The second measure is more controversial. It is a departure tax of about 1,000 baht that would apply to every air passenger, Thai citizens included. Current law allows a charge of up to 5,000 baht, and the last levy of this kind, 500 baht, was set roughly twenty years ago. Children under two, visiting heads of state, government guests and international transit passengers in designated areas would be exempt. Airlines or ticket agents would collect it when issuing the ticket, and it would take effect 180 days after publication in the Royal Gazette, without affecting those who bought their tickets earlier. The Revenue Department's consultation remains open until October 29.
The timing could hardly be more sensitive. By October 10, Thailand had received around 24 million foreign tourists, 4 percent fewer than a year earlier and far from the nearly 40 million of 2019. The tourism authority expects to close the year near 33 million, and if it falls short of last year's 32.97 million it would mark the first back-to-back annual decline outside the pandemic since at least 1995. The annual report of the PATA association, published on October 22, puts the country at 15.9 million arrivals in the early months of 2026, down 4.9 percent, while neighbors such as Vietnam are growing at double-digit rates.
The industry's response has been forceful. The Thai Travel Agents Association argues that travelers already pay airport charges and warns that the new tax could noticeably cut passenger numbers and even lead carriers to reduce frequencies, which would hurt inbound tourism and the ambition of turning the country into a regional aviation hub. The Thai Hotels Association has also come out against it. Some estimates circulated on October 19 suggest the combined measures could cost the sector up to 4.5 billion dollars a year in lost income.
The cumulative effect of other charges adds to the concern. Airports of Thailand raised its international passenger fee in June from 730 to 1,120 baht at six airports, so a foreigner arriving and leaving through them could pay as much as 2,570 baht across the arrival fee, the departure tax and the airport charge. For a market that competes on price with other Southeast Asian destinations, that total is not small.
Supporters of the plan argue that anyone who can afford an international trip can absorb a modest surcharge, and that the revenue will be invested in improving visitor experience and protection. Critics reply that the timing, with arrivals falling, may send the wrong signal. Both measures remain proposals for now, and the final decision will depend on the results of the consultations and on the government.
