Opinon: Thailand’s proposed travel charges overlook people who call it home

People with homes, jobs and families in Thailand deserve greater consideration as the government adds to the cost of crossing its borders. An increased airport passenger charge is already in force, while a tourist entry fee and a separate departure tax are proposed. Together, the three could amount to 2,570 baht for a traveller liable for all of them—a burden that should be assessed alongside what long-term residents already pay.

Airports of Thailand increased its international departure Passenger Service Charge from 730 to 1,120 baht on June 20, 2026. That rate applies at its six airports, including Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang. It is an existing airport-service charge, distinct from the two proposed levies. AOT says the revenue supports airport infrastructure, safety and capacity.

The proposed tourist entry fee would initially collect 450 baht from qualifying foreign arrivals by air, with implementation targeted for 2027. Separately, the Revenue Department proposes an initial 1,000-baht tax on international air departures by people of all nationalities, subject to exemptions. Its consultation runs until October 29, 2026. Neither proposal is currently an obligation to pay.

The 2,570-baht figure therefore combines an existing charge with two possible future charges. It is not a new fee everyone would pay, nor would the entire amount be an increase from today. For someone subject to all three, the two proposals would add 1,450 baht to the existing 1,120-baht airport charge across an arrival and departure.

The exemptions matter.

The reported tourist-fee draft exempts work-permit holders, but published reporting has not identified a blanket exemption for other long-term visa holders. The proposed departure tax has no reported general exemption for either group. A work-permit holder flying internationally from an AOT airport could therefore face the existing 1,120-baht passenger charge and the proposed 1,000-baht departure tax, even while exempt from the tourist entry fee.

These costs would sit alongside immigration fees.

A standard extension-of-stay application costs 1,900 baht, a single re-entry permit 1,000 baht and a multiple re-entry permit 3,800 baht. Someone requiring an extension and multiple re-entry permit already pays 5,700 baht. Official schedules also list a one-year multiple-entry non-immigrant visa at 5,000 baht, although availability and consular charges vary. These are different documents, and the fees do not all apply to everyone.

Foreign workers face work-permit costs too.

BOI guidance lists a 100-baht application fee and 3,000 baht for a standard permit valid for more than six months and up to one year, although other categories have different rates. Their proposed tourist-fee exemption is reasonable. Their existing obligations should also inform decisions about further travel charges.

The insurance justification for the tourist fee needs closer examination.

Many foreign employees already contribute to Thailand’s Social Security system and receive medical benefits. O-A retirement visa applicants must obtain health insurance covering their stay. These arrangements may differ from the proposed tourist policy, but the government should explain what additional protection the levy would provide and how it would recognise existing coverage.

Retirees cannot rely on a work-permit exemption because retirement visa categories prohibit employment.

Nor would that exemption necessarily help a foreign spouse raising children, a dependant or a parent who works overseas while their family lives in Thailand. Returning to an established home and family deserves explicit consideration in the final rules.

Thailand’s efforts to attract digital nomads make clarity even more important.

The Destination Thailand Visa offers five-year multiple-entry validity, with stays of up to 180 days per entry and a published base fee of 10,000 baht. It accommodates remote workers and other qualifying applicants, including spouses and dependent children. It does not confer permanent residence, but it deliberately encourages extended stays. Adding charges to their journeys risks weakening that invitation.

Funding tourist attractions raises another question about existing admission policies.

National parks distinguish Thai and foreign admission rates by nationality. Permanent residence, a long-term visa or paying Thai taxes does not automatically qualify someone for the Thai price. Park admission revenue already supports conservation and development.

A tourism levy, an airport charge and a park ticket serve different purposes. But explaining each charge separately does not answer the question of their combined burden.

Foreign residents may contribute through taxes, immigration fees and higher admission prices while receiving little recognition of their established lives here. A review of resident eligibility for local park rates should accompany any new tourism levy.

The departure tax raises a wider concern because Thai families would pay it too.

International travel can be necessary for employment, education, medical treatment or caring for relatives. Costs would multiply across eligible family members. The proposal’s initial 1,000-baht rate should also be distinguished from its proposed statutory ceiling of 5,000 baht, which would permit higher rates through future regulations.

Thailand should assess these charges together before approving more of them.

That means publishing clear treatment for retirees, spouses, dependants and DTV holders, retaining the tourist-fee exemption for work-permit holders, and explaining how existing insurance affects the case for the levy.

Better airports and safer attractions are worthwhile goals. People who have built their lives in Thailand should have their residence, family ties and existing contributions recognised in how those goals are funded.

Long-term ties to the country should count for something when the bill is drawn up.

