New Web Portal to Facilitate Tourist Tax Payments and Enhance Travel Experience
PUBLISHED: 19 Sep 2024
The Tourism and Sports Ministry has announced a new web portal designed to streamline online services for travelers, featuring an electronic travel authorization (ETA) system and future collection of a 300-baht fee from foreign tourists.
Mongkon Wimonrat, deputy permanent secretary at the ministry, introduced the “Entry Thailand” portal as a central platform that offers essential information and services aimed at enriching the tourist experience.
This innovative portal includes partnerships with over 12 organizations including the Interior Ministry and Airports of Thailand, delivering real-time updates on flight and train schedules, local events, and attractions.
Travelers can also access external services for booking accommodations in national parks, reserving Muay Thai classes, contacting tourist police, claiming VAT refunds, and applying for electronic visas.
Originally developed from a screening system used during the pandemic, the portal ensures that inbound travelers can smoothly navigate their arrival processes.
This initiative supports the government’s “Ignite Tourism Thailand” policy by enhancing the country’s travel and tourism competitiveness.
The ministry anticipates further integration of services, including a mandatory ETA for visa-exempt travelers and the implementation of the 300-baht tourism fee.
In the event of a new pandemic, the travel screening mechanism can be promptly reinstated through this web portal.
In addition, with the new Tourism and Sports Minister’s approval, a trial run of the online Thailand Travel Safety platform is underway, allowing for a streamlined fee collection process that will include an online payment feature.
Following the expiration of a 50-million-baht insurance program for foreign tourists, only 10 million baht was utilized for subsidies.
As of September 15, foreign arrivals have reached 24.8 million, led predominantly by 5 million travelers from China.
