Every Thailand tripstarts here.

On October 22, 2026, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti said the departure tax will not be introduced for now. He said the timing will be decided depending on the situation, and has not said the plan is withdrawn.

Under the plan, on which the Revenue Department had been taking public comments since September 30, Thais and foreigners alike would pay 1,000 baht each time they leave by air (up to 5,000 baht per departure), collected together with the fare.

According to media reports, his reasons were:

• To keep up the interest in Thailand travel raised by the IMF and World Bank annual meetings and sustain tourism momentum in October to December
• A new tax would add to the burden on the public, airlines and travelers while energy prices are high
• Together with the 450-baht entry fee on arrival, the burden on foreign tourists, airlines and tour operators would be too heavy

The Ministry of Tourism and Sports' proposed 450-baht entry fee is not covered by this decision.

The scheme covers BTS, MRT, Airport Rail Link and all other lines, capping the fare at 45 baht per trip (17 baht base fare) so you do not pay a new entry fare when transferring.

You pay the normal fare when you ride, and anything above 45 baht is refunded later to the government's Paotang app.

It is for Thai nationals only. Registration (planned for December 2026) requires a Thai ID, and foreign travelers are not eligible even with a Rabbit card.

The cabinet approved the plan in June 2026, targeting a January 1, 2027 launch (the compensation budget is due to be submitted to the cabinet in early November).

Thailand's Ministry of Tourism and Sports is considering a fee of 450 baht per person for foreign tourists.

Under the draft, it would first apply to eligible visitors entering by air, with land and sea entry delayed by one year. In the public consultation, the most popular collection method was including it in the air ticket or other fare (36.26%).

Part of the fee would fund insurance for the tourists who pay it (death and medical costs; wider coverage is being considered), and the rest would go to developing and maintaining tourist destinations, with at least about 8 billion baht a year expected after collection and insurance costs.

On October 6, 2026, the ministry consulted government agencies and private businesses, and it plans to submit the draft to the National Tourism Policy Committee and then the cabinet.

The collection method, exemptions and insurance details are still to be discussed with airlines, immigration and others, and no start date has been officially set.

"Amazing Thailand Transfer Passenger Privilege" is a program that lets international transit passengers use their layover for experiences in Thailand.

City Express, Food Express and Wellness Express options will be set up to match the length of the wait, with transport between the airport and the city or attractions arranged so passengers can return to their connecting flight with confidence.

On October 5, 2026, six organizations, including the Department of Airports, the Tourism Authority of Thailand and Thai Airways International, signed a letter of intent at the Ministry of Transport. The cooperation period is three years, and a full start is expected in early 2027.

Arrivals in January to March 2026 were about 17.43 million, of whom over 1.3 million were transit passengers, whose wait averages 6 to 12 hours.

Eligible airports, conditions of use and how to apply have not been announced yet.