Proposed tourism fee is expected to bring in 3 billion baht, based on the projected number of 10 million visitors in 2021. Photo Credit: Getty Images/ Jens_Lambert_Photography
Event professionals and MICE industry stakeholders in Thailand have
urged the Thai government not to make a difficult situation worse by
charging a "tourism fee" to all international visitors, after a proposal
was announced earlier this month.
Thailand's Tourism and Sports Minister, Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn,
said the 300 baht (US$10) will go towards a tourism promotion fund,
which will be used to develop tourist destinations as well as providing
visitors with insurance benefits while in the country.
The fee is expected to bring in 3 billion baht based on the projected
number of 10 million visitors in 2021. However, details of how the fee
would be collected and when it would take effect have yet to be formally
announced.
Still reeling from the impact of Covid-19 restrictions, MICE
professionals have expressed concerns over the fee, namely surrounding
its objectives and timeliness.
"The government should take careful consideration on the timing of
the fee imposition," said Patrapee Chinachoti, co-chairman of Informa
Markets Thailand.
Instead of creating more barriers to entry, Chinachoti said that
public- and private-sector stakeholders should be "crying out" to invite
visitors. "This announcement has negative impacts on MICE and affects
the feeling of the people who want to visit Thailand,” he said.
Sumate Sudasna, president of the Thailand Incentive & Convention
Association (TICA), fears the additional charge may be the final straw
for the few international travellers that are still entering the
Kingdom, largely for business purposes.
"They've had to pay for their quarantine, so the fee would increase
their financial burden, despite its small amount, and could affect the
image of Thai tourism," he said.
Besides, operators would like the Thai government to protect MICE by
attaching importance to the benefits and experience of MICE visitors.
Informa's Chinachoti said almost all visitors in the MICE sector have
short stays, with movements often limited to the hotel and event venue.
"They were not at-risks people who would need [added] insurance and
they would not visit tourist destinations," he said.
"The fee is affordable but it should not be their costs, especially
if they realised that the fee would contribute to a [promotional] fund.
Therefore, the government would have to create understanding with
travellers, he said.
Sudasna added that any levy on international visitors should be
directed towards benefitting the traveller. "[The current proposal]
would not be convincing and would [negatively] impact the attitudes of
foreign tourists towards Thailand," he said.