---
title: "Thailand's 450-baht tourist fee could start for air arrivals in early 2027"
description: "The proposed 450-baht fee on foreign visitors would apply first to air arrivals, possibly from early 2027, with land and sea borders a year later; Cabinet has not approved it yet."
url: https://bestofthailand.org/news/thailand-450-baht-tourist-fee-air-arrivals-2027
locale: en
---

# Thailand's 450-baht tourist fee could start for air arrivals in early 2027

Travel · October 29, 2026

[By Cesar Rodriguez](https://bestofthailand.org/author)Updated 29 October 2026

The proposed 450-baht fee on foreign visitors would apply first to air arrivals, possibly from early 2027, with land and sea borders a year later; Cabinet has not approved it yet.

![Thailand's 450-baht tourist fee could start for air arrivals in early 2027](https://bestofthailand.org/images/news-travel.jpg)

The Ministry of Tourism and Sports wants to charge foreign visitors 450 baht on entry, The Thaiger reported on 29 October 2026. Collection would start with eligible air arrivals, possibly in early 2027, and reach land and sea borders a year after that. The proposal still has to pass the National Tourism Policy Committee and Cabinet, and the payment method, insurance terms and start date are not fixed.

Part of the money would pay for insurance covering death and medical costs of fee-paying tourists; the ministry expects at least 8 billion baht a year to remain for attractions and conservation. Exemptions under study include work permit holders, transit passengers and children under two. In an online consultation of 5,954 people, 78.3% backed the 450-baht rate and 36.26% preferred adding it to the air ticket.

The Thai Hotels Association and the Association of Thai Travel Agents support the fee but question the compulsory insurance, since many visitors already travel insured. The fee is separate from the 1,000-baht departure tax, which the Finance Ministry put on hold in October.

Source: [The Thaiger](https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/tourism/thailand-450-baht-tourist-fee-insurance-industry-debate). Summary written by Best of Thailand; read the original for the full report.

## More news

**[Thailand's November 2026 festivals: Pattaya jazz on 6-7 November, fireworks on 27-28 November](https://bestofthailand.org/news/tat-november-2026-event-calendar)** — ![Thailand's November 2026 festivals: Pattaya jazz on 6-7 November, fireworks on 27-28 November](https://bestofthailand.org/images/news-travel.jpg) — Travel · Oct 29, 2026 — TAT's November 2026 calendar lists 12 events, from the Nan marathon on 1 November to the Pattaya International Fireworks Festival on 27-28 November.

**[Bangkok Art Biennale 2026 opens 29 October at 11 venues, including Wat Arun and Wat Pho](https://bestofthailand.org/news/bangkok-art-biennale-2026-29-october-11-venues)** — ![Bangkok Art Biennale 2026 opens 29 October at 11 venues, including Wat Arun and Wat Pho](https://bestofthailand.org/images/news-city.jpg) — City · Oct 28, 2026 — The fifth Bangkok Art Biennale runs from 29 October 2026 to 28 February 2027, with more than 200 works by 72 artists across 11 venues.

**[Thailand to weigh visa-free entry for Mexico, Colombia and Uzbekistan on 9 November](https://bestofthailand.org/news/visa-free-mexico-colombia-uzbekistan-proposal-november-2026)** — ![Thailand to weigh visa-free entry for Mexico, Colombia and Uzbekistan on 9 November](https://bestofthailand.org/images/news-travel.jpg) — Travel · Oct 28, 2026 — Thailand's Visa Policy Committee meets on 9 November to consider visa-free stays, possibly of 15 days, for tourists from Mexico, Colombia and Uzbekistan.