BANGKOK: Thailand is preparing to launch its Thai Travel Thai Plus domestic tourism subsidy in September while proposing a fee on foreign visitors to finance tourism-site development, visitor protection and environmental restoration.
Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul said the four-month co-payment programme would have a preliminary budget of 1.75 billion baht and offer 500,000 entitlements through Krungthai Bank’s Pao Tang application.
The government would subsidise 50% of eligible spending, capped at 3,000 baht per entitlement, with each participant able to receive up to five entitlements.
Surasak said the proposed foreign visitor fee would be paid into the Thailand Tourism Promotion Fund. No proposed rate or implementation date was announced.
Revenue from the fee would be used for three main purposes: developing existing and purpose-built attractions, financing visitor insurance and safety measures, and restoring environments affected by tourism.
Surasak presented the two measures at the first 2026 meeting of the Subcommittee on the Development of Trade, Tourism and the Community Economy on Monday (Aug 10).
Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun chaired the meeting, which was also attended by Culture Minister Sabeeda Thaised, Tourism and Sports Permanent Secretary Natthriya Thaweevong and representatives of relevant agencies.
The subcommittee is preparing a framework to support economic growth through trade and services. Surasak’s tourism proposals also focused on strengthening confidence in visitor safety, developing secondary destinations marketed as “Must-Visit Cities” and extending the benefits of sustainable tourism to local communities.
Surasak said the main structure of Thai Travel Thai Plus had been agreed, although the Tourism and Sports Ministry was still discussing funding and detailed conditions with the Finance Ministry.
The preliminary 1.75-billion-baht budget is expected to come from borrowing. Remaining issues include the conditions under which operators across different tourism sectors would participate.
The programme was developed after the ministry considered proposals from the private sector. It is intended to support spending on a wider range of tourism services, rather than concentrating benefits mainly on food and accommodation.
Government agencies and representatives from across the tourism industry were due to hold further discussions to settle the remaining details. The ministry expects clearer conclusions next week and is targeting a September launch during the Green Season.
Surasak said the government wanted smaller tourism operators to benefit broadly from the programme.
The first phase would run for four months. If it receives a positive response, the government would consider extending it through subsequent phases.
Surasak estimated that the programme could generate more than 26 billion baht in economic circulation.
The government also plans to increase the voucher attached to each entitlement from 500 to 1,000 baht.
The voucher was previously intended mainly for restaurant spending, but the revised conditions would allow it to be used for a wider range of tourism-related goods, activities and services nationwide.
Eligible spending would include meals, admission to tourist attractions, tourism products, community goods, guided-tour services and car hire.
The expanded conditions are intended to distribute visitor spending among a broader range of operators, including smaller tourism and community businesses.
Under the separate proposal, foreign visitors entering Thailand would be charged a fee, with the revenue channelled into the Thailand Tourism Promotion Fund.
Part of the money would be used to improve existing destinations and create new purpose-built attractions, particularly in secondary tourism cities.
The fund would also finance insurance and safety arrangements for visitors, as well as the rehabilitation of natural environments affected by tourism.
The proposal remains at an early stage, with no fee level, collection method or launch date provided.
The Tourism and Sports Ministry will work with the Creative Economy and Visitor Economy working group, chaired by Weerasak Kowsurat, under Suphajee’s economic policy framework.
The working group has been instructed to produce “quick win” results within six months to one year. Its work will include removing regulatory obstacles and improving Thailand’s tourism competitiveness through measures that do not require legislative amendments. - The Nation/ANN
