Thai authorities have postponed the planned June 2023 introduction of a tourist tax of 300 baht (about $9) for travelers entering the country.
According to the Pattaya News portal, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Thailand has postponed the introduction of a tax on foreigners arriving by air until at least September, as it has not yet been possible to agree on a mechanism for dividing passengers into foreign tourists, Thais and expats.
So, the airlines have argued that the rules should apply equally to all passengers, while the Ministry of Tourism does not want the tourist tax to be levied on certain categories of expats and Thai nationals.
Meanwhile, the Phuket Tourism Association is insisting that the tax deferral should also apply to land and sea earnings. There, they advised the Ministry of Tourism to create a new organization that is specifically engaged in collecting fees from all those arriving from abroad, regardless of the mode of transport, instead of burdening the airlines with this task.
As DIP reported, earlier the Thai authorities decided to temporarily close access to Kardan Island, popular among tourists, which recently topped the World Beach Guide rating as a place with the most beautiful beaches. All for the preservation of the ecosystem.