News Forum - Tourism ‘insurance’ fee will cover ALL foreigners entering Thailand

[Pinetree]

4 hours ago, Skip said:

It's not the amount it's the principle... ask yourself when will enough be enough...

Who's principles, yours and all the moaner's on here,  as a foreigner, or the Thais as running the country? The UK is the highest taxed airlines passenger country in the World, where is the principle there then? A little bit of perspective would not go amiss on this subject. I would rather see airline passengers here pay a small amount more, than see the ordinary people here paying higher personal  tax rates. 

[Pinetree]

54 minutes ago, Viggen8408 said:

The only whinge is the principle of paying for something that does nothing. If they want to call ot an 'entry tax' or whatever, fine. Saying it is 'insurance' that doesn't appear to covet anything is crap.

That is just splitting hairs,  Of course its a general tax, just live with it 

[Pinetree]

So all of a sudden, this forum is full of people with high principles, who wish to tell the government how to run the country.  Now that is funny, hilarious even. .

[TWS60]

19 hours ago, JJJ said:

Except the international ticketing system covers, well, all countries.  The system is set up for landing fees and security charges that apply to all passengers. But rather than collecting the fee themselves they want to sink it in airline tickets while also avoiding criticism from Thais about the fee. 

Korea, Australia and others now require an electronic authorization with a fee for foreign arrivals. Why can’t Thailand just do the same thing?  Because they want the fee but they also want to try to hide it. 

Well, yeah, that's how things are done, increasingly since the 1950s when centralized, computerized airline booking system(s) emerged in the US, Europe, and progressively around the world.  Thailand already charges a departure fee.  Recall lots of chatter when they increased it from 500 to 700 Baht a number of years ago.

Thai Gov 'hiding' what?  From whom?  Fact we are moaning about it, along with the usual prediction it will be THE END of Tourism in Thailand, suggests the opposite.  He!!, they even announced publicly their intent to charge farangs more for hotel rooms.  Conspiracy to Hide?  Hardly.

Loading a tourist fee onto tourists isn't going to make average Thais upset either, so again, no motivation to hide anything.  It's a net positive for Thais and Thailand to indemnify its citizens from dodgy farangs who stick the Thai Gov/Tax Revenue/Socialist Healthcare System by absconding on hospital/clinic bills.  Thais are likely to applaud the policy, same as Yanks would if their government did the same for US Tax Payers.   Recall UK cracked down on foreigners abusing NHS services a number of years ago, which got a British standing ovation on farang social media here in Thailand.

 

[Mohandas]

2 hours ago, Pinetree said:

Who's principles, yours and all the moaner's on here,  as a foreigner, or the Thais as running the country? The UK is the highest taxed airlines passenger country in the World, where is the principle there then? A little bit of perspective would not go amiss on this subject. I would rather see airline passengers here pay a small amount more, than see the ordinary people here paying higher personal  tax rates. 

Indeed. Yet, you'll be remembering that this hypocrisy only applies to those backward Third World folks, never toward the more selected civilised West.

[BainaiThai]

Who is the Insurer...."accidents, riots, terrorism, natural disaster or “other incidents." doesn't mean s*it without definitions....we know it is a tax but at least pretend it is insurance with a copy of the policy

[Stevejm]

2 hours ago, TWS60 said:

Well, yeah, that's how things are done, increasingly since the 1950s when centralized, computerized airline booking system(s) emerged in the US, Europe, and progressively around the world.  Thailand already charges a departure fee.  Recall lots of chatter when they increased it from 500 to 700 Baht a number of years ago.

Thai Gov 'hiding' what?  From whom?  Fact we are moaning about it, along with the usual prediction it will be THE END of Tourism in Thailand, suggests the opposite.  He!!, they even announced publicly their intent to charge farangs more for hotel rooms.  Conspiracy to Hide?  Hardly.

Loading a tourist fee onto tourists isn't going to make average Thais upset either, so again, no motivation to hide anything.  It's a net positive for Thais and Thailand to indemnify its citizens from dodgy farangs who stick the Thai Gov/Tax Revenue/Socialist Healthcare System by absconding on hospital/clinic bills.  Thais are likely to applaud the policy, same as Yanks would if their government did the same for US Tax Payers.   Recall UK cracked down on foreigners abusing NHS services a number of years ago, which got a British standing ovation on farang social media here in Thailand.

