Thai Finance Ministry delays departure tax to sustain tourism growth
The ministry aims to avoid extra burdens on travellers and airlines and clarifies that the delay does not cancel the separate THB450 entry fee.
- Thailand's Finance Ministry is postponing the introduction of a proposed departure tax to support the tourism sector's growth momentum.
- The delay is intended to maintain a positive atmosphere for tourism, especially during the busy fourth quarter and following a positive international response to recent meetings hosted by Thailand.
- Concerns about adding financial burdens on travelers and airlines, due to volatile energy costs and global conflicts, also contributed to the decision.
- The postponed departure tax, which would be capped at THB5,000, is separate from the THB450 entry fee, which has not been cancelled.
The Finance Ministry is holding a public consultation on a draft departure tax bill from Wednesday (September 30, 2026) to Thursday (October 29, 2026).
The draft would require travellers to pay tax whenever they leave Thailand, at a rate set by ministerial regulation but capped at THB5,000 per departure.
Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas has now announced that the ministry will defer introducing the departure tax to maintain momentum in Thailand’s tourism sector, particularly during the fourth quarter, an important tourism season.
The decision follows the positive international response to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank meetings recently hosted by Thailand.
“We have discussed this with the Revenue Department and decided that we probably will not proceed with it for now because we want tourism to continue moving forward. We want to build on the positive response to the World Bank and IMF meetings. People around the world want to return, so we want to maintain this positive atmosphere.”
Ekniti said he had heard expressions of interest from several countries in returning to Thailand for holidays while attending the 33rd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Finance Ministers’ Meeting (APEC FMM) in Hong Kong.
He believes Thailand is likely to see a busy fourth quarter for tourism this year, and the ministry therefore considers this an unsuitable time to introduce the departure tax.
Meanwhile, the war in the Middle East continues to affect energy costs and airline operations. Businesses have held talks about the potential impact.
The ministry therefore needs to establish a clear picture of the situation first, while avoiding additional burdens on travellers and operators as costs remain volatile.
On when the tax might be reconsidered, Ekniti indicated that developments would need to be monitored to avoid imposing an excessive burden on travellers and airlines.
International journeys involve both arrivals and departures, and introducing an additional departure tax at this stage could place further pressure on businesses and travellers.
Ekniti also stressed that the departure tax under consultation by the Revenue Department is separate from the THB450 fee for entering Thailand, which falls under the Ministry of Tourism and Sports.
The postponement concerns the departure tax and does not mean the entry fee has been cancelled.
