Thailand Unveils $53M Domestic Travel Subsidy and Proposes New Foreign Visitor Fee
Updated: Aug 12
BANGKOK, August 12, 2026 — Thailand is set to roll out a $53 million domestic tourism subsidy program in September while simultaneously advancing a proposal to introduce a fee on foreign visitors to fund attraction development, visitor safety, and environmental restoration.
Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul presented the two initiatives on August 10 at the first meeting of the Subcommittee on the Development of Trade, Tourism and the Community Economy, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun.
'Thai Travel Thai Plus': 50% Discount on Domestic Travel
The Thai Travel Thai Plus co-payment program is designed to boost domestic tourism during the low "Green Season" with a preliminary budget of 1.75 billion baht ($53 million).
Key Details | Specifications |
Budget | 1.75 billion baht (approx. $53 million) |
Total Entitlements | 500,000 |
Maximum Entitlements per Person | 5 |
Government Subsidy | 50% of eligible spending |
Maximum Subsidy per Entitlement | 3,000 baht ($91) |
Digital Voucher per Entitlement | Up to 1,000 baht ($30) (increased from 500 baht) |
Program Duration | 4 months (pilot phase) |
Platform | Krungthai Bank's Pao Tang app |
Estimated Economic Impact | Over 26 billion baht ($788 million) |
The program was developed after the ministry considered proposals from the private sector and is intended to support spending on a wider range of tourism services, rather than concentrating benefits mainly on food and accommodation.
Eligible spending will now include a broad range of tourism services:
Meals at restaurants
Admission to tourist attractions
Tourism products and community goods
Guided tour services
Car hire
"The government aimed for smaller tourism operators to gain widespread benefits from the programme."— Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworaku
The Cabinet is expected to consider the subsidy scheme by August 31, with a fallback timeline of launching by the end of 2026 if delayed. If the first phase receives a positive response, the government would consider extending it through subsequent phases.
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Foreign Visitor Fee: Funding Attractions, Safety & Restoration
Alongside the domestic subsidy, Surasak presented a separate proposal to introduce a fee on foreign visitors entering Thailand, with revenue channelled into the Thailand Tourism Promotion Fund.
Three Main Purposes
Revenue from the fee would be allocated to:
Purpose | Details |
Attraction Development | Developing existing and purpose-built attractions, particularly in secondary tourism cities marketed as "Must-Visit Cities" |
Visitor Protection | Financing visitor insurance and safety measures |
Environmental Restoration | Restoring environments affected by tourism |
Important: No proposed rate, collection method, or implementation date has been announced for the foreign visitor fee.
Discussions on the fee are still at an early stage. The Tourism and Sports Ministry will continue working with the Creative Economy and Visitor Economy working group to develop the proposal.
Quick Reference Summary
Aspect | Thai Travel Thai Plus (Domestic) | Foreign Visitor Fee (Proposed) |
Status | Finalizing details, target September 2026 launch | Early-stage proposal |
Budget / Revenue | 1.75 billion baht (subsidy) | Amount not yet determined |
Target Audience | Thai residents | Foreign visitors entering Thailand |
Platform | Pao Tang app (Krungthai Bank) | To be determined |
Main Purpose | Stimulate domestic travel during low season | Fund tourism development, safety, and environment |
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