In short
- Draft rate: 450 baht per eligible foreign tourist arriving by air.
- 80.50% of 5,954 consultation responses backed the draft; 78.30% backed the amount.
- Land and sea arrivals would not pay for one year.
- Retirement (O-A/O) and Elite/Privilege exemptions are still undecided.
What to do
- 1Pay nothing at the airport: the fee is not being collected.
- 2Check the final text with the Ministry of Tourism and Sports and the Immigration Bureau.
- 3On a retirement or Elite visa, wait for the confirmed exemption list.
Where does the draft stand?
According to the Bangkok Post, the consultation ran from 24 August to 28 September 2026 and drew 5,954 responses: 80.50% backed the draft regulation and 78.30% backed the 450-baht rate. The revised text goes next to the National Tourism Policy Committee, then to the Cabinet, with further talks planned on collection, exemptions and insurance.
Who would pay, and who would not?
The draft covers non-Thai nationals arriving by air on a tourist visa, a visa exemption or a visa on arrival for leisure, holidays or family visits. Today's entry rules are set out in our visa guide.
- Holders of a valid Thai work permit
- Border-pass holders crossing daily or for short regional trade
- Transit passengers who do not clear immigration, and active flight and ship crews
- Children under two, diplomats, official passport holders and designated government guests
Retirement (O-A/O) and Elite/Privilege holders are still under review: a long-stay visa does not yet guarantee an exemption, and the point will be settled shortly before the proposal reaches the Cabinet. Land and sea arrivals would not pay for a year. Standard travel insurance remains the practical cover until then.
Travelling soon? Plan around it
Build a day-by-day Thailand route that keeps flexible days where the weather and transport are uncertain.
Sources
We cross-check each story against official pages and several media, and rewrite it in our own words for travellers.
