Thailand's National Tourism Policy Committee has approved a THB450 ($14) visitor levy for foreign tourist arrivals to fund national infrastructure and tourist medical insurance, reported the Nation.
The levy on foreign visitors will act as a long-term source of funding for insurance, and infrastructure upgrade at tourist destinations across the country, with officials warning that continued dependence on increasingly limited state budgets could leave the industry at risk of stagnation.
Revenue would be channelled into the Tourism Promotion Fund to support tourist attractions and infrastructure, environmental restoration, research, workforce development, tourism promotion and assistance for local communities.
The fund would also finance insurance and health protection for foreign visitors, who will now receive insurance coverage during their stay, replacing reliance on the existing assistance arrangements used to compensate or support visitors following accidents and other incidents.
The government currently spends an average of THB300–400m a year in medical expenses incurred by foreign nationals when hospitals are unable to recover the full amount owed.