DEPUTY Prime Minister-cum-Commerce Minister Supajee Suthumpun, who oversees the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, said today (Oct. 9) that she supports introducing a 450-baht tourist entry fee with funds usage guidelines to be worked out before the proposal is submitted to the cabinet for approval, Amarin TV said.
The National Tourism Policy Committee has already considered the Tourism and Sports Ministry’s proposal to collect 450 baht from each tourist entering Thailand.
Relevant agencies have been instructed to prepare comprehensive details—covering collection criteria, disbursement procedures, and the objectives of funds utilisation—ensuring transparency and accountability at every step. These details must be finalised before the process moves to public hearings and subsequent submission to the cabinet for consideration.
Addressing concerns regarding potential impact on tourism, Supajee noted that many countries have imposed similar fees. She emphasised that Thailand must clearly define the objectives of utilising the funds, such as ensuring safety, providing insurance for foreign tourists, and developing tourist attractions for which there is a budget shortfall.
Additionally, she has tasked Mr. Weerasak Kowsurat, chairman of the Advisory Board to the Deputy Prime Minister, with reviewing legal aspects to determine whether a portion of the collected fees could be used to support “cash rebate” for foreign film productions should the volume exceed the capacity of the standard budget allocation.
Recent meetings on foreign film production did not focus on setting new criteria but rather on resolving delays in processing cash rebates with the goal being to expedite the procedure. The set up of this committee was delayed during the transition period in forming the current coalition government but now that it is in place steps are being taken to clear the backlog and ensure operations move forward without interruption.
There is also a proposal to adjust the film industry support system to ensure greater equality between foreign film productions, currently overseen by Tourism and Sports Ministry, and Thai filmmaking, which comes under Culture Ministry.
It is believed that merging the responsibilities of these two ministries in future would lead to more systematic management of support measures and ensure a unified strategic direction.
CAPTIONS:
Top and Front Page: A tourist relaxing on a Koh Phangan beach. Photo – Ivan Nedelchev on Unsplash
Insert: Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Commerce Minister Supajee Suthumpun. Photo – Amarin TV
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