BANGKOK, Nov 1 – The government’s plan to collect Bt500 from foreign tourists staying in Thailand more than three days will severely affect the local tourism business, the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) has warned.
Piyaman Techapaiboon, TCT president, said the tourism industry has generated substantial revenue for Thailand but the government has never reinvested the earning to develop domestic tourism.
She was referring to a recent report that the Public Health and Tourism and Sports Ministries were planning to collect the Bt500 fee, starting January.
Regarding the Public Health Ministry’s statement that the state spends at least Bt200 million each year for medical treatment to foreigners, Ms Piyaman said the expenses were mainly for migrant workers, and not foreign tourists.
The Bt500 collection is inappropriate, she said, while the move by the Airports of Thailand to increase airport fee at Bt100 per person is unacceptable.
Ms Piyaman said it is estimated that 26 million tourists will visit Thailand this year and the government has targeted a revenue jump to Bt2.2 billion in 2015.
