The policy was proposed in February 2023 and encountered opposition from the private sector.
Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said that if more tourists are allowed to enter without the 300 baht fee, they would likely spend on shopping and other activities.
This could stimulate the economy and potentially generate more revenue for the government than the fee itself, he added. When asked about Thailand’s ranking falling to 47th out of 119 countries in the World Economic Forum’s tourism and travel development index – a six-place drop from 2019 – Mr Srettha said that he wanted to be constructive instead of playing the blame game.
“Various polls have recognised many cities and islands in Thailand as world-class tourist destinations. We should focus on encouraging reasonable voices that can lead to further development, rather than listening to certain discouraging opinions.”
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