Thailand Bows To Pressure And Freezes Steep Tourist Levy Worth Nearly Seven Pounds In Monumental Win For British Holidaymakers

Thursday, July 17, 2025

Thailand has postponed nan preamble of its planned tourer introduction fee—originally group astatine astir 7 pounds—as a strategical move to support its struggling tourism sector, which has seen a diminution successful visitant numbers compared to nan erstwhile year. The hold intends to promote much world arrivals, particularly from cardinal markets for illustration nan UK, by keeping recreation costs debased and sustaining momentum successful nan nation’s post-pandemic tourism recovery.

Thailand had planned to instrumentality an introduction interest for world visitors visiting nan country.

UK travellers person received a invited reprieve arsenic a celebrated vacation hotspot has postponed nan preamble of a planned £6.89 visitant fee.

Thailand, a apical destination successful Southeast Asia, was initially group to rotation retired an introduction complaint for overseas visitors known arsenic nan “Stepping Onto Thai Soil” fee. However, nan authorities has now delayed its implementation, giving holidaymakers much clip to bask nan state without nan added cost.

Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports has officially announced nan postponement of nan planned tourer introduction fee, primitively expected to beryllium introduced successful 2025. The levy, known locally arsenic kha yeap cookware din, which translates to “stepping onto Thai soil” fee, had received support from nan Thai Cabinet backmost successful February 2023.

As outlined successful nan first plan, world visitors arriving by aerial would person been required to salary 300 baht (approximately €7.50), while those entering nan state via onshore aliases oversea would person been charged 150 baht (around €3.75).

The hold stems from existent world marketplace conditions, pinch tourism authorities indicating that nan implementation will beryllium held disconnected until location is simply a stronger betterment successful recreation demand.

As of early July 2025, Thailand recorded astir 17 cardinal tourer arrivals, marking a 5% driblet from nan aforesaid play successful 2024. This diminution highlights increasing strain wrong nan tourism sector, which contributes astir 20% to nan nation’s GDP.

While nan tourer introduction interest has been postponed, Thailand remains committed to implementing it astatine a later shape arsenic portion of its semipermanent tourism strategy. Currently, travellers tin sojourn Thailand for up to 60 days for purposes specified arsenic tourism, attending business meetings, aliases handling urgent, unforeseen activity tasks.

This visa type allows for a one-time hold of up to 30 further days. Beginning 1 May 2025, each world visitors—regardless of whether they get by air, land, aliases sea—must complete a integer presence paper online earlier entering nan country.

According to updated guidance from nan UK Foreign Office, travellers are advised to registry for their presence paper wrong 3 days anterior to their intended presence successful Thailand.