Towards a Tourist Tax in Thailand?


Vers une taxe touristique en Thaïlande ? - Depositphotos.com ViktoriiaDyachenko

Hurtigruten


The tourism tax proposal, discussed for several years, takes a new step forward in Thailand. The National Tourism Policy Committee (NTPC) convened on August 14, 2026 to examine the principles of the scheme and the draft regulation, ahead of its public consultation, according to the Thai Ministry of Tourism and Sports.

In a statement published on August 17, the Thai government specifies that the proposed amount is now set at 450 baht per person (about 12 euros), regardless of arrival mode: by air, land, or sea (Thailand.go.th).

The implementation of the tax would be phased in. For travelers arriving by plane, it would begin 180 days after the text is published in the Royal Gazette. Land and sea arrivals would be affected roughly 360 days after the launch of the first phase, according to the Thai government.

This timeline aims, in particular, to avoid difficulties at the most frequented border crossings, especially at the border with Malaysia.


Thailand: the tourist tax could be introduced early 2027 for air travel

Several payment options are currently being considered: integration into the airline ticket, online payment, mobile app, or self-service kiosks.

The Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) could also be linked to the system. VisaNews notes, however, that the modalities of this potential integration remain to be defined: the TDAC is currently a free formality, and its possible connection to the payment system does not necessarily mean it would itself become payable.

At this stage, travelers do not yet have to pay the 450 baht to enter Thailand. The project must still pass several steps before its final adoption.

According to VisaNews, the start of 2027 is now the horizon envisaged for the first charges levied on travelers arriving by plane, but no firm effective date has yet been set.

65% Cut in Air Passenger Tax: Here Are the 26 Affected Lines


Baisse de 65 % de la taxe sur les billets d'avion : voici les lignes 26 lignes concernées ! - depositphotos.com Auteur ilixe48

IFTM


The government is implementing, from June 1, 2026, a reduction in the passenger air transport tax (TSBA) for certain air routes deemed essential to territorial development.

Announced by Philippe Tabarot, Minister of Transport, this measure targets routes operated under a public service obligation (PSO) and under a public service delegation (DSP).

The scheme reduces by 65 % the amount of tax applied to each ticket, dropping it from 7.40 euros to 2.63 euros.

Planned by the initial 2025 finance law, this reduction was conditioned on the prior agreement of the European Commission. French authorities had begun talks with Brussels since the law’s enactment. Following these exchanges, the Commission confirmed the measure’s compatibility with EU law, thus paving the way for its entry into force.


The government is working to extend the scheme to overseas territories.

The measure covers, notably, several metropolitan routes serving towns such as Aurillac, Brive, Le Puy-en-Velay or Rodez. It also includes connections between Corsica and the mainland, notably to Paris-Orly, Marseille and Nice, as well as the links connecting Strasbourg to various European metropolises and the Brest–Ouessant line. In total, 26 air routes are affected.

The decree implementing this reduction was published on May 31, 2026.

By making these routes more financially accessible, this measure reflects the Government’s will to support the connectivity of the least-served territories and to ease the cost of air travel to and from these destinations,” stated Philippe Tabarot.

The minister also indicated that the government would continue its work to extend a similar scheme to overseas territories.

The European Commission, however, regarded the mechanism provided for in the finance law for Overseas routes as not legally retainable in its current form. “We therefore actively pursue the work started to find a solid and appropriate legal solution for our Overseas Territories,” he added.


Here are the 26 routes affected by the air ticket tax reduction:

– Aurillac – Paris ;

– Brive – Paris ;

– Le Puy – Paris ;

– Castres – Paris ;

– Rodez – Paris ;

– Limoges – Paris ;

– Tarbes – Paris ;

– Brest – Ouessant ;

– Limoges – Lyon ;

– La Rochelle – Lyon ;

– Poitiers – Lyon ;

– Strasbourg – Madrid ;

– Strasbourg – Munich ;

– Strasbourg – Copenhagen ;

– Ajaccio – Paris (Orly) ;

– Bastia – Paris (Orly) ;

– Calvi – Paris (Orly) ;

– Figari – Paris (Orly) ;

– Bastia – Marseille ;

– Bastia – Nice ;

– Calvi – Marseille ;

– Calvi – Nice ;

– Ajaccio – Marseille ;

– Ajaccio – Nice ;

– Figari – Marseille ;

– Figari – Nice.