

1 minute ago, Grant said:

You have no idea mate!

My French friends come here regularly!

They won’t come with all the paperwork and tests.

And people like you , who believe 300 Baht does not impact tourism have no idea!

Rich people in fact do not contribute much to the Thais struggles in street shops and small restaurants and Beach businesses!

Rich people stay in their Hotels and eat Hotel Food and stay by the pool!

All the money going to big company franchises from around the world!

How does that help Thailand Local Tourism and Island hoppers?

No DEAD wrong!

Thailand became what it is from everyday People spending money with locals.

This is why we laugh when the Thai government aims at Rich Arabs and Russians?

And by the way my French friends have travelled to Greek Islands, Saint Martin, USA in the time they have waited to come back to Thailand?

But he has many other options?

Get the point??