Bangkok (VNA) – Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports has decided todelay a plan to collect a tourism levy from foreign visitors which wouldfurther harm the already struggling tourism industry.

In May, theministry announced it was studying the idea of collecting a tourism levy fromforeigners which will be used to rehabilitate natural tourist destinations. Thetax amount would be minimal and not affect visitors, it said.

But Permanent Tourism Secretary Chote Trachu said the levy could result in psychologicaldeterrence among foreign tourists, bringing further obstable to the country’skey industry.

The ministrywill not impose a tourist levy this year as it could worsen Thai tourism,especially when the baht is so strong, he said.

He wasconvinced that international tourist arrivals to Thailand during the lastquarter of this year will accelerate to reach 40 – 41 million as projectedthanks to extension of the waiver of the visa-on-arrival fee.

Tourism has been an economic driver for Thailand over thepast decade as revenue collectedfrom foreign visitors accounts for about 12 percent of the country’s GDP.

Last year, the country welcomed over 38 million arrivals, contributing more than 2trillion THB (65.3 billion USD) of income. Combined with domestic travel,tourism receipts totaled 3 trillion THB in 2018. 

This year, Thailand expects 41 millionarrivals, generating 2.2 trillion THB. 

Several countries have put in place a tourism levy,aiming to use the funds to improve local destinations. 

Earlier this year, Japan imposed a 1,000 JPY (9.17 USD) "sayonara" (goodbye) levy, while Malaysia recently started charging a departure tax of 5 USDfor tourists from ASEAN countries and 10 USD for internationaltourists.–VNA