BANGKOK - Thailand’s highlycontroversial landing feehas been renamed “travelling tax” and is expected to come into effect around mid-2025, starting with arrivals by air, the Tourism and Sports Ministry has announced.

Minister Sorawong Thienthongsaid on Oct 23 that the new tax will be submitted to the Cabinet for approval within the first quarter of 2025.

After being approved, it will become effective in six months, or around mid-2025, he said, adding that the tax will be levied on those arriving by air in the first phase.

Kha Yeap Pan Din (fee for stepping on Thai soil), also known as a landing fee, was approved in principle by the Cabinet in February 2023.

It aims to levy 300 baht (S$11.70) on foreigners arriving by air and 150 baht for those arriving by land or sea.

Mr Sorawong said the money would be used to buy insurance for foreigners and the remainder added to the tourism development fund.

The fund will support the improvement of tourist attractions, including building facilities for the disabled and toilets for tourists.

He said the ministry is working on an application to be used to collect the tax, which will be linked to the system of the Krungthai Bank. The current insurance coverage amount will remain the same, which is no more than 60 baht from the 300 baht per person travelling tax.

Insurance payout in case of death is set at one million baht, and a maximum of 500,000 baht for injuries.

This amount is on top of the insurance that foreign tourists buy themselves. The insurance under the new travel tax will cover a stay in Thailand for no more than 30 days, which is applicable to around 87 per cent of foreign arrivals, the minister said.

He added that after the first phase, the Cabinet may consider adjusting the tax for arrivals via land and sea channels to the same rate as for air travellers to avoid accusations of unequal treatment.

Mr Sorawong added that the travelling tax will not be levied on cross-border merchants, who will need to show a border pass when crossing to and from neighbouring countries. THE NATION/ ASIA NEWS NETWORK