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在泰国拥有住房、工作和家庭的人们理应得到更多考虑，因为政府正在增加跨境成本。机场旅客费的提高已经生效，而旅游入境费和单独的离境税也正在提议中。这三项费用加起来可能高达2570泰铢，旅客必须全部缴纳——这笔负担应该与长期居民已经支付的费用进行比较。

泰国机场管理局于2026年6月20日将国际离境旅客服务费从730泰铢上调至1120泰铢。该费率适用于其六个机场，包括素万那普机场和廊曼机场。这是一项现有的机场服务费，与此前提议的两项附加费不同。泰国机场管理局表示，该收入用于支持机场基础设施、安全和运力。

拟议的旅游入境费初期将对符合条件的外国游客收取450泰铢，计划于2027年开始实施。此外，税务局还提议对所有国籍人士的国际航班离境征收1000泰铢的税款，但部分情况可享受豁免。该提议的公众咨询期至2026年10月29日。目前，这两项提议均不构成强制性缴款。

因此，2570泰铢的总费用包含了现有费用和两种可能的未来费用。这并非一项所有人都要缴纳的新费用，也不是说总金额会比现在更高。对于需要缴纳这三项费用的人来说，这两项提议将在现有的1120泰铢机场费基础上，额外增加1450泰铢（涵盖到达和出发）。

豁免条款很重要。

据报道，旅游费草案豁免了工作许可证持有者，但已公布的报道并未提及其他长期签证持有者可享受全面豁免。拟议的离境税也没有针对这两类人群的普遍豁免条款。因此，即使免缴旅游入境费，从泰国机场搭乘国际航班的工作许可证持有者仍可能面临现行的1120泰铢旅客费和拟议的1000泰铢离境税。

这些费用将与移民费用一起收取。

标准延期居留申请费用为1900泰铢，单次入境许可费用为1000泰铢，多次入境许可费用为3800泰铢。需要延期居留和多次入境许可的申请人需支付5700泰铢。官方收费标准中还列出了一年期多次入境非移民签证，费用为5000泰铢，但签证名额和领事费用可能有所不同。这些是不同的文件，并非所有费用都适用于所有人。

外籍劳工也需要支付工作许可证费用。

泰国投资促进委员会（BOI）的指导意见规定，申请费为100泰铢，有效期超过六个月但不超过一年的标准许可证费用为3000泰铢，其他类别的许可证收费标准有所不同。他们提出的免除旅游费的方案是合理的。他们现有的义务也应作为制定未来旅行收费政策的参考依据。

保险公司对收取旅游费的解释需要进一步审查。

许多外籍员工已缴纳泰国社会保障金并享受医疗福利。OA退休签证申请人必须购买涵盖其在泰期间的健康保险。这些安排可能与拟议的旅游保险政策有所不同，但政府应解释该项税收将提供哪些额外保障，以及如何认可现有的保险。

退休人员不能依赖工作许可豁免，因为退休签证类别禁止就业。

这项豁免也未必能帮助在泰国抚养子女的外籍配偶、受抚养人或在海外工作而家人居住在泰国的父母。最终规则中应明确考虑返回已建立的住所和家庭的情况。

泰国为吸引数字游民所做的努力，使得信息透明化变得更加重要。

泰国目的地签证有效期为五年，可多次入境，每次入境停留时间最长可达180天，基本费用为10,000泰铢。该签证适用于远程办公人员和其他符合条件的申请人，包括配偶和受抚养子女。该签证不授予永久居留权，但其目的在于鼓励长期停留。如果在此签证上增加额外费用，则可能会削弱其鼓励长期停留的吸引力。

为旅游景点提供资金引发了关于现有门票政策的另一个问题。

国家公园根据国籍区分泰国公民和外国公民的门票价格。持有永久居留权、长期签证或缴纳泰国税款并不能自动享受泰国公民的优惠价格。公园门票收入已用于支持环境保护和公园发展。

旅游税、机场税和公园门票用途各不相同。但分别解释每项费用并不能解答它们加起来造成的负担问题。

外国居民可能通过税收、移民费和更高的门票价格做出贡献，但他们在此定居的生活却鲜少得到认可。任何新的旅游税都应与居民享受当地公园优惠价格的资格审查同时进行。

离境税引发了更广泛的关注，因为泰国家庭也需要缴纳这笔税款。

国际旅行可能出于就业、教育、医疗或照顾亲属等必要原因。符合条件的家庭成员众多，费用将成倍增加。该提案最初提出的1000泰铢标准也应与拟议的5000泰铢法定上限区分开来，后者允许未来通过法规提高标准。

泰国应在批准更多指控之前，先对这些指控进行综合评估。

这意味着要公布对退休人员、配偶、受抚养人和DTV持有者的明确待遇，保留对工作许可证持有者的旅游费豁免，并解释现有保险如何影响征税的理由。

改善机场和提升旅游景点的安全性是值得追求的目标。在泰国扎根生活的人们，其居住权、家庭关系和既有贡献理应在实现这些目标的资金筹措过程中得到认可。

在制定法案时，与该国的长期联系应该被考虑在内。

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