Departure Tax: Thailand considers charging 1000 baht to leave country

Thailand‘s Revenue Department proposed that a 1000 baht “departure tax” be applied to all outbound airline passengers – both Thais and foreigners – in a bid to prevent excessive overseas spending. The idea has been met with resistance from tourism officials.

Airline passengers would be charged 1000 baht to leave the country and those exiting via land and sea would be charged 500 baht under the decree in a bid to deter locals from spending too much money abroad.

The department proposed the idea under a 1983 legal provision, announcing public hearings on the matter as soon as this week. To collect public opinion on the departure tax, the Revenue Department posted a survey on its website…

“The Revenue Department is in the process of receiving opinions to discuss the Outbound Travel Tax Decree (1983). The Revenue Department invites…