Thailand plans to made $9 as entry fee for foreign travellers

            Thailand is to charge foreign visitors a 300-baht ($9) entry fee, as the tourism-dependent country anticipates a rebound for the pandemic-hampered travel economy after the current Covid wave subsides.

The levy would assist support the development of local tourism attractions as well as a visitor insurance program, according to a statement issued by government spokeswoman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana on Wednesday. The fee would be added to air ticket costs beginning in April, with the mechanism of collection from land entry yet to be defined, he said.

The admission charge proposal comes as the Southeast Asian country strives to define a course for its tourist sector in the aftermath of the epidemic. With limited success, the government has been trying with numerous initiatives to revitalise its travel sector. While Thailand was compelled to halt quarantine-free visas in order to contain the spread of omicron, the country added more tourism spots to the so-called Phuket Sandbox program this week in order to keep the business afloat.