Tourism operators are calling on the Thai authorities to delay the introduction of a 300-baht tourism charge to give the sector time to recuperate. The fee is because of take effect from April, with the Bangkok Post reporting that it will apply to foreigners arriving in the kingdom by land, sea, and air.
Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi from the Thai Hotels Association says that whereas the fee is a relatively small amount, it nonetheless dangers putting foreigners off, particularly those that travel in and out of the country regularly. She adds that whereas the idea of the fund is an efficient one, now just isn’t the time to introduce it. In doing so, Thailand dangers dropping out to other countries.
“If the country wants to welcome back vacationers, the tourism charge needs to be postpone until a minimum of 2023 because the sector must be rebuilt from the ground up because of the Omicron variant.”
Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn from the Association of Thai Travel Agents agrees, saying the charge must be postponed until tourism is back at pre-pandemic ranges and Chinese visitors have returned. With the suspension of the Test & Go entry scheme, he too believes now is not the time.
The pleas might fall on deaf ears, nonetheless. Genuine says his ministry has already held talks with most airways serving Thailand and it’s doubtless they’ll attain an settlement by March to include the payment in their fares. According to the Bangkok Post report, Phiphat says vacationers arriving by land border shall be “encouraged” to pay the charge by way of an app. However, migrant workers who cross the border every day will be exempt.
The tourism minister says he’s confident the levy won’t deter vacationers as several other international locations already cost an analogous charge. He expects the tourism fund to generate no much less than 1.5 billion baht from round 5 million vacationers. From Uncomplicated , 1.25 billion will be put aside to upgrade tourist websites, such as installing public bogs and creating accessible entrances for the disabled.
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