If you want an insight into the way the world is heading have a look at the ETIAS visa waiver registration that is being introduced in the EU next year

https://www.etias.info/visa-requirements/

Visitors from countries that are allowed visa free entry to the EU will have to pay a fee and register every three years. Information to be submitted includes health information, criminal record and other information TBA. Visitors who aren’t from a country eligible for a waiver have to apply for visa and submit documents such as proof of medical insurance.

[WilliamG]

17 hours ago, Stevejm said:

It cost me 4000 Baht for a 30 day insurance policy to get my TP approved in order to get back into Thailand in January 2022 after a Christmas trip to uk so whatever happens my trip this year will be 3700 Baht cheaper. I am going to call that a “win”

But what did the 4k policy cover which the Bht 300 does not?

[Stevejm]

59 minutes ago, BainaiThai said:

Who is the Insurer...."accidents, riots, terrorism, natural disaster or “other incidents." doesn't mean s*it without definitions....we know it is a tax but at least pretend it is insurance with a copy of the policy

Wait until it becomes law but don’t expect too much!

[Stevejm]

15 minutes ago, WilliamG said:

But what did the 4k policy cover which the Bht 300 does not?

$50k of cover including Covid. Necessary for TP. I am not comparing policies merely rejoicing that my costs to enter Thailand will be lower this year 

[JJJ]

6 hours ago, TWS60 said:

Well, yeah, that's how things are done, increasingly since the 1950s when centralized, computerized airline booking system(s) emerged in the US, Europe, and progressively around the world.  Thailand already charges a departure fee.  Recall lots of chatter when they increased it from 500 to 700 Baht a number of years ago.

Thai Gov 'hiding' what?  From whom?  Fact we are moaning about it, along with the usual prediction it will be THE END of Tourism in Thailand, suggests the opposite.  He!!, they even announced publicly their intent to charge farangs more for hotel rooms.  Conspiracy to Hide?  Hardly.

Loading a tourist fee onto tourists isn't going to make average Thais upset either, so again, no motivation to hide anything.  It's a net positive for Thais and Thailand to indemnify its citizens from dodgy farangs who stick the Thai Gov/Tax Revenue/Socialist Healthcare System by absconding on hospital/clinic bills.  Thais are likely to applaud the policy, same as Yanks would if their government did the same for US Tax Payers.   Recall UK cracked down on foreigners abusing NHS services a number of years ago, which got a British standing ovation on farang social media here in Thailand.

I didn’t say it would be the “end” of tourism. and I acknowledged other countries have fees also. 

But what is unique about this fee is that the government hoisted enforcement on other people—one of the favorite tactics for this government.

I also noted that airlines have an interest in resisting this method as it opens them to the whims of every government around the world. 

As for your other point, I am skeptical that unpaid medical a bills for accidents is so significant as to require this. Again it doesn’t cover health—I’m sure hospital fees for major health incidents like heart attacks etc are much more significant than for accidents. So why only cover accidents?
 

 

[Stevejm]

9 minutes ago, JJJ said:

But what is unique about this fee is that the government hoisted enforcement on other people—one of the favorite tactics for this government.

Actually the government will be collecting the fee themselves at the land border crossings. In terms of collecting fees from air travelers it seems to be pretty standard practice in most countries to have airlines do it. On my last ticket to UK and back there is a section called Taxes/ Fees/ Charges (TFC) with 8 different codes in it for the various fees charged during the journey.

[Stevejm]

15 minutes ago, JJJ said:

As for your other point, I am skeptical that unpaid medical a bills for accidents is so significant as to require this. Again it doesn’t cover health—I’m sure hospital fees for major health incidents like heart attacks etc are much more significant than for accidents. So why only cover accidents?

I agree. The fee of 300 Baht was mentioned months ago as a tourism tax and only now has been touted as insurance. We will have to see the details before making a final judgment but I seriously doubt whether it will provide any cover worth having unless you do a runner on your hospital bill in which case you will contribute to the justification for such a charge.

[JJJ]

42 minutes ago, Stevejm said:

Actually the government will be collecting the fee themselves at the land border crossings. In terms of collecting fees from air travelers it seems to be pretty standard practice in most countries to have airlines do it. On my last ticket to UK and back there is a section called Taxes/ Fees/ Charges (TFC) with 8 different codes in it for the various fees charged during the journey.

Yes I know the airlines collect fees and taxes. My point is those are all fees applicable to all travelers. Thailand thinks it gets to have the global ticketing system updated because it wants to collect a fee from non-Thai citizens. 

I am not 100% sure but it’s interesting to know—But typically diplomats are not subject to fees like this, also not sure how they’re justifying that. 
 

Korea and Australia have a fee like this—and you pay it online. Not sure why Thailand thinks it’s so special. 

