Legal foreign workers, border traders exempt from fee

Foreigners with a work permit or border pass are exempt from the 300-baht tourism fee, which is set to be collected from tourists in the second half of this year, according to the Tourism and Sports Ministry.

“Expatriates who work in Thailand and have a work permit won’t have to pay the tourism fee as they are not categorised as international tourists,” said tourism permanent secretary Chote Trachu.

Others exempt from the fee include foreign diplomats and government officials, as well as children under the age of 2. 

Foreign nationals holding a border pass granting them the ability to trade during the day will also not be required to pay the tourism fee, he said. 

However, all other foreign nationals using a land border will be able to pay the tourism fee at kiosks…