The policy proposed in February 2023 by the Thai authorities to charge a tourist tax of 300 THB ($8.2) is expected to be cancelled.
Thailand’s Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said that his government would scrap such a proposal on June 8 after it faced opposition from the private sector, VisaGuide.World reports.
In this regard, the Prime Minister said that while collecting a fee of 300 THB per person may generate short-term income, however, if more tourists are allowed to enter without this fee, they are likely to spend on shopping and other activities.
Two-Thirds of Thai Citizens Are Not Satisfied With Government’s Performance
VisaGuide.World previously reported that from June 2023, foreign visitors planning to travel to the country by air would be charged $8.84, while those coming by land or boat would have to pay 150 baht.
The poll of 1,310 people, conducted by the National Institute of Development Administration (Nida) on June 4 and 5, 2024, showed that two-thirds of respondents were either not very satisfied or not at all satisfied with the government’s performance.
According to the survey, about 70 percent of the respondents needed more confidence about the government’s ability to address the country’s issues as there have been no significant changes and precise results.
Various polls have recognized 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.
Srettha further discussed the progress in discussions with the technology giant Apple about cooperation on the Start-up Center at the Chiang Mai University Science and Technology Park.
He said everything was ready to finalize the initial agreement, with the location already secured. As a result, discussions with the president of Chiang Mai University have acknowledged the potential of this collaboration.
Thailand was keen to expand this collaboration to include an Apple Developer Academy in the country as the team was arranging a visit from Apple executives to finalize the deal by the end of 2025.
Tourists, Remote Workers, Students, & Retirees Can Now Stay in Thailand for Longer Periods
Last month, Thailand approved more extended visa stays for categories such as tourists, remote workers, postgraduate students and retirees.
This new measure, aimed at boosting tourism, came into effect this month and will see travelers from 93 countries allowed to stay in Thailand for up to 60 days, an increase from the current 57 countries whose nationals can stay in Thailand and spend two months there.
Among other possibilities provided by this measure were the extended validity of visas for digital nomads and remote workers for five years, with each stay capped at 180 days, marking a significant surge from the existing 60-day limit.