[JJJ]

43 minutes ago, Stevejm said:

I agree. The fee of 300 Baht was mentioned months ago as a tourism tax and only now has been touted as insurance. We will have to see the details before making a final judgment but I seriously doubt whether it will provide any cover worth having unless you do a runner on your hospital bill in which case you will contribute to the justification for such a charge.

You’re probably too generous  only having “serious doubts”  

[Guest1]

11 hours ago, DiJoDavO said:

"ALL foreigners, including expats, work permit or long-term visa holders, and diplomats will be required to pay the 300 fee. The ministerial spokesperson said that, as they were going to collect the fee for air travellers via their airfare, there was no way the systems could easily differentiate between one type of visa or another."

So... Why not try to figure out a way? Noooo....ofc not, because then they wouldn't make as much money out of it. They are not even trying. 

What they also could do is just wait with this fee unless they have figured it out. 

How many feet do they have to shoot in. 

Actually, the way to do that is a Thai Passport for the ticket holder.  That is an easy thing to do, you need name, nationality and Passport No. / country anyway. Everything else would really create a mess. 

I am just "worried" (p.c. formulated), that there are lots of people thinking, after a moto/accident (of any kind), they can let this insurance pay an outpatient bill or a private hospital bill. Or having a heart attack and ICU in the next private hospital (because they found the credit card for the first slip)

I am pretty certain, this payments will be on government insurance level for the citizen, and only in case no moto is involved (Motos have own  low cost insurance, for drivers/pillion, 3 parties, you problem to get the details from the owner)

[Guest1]

6 hours ago, BainaiThai said:

Who is the Insurer...."accidents, riots, terrorism, natural disaster or “other incidents." doesn't mean s*it without definitions....we know it is a tax but at least pretend it is insurance with a copy of the policy

The stamp in the passport  is your "policy"! Since it is a government thing, this stamp will tell, if you are in the 30 days or not. I assume, anyway, the hospitals will start charging , even if the Farang has a real accident insurance, which is paying!

Because in theory, you as a Farang will not have to do anything with the charging process. Oh, forgot: You get single room? Pay extra 

[Guest1]

5 hours ago, WilliamG said:

But what did the 4k policy cover which the Bht 300 does not?

The 300 Baht is excluding Covid, the 4k was to cover  Covid

[walker]

<nonsense post removed>

Edited July 16, 2022 by KaptainRob
Refer Forum Guidelines

[Stevejm]

1 hour ago, JJJ said:

Yes I know the airlines collect fees and taxes. My point is those are all fees applicable to all travelers. Thailand thinks it gets to have the global ticketing system updated because it wants to collect a fee from non-Thai citizens

It might be easy to programme the system to apply an additional charge to non thai passengers when they book their ticket because nationality data is collected during booking. I have no idea. We will have to see what is implemented.

[Tim_Melb]

FFS what is wrong with all you people complaining about a 300 baht entry fee it's less than US$10. There are entry fees and airport fees and departure fees bigger than that all over the world. They are giving you extra insurance cover as part of it that most countries would not. Get over it it's less than ten bucks. 

[Stevejm]

2 hours ago, Guest1 said:

The stamp in the passport  is your "policy"! Since it is a government thing, this stamp will tell, if you are in the 30 days or not. I assume, anyway, the hospitals will start charging , even if the Farang has a real accident insurance, which is paying!

Because in theory, you as a Farang will not have to do anything with the charging process. Oh, forgot: You get single room? Pay extra 

Nobody knows how it will work because it hasn’t been gazetted yet!

[Stevejm]

2 hours ago, JJJ said:

You’re probably too generous  only having “serious doubts”  

How doubtful am I supposed to be when we have no details and it hasn’t been implemented yet?

[PapayaBokBok]

a decade ago i got dengue fever here--wiped me out! lost tons of weight in 5 days..kidneys aching etc..

luckily i had travel ins as it cost me 30,000 baht for 4 days!!!! and all they did was give me Tylenol....

SO...if a THAI mozzie gives a farang dengue will this 300 bt FEE cover me even if its 30k? 

or they send your to the government hospital and give u rice and water

[samiam123]

8 hours ago, BainaiThai said:

Who is the Insurer...."accidents, riots, terrorism, natural disaster or “other incidents." doesn't mean s*it without definitions....we know it is a tax but at least pretend it is insurance with a copy of the policy

It will cover a lot more than what most people coming in have now.  If you want a policy that covers riots why don't you buy one?

Edited July 16, 2022 by samiam123