Visitors planning a trip to Hua Hin and other parts of Thailand may have seen recent reports about possible new travel charges. The proposals have caused confusion because two separate measures are being discussed: a possible fee for entering Thailand and a separate tax for leaving the country by air.
Neither charge is currently payable.
The first proposal concerns an arrival or visitor fee for certain foreign travellers. Earlier discussions referred to a charge of 400 baht, but more recent government information indicates that the proposed amount may have been revised to 450 baht. The fee has not been introduced, and there is currently no confirmed date for when travellers would need to pay it.
The second proposal is entirely separate. Thailand’s Revenue Department has opened a consultation on a possible 1,000-baht departure tax for people leaving Thailand by air. The draft proposal could apply to both Thai citizens and foreign nationals, with certain exemptions and further details still subject to the legislative process.
The proposed departure tax would initially concern air travel. Departures by land and sea would reportedly be excluded at the first stage. If the measure eventually becomes law, the amount could potentially be collected by airlines or ticket agents together with the cost of an air ticket.
The consultation is scheduled to run from September 30 until October 29, 2026. The draft framework reportedly includes a statutory ceiling of up to 5,000 baht, although the initial proposed rate is 1,000 baht per air departure. Even if approved, the tax would not necessarily begin immediately. The proposal indicates that implementation would follow publication in Thailand’s Royal Gazette and a further 180-day period.
The departure-tax proposal prompted a strong backlash on October 7. Travel agents, Thai citizens, foreign tourists and expats criticised the idea as another cost added to international travel at a time when flights, accommodation and other holiday expenses are already increasing.
The Association of Thai Travel Agents also raised concerns about Thailand’s competitiveness as a tourist destination. Industry representatives warned that an additional departure charge could overlap with existing airport and travel costs and make Thailand less attractive compared with competing destinations in the region.
Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas defended the proposal, suggesting that it could encourage more domestic travel. However, many of the English-language reactions reported after the announcement were strongly negative, particularly among travellers and residents who viewed the measure as an unnecessary additional burden.
It is important to distinguish these proposals from enacted charges. Travellers should not treat either the 400-baht or 450-baht arrival proposal, or the 1,000-baht departure tax, as a current visa, immigration or airport payment. No traveller should pay an unofficial fee requested by an intermediary or website.
Next Step Hua Hin has published a detailed explanation of the two separate proposed charges, including the 1,000-baht departure tax and the updated arrival-fee information.
For continuing updates about Thai visa rules, immigration announcements, entry requirements and other changes affecting foreign residents and visitors, see the Next Step Hua Hin Visa News section.