Tourist tax in Thailand: tour operators told how tourists will react

Plans for the introduction of a tourist tax, which have been considered by Thailand for several years, will still be implemented in 2023. On Tuesday, February 14, the Thai Cabinet of Ministers approved the relevant bill. This is reported by local media.

TOURISTS IN THAILAND WILL NEED TO PAY TOURIST TAX

It is assumed that the tourist tax will be collected from June 1, 2023 from all foreign tourists coming to the kingdom. The funds received will be used to develop domestic tourism and support travelers affected by accidents.

TOURIST TAX WILL BE FROM 5 TO 9 USD

The amount of the tax will depend on the method of arrival in Thailand. Tourists arriving in the kingdom by land and sea will have to pay 150 baht (328 rubles). For those arriving by air, the tax is 300 baht (655 rubles).

There are exceptions – the tax does not apply to children under two years of age and transit passengers, as well as to holders of diplomatic passports and persons with work permits.

As for the technology of collecting money, it is assumed that the amount will be included in an air ticket, or if tourists travel by land/sea, they will have to pay at the border.

Again, it is not entirely clear how to set up the process of including the fee in the air ticket price with foreign (for example, Russian) airlines. In any case, there is no detailed information on how the tax will be collected yet.

Despite this, tour operators and representatives of travel retail already say in the affirmative: the tax will not frighten Russian tourists and will not affect their desire to relax in the kingdom.

TOUR OPERATORS: TOURIST TAX WILL NOT AFFECT SALES OF TOURS TO THAILAND

Artur Muradyan, Vice President of ATOR and General Director of Space Travel, is sure that the introduction of the resort fee will not affect the tourist flow in this direction.

“An important point is the amount of the established tax. It is extremely insignificant in the budget for holidays in Thailand. The proposed mechanism for collecting the fee is also convenient – the fee is included in the cost of air travel. In fact, the tax is paid by the airlines. Thus, the tourist, in fact, does not have to pay anything extra,” says Artur Muradyan.

The CEO of Space Travel, on the contrary, sees a positive moment in the tax innovation.

“All funds raised will go to such good causes as the development of tourism infrastructure and the provision of emergency medical care to tourists whose insurance limits were insufficient or to those tourists who did not have insurance coverage,” the expert says.

В « Russian Express” commented on the impact of the upcoming gathering on the desire of Russians to relax in Thailand: “we believe that with an average cost of a tour of 3,000 US dollars for two, 10 dollars will not play any role in choosing a direction.”

The PAC Group also recalled that the practice of tourist taxes is applied in many countries of the world and tourists are completely calm about the need to pay them. You can buy a week-long tour to Phuket (March) from PAC Group for 172.2 thousand rubles. for two. If we had to pay tax already now, the tour would cost 173.5 thousand rubles. for two. The difference is minimal.

“Tourist taxes have long been no surprise, let alone shocking. If such a rule is introduced, then tourists will comply with it. We don’t see any problems,” ANEX Tour said.

Ambotis Holidays believes that with the huge demand among Russians for holidays in Thailand, which exists now, Russians will not have any reaction to the tourist tax. “In addition, we send mainly wealthy people to Thailand. For them, the announced amount of the tourist tax is of course insignificant. 3 * hotels are almost never booked with us. This season, our company is the leader in the number of tourists sent to Intercontinental Phuket, Banyan Tree Phuket and The Nai Harn hotels. All these are high-quality 5*,” says Anna Cherepova, Head of Asia and Africa at Ambotis Holidays.

Meanwhile, Anna Cherepova continues, the question arises regarding the implementation of the novelty. “It is not yet clear how this will work. Either tourists will pay the tax on the spot, or tour operators in Russia will contribute this amount to the tour package. But in any case, the innovation will not have any negative effect on demand,” says Anna Cherepova.

The company “Intourist” expresses an opinion similar to that of colleagues. “Of course, there is a category of tourists who, when choosing a destination, pay attention, among other things, to the need for additional costs (port costs, deposits in hotels, etc.). But in the case of Thailand, most often, such tourists are an overwhelming minority. Therefore, I don’t think that the tourist tax will have any effect on the desire of tourists to relax in the kingdom,” says Philip Obruchev-Mironov, head of the commercial division of the Intourist tour operator.

Tourists of the PAKS tour operator, according to representatives this tour operator will also not refuse a trip due to the need to pay tax.

“If the“ New Year’s fun ”of the Thai government did not stop our tourist from traveling to the kingdom, then what can we say about the tax. Especially such a minimum. Thailand is now showing the highest sales volumes of any destination in our company. A tour to Phuket for 12 days in March can be bought from us for 228.8 thousand rubles. for two (4* hotel, Aeroflot flight),” the PAKS said.

Alexandra Polyanskaya

TOURISTS IN THAILAND WILL NEED TO PAY TOURIST TAX

TOURIST TAX WILL BE FROM 5 TO 9 USD

TOUR OPERATORS: TOURIST TAX WILL NOT AFFECT SALES OF TOURS TO THAILAND

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