Visiting Thailand could get costlier for Bangladeshi travelers as new fees coming up
Dhaka: Bangladeshi and other foreign travelers flying to Thailand could soon pay more to enter and leave the country, as Bangkok is moving ahead with two new charges on top of an already higher airport fee, according to Thai media reports.
An eligible foreign air passenger subject to all three could pay THB 2,570, or about BDT 9,406 at recent rates.
Thailand has so far enforced only one of the three charges, the higher passenger service charge (PSC) collected by the Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited (AOT). The operator raised the fee for departing international passengers from THB 730 to THB 1,120 per person on June 20, 2026.
The other two charges, a foreign tourist fee and a departure tax, are still proposals and must go through consultation and approval before they could take effect.
Foreign tourist fee under review
The Ministry of Tourism and Sports is pushing a THB 450 fee for eligible foreign tourists arriving by air. Collection from land and sea arrivals would be postponed for a year.
An online consultation from August 24 to September 28 found 80.5% of participants backed the draft, while 78.3% supported the rate. Tourism Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul has reportedly targeted the first quarter of 2027, subject to Cabinet approval.
Revenue would go to the Tourism Promotion Fund. Part of it would fund insurance for fee-paying travelers, covering death and medical expenses, while the rest would support destination restoration and sustainable development. After costs, the ministry estimates at least THB 8 billion would remain.
Departure tax for all nationalities
The Revenue Department under the Ministry of Finance opened a consultation on the Draft Departure Tax Act on September 30, which will run until October 29. Unlike the tourist fee, the tax would apply to everyone leaving the country by air, including Thai nationals.
The initial rate would be THB 1,000 per departure, with a legal ceiling of THB 5,000. Land and sea departures would initially be exempt. The tax would reportedly be collected by airlines or ticket agents.
The ministry said the study aims to make better use of fiscal resources and add flexibility for future emergencies. The Association of Thai Travel Agents has opposed the plan, arguing that travelers already pay airport charges.
What it means for Bangladeshi travelers
At the October 8 exchange rate of about THB 1 to BDT 3.66, the THB 450 tourist fee equals BDT 1,647, and the THB 1,000 departure tax is BDT 3,660, while the already effective PSC of THB 1,120 comes to BDT 4,099.
As already mentioned, for an eligible traveler the three charges would come to THB 2,570, or about BDT 9,406 in total. The amount would land on top of already elevated airfares, as the Middle East conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States has pushed up jet fuel prices.
For Bangladeshi travelers, the final cost will depend on which visitors are eligible for the tourist fee and when the charges begin. Exchange rates, which move daily, will also change the taka equivalents.
