Thailand's Revenue Department is consulting, from 30 September to 29 October 2026, on a draft law that would charge 1,000 baht per air departure to travellers of every nationality. It is a proposal only: it has not been approved and nothing new is being collected. Our Thailand team sets out the draft in its briefing on the proposed departure tax. This note looks at what it would mean for agents who sell and quote groups.
What a Group Agent Needs to Know
- The rate. The draft starts at 1,000 baht per air departure. A ministerial regulation could raise it to a ceiling of 5,000 baht.
- Who pays. Anyone leaving by air, Thai or foreign. Land and sea departures would be exempt at first.
- Exemptions. The draft follows the exemptions of the airport passenger service charge, including children aged two or under and international transit passengers who stay in designated transit areas.
- Collection. Airlines or ticket agents would collect it with the fare.
- Timing. It would take effect 180 days after publication in the Royal Gazette, and tickets bought before then would not be liable.
Quoting a Group While It Is a Draft
Do not add a departure-tax line to a group quote today, and do not tell clients it is law. For a group, the tax would be paid per head, so on a large party even a small per-person charge adds up and could matter to a tight budget. Because it would be collected with the fare, it would sit with whoever sells the air, not with the ground package.
Departures a long way out are the ones to watch. Since tickets bought before the law takes effect would not be liable, the date of ticketing could decide who pays. If you sell a group that ticketed early and a group that ticketed late for the same date, the two parties could be treated differently.
A practical habit is to mark, on each quote, which charges are set by the government and may change. Revisit the question when the consultation closes on 29 October, and again if a law is gazetted.
What Is Still Open
Nothing is decided. Comments are accepted until 29 October through the government's law consultation site, and any rate, exemption or start date can change before a law is passed. The Association of Thai Travel Agents objected on 7 October, arguing that the tax would add to the costs foreign visitors already face. One estimate puts the possible total for a foreign air traveller at 2,570 baht if three charges applied together: the 1,120-baht airport charge in force today, the planned 450-baht entry fee and this 1,000-baht tax. Only the airport charge is in force.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Thailand departure tax in force?
No. It is a draft under public consultation until 29 October 2026 and has not been approved.
Would a tour group pay it?
Under the draft, yes: it applies to air departures by travellers of all nationalities, unless they are exempt. It would be charged per person.
When could it start?
Not before 180 days after the law is published in the Royal Gazette. Tickets bought before that date would not be liable.
Should I add it to a group quote now?
No. Quote as normal, flag that government charges may change, and revisit after 29 October.
Where Explera Fits
We plan group programmes across our destinations: Thailand, Japan, Korea and New Zealand. Our Thailand team handles transport, guides and quotes for groups, and tells agents which charges are government-set.
Write to b2b@explera.co.th or message +66 93 656 8090 on WhatsApp. Explera Thailand holds TAT licence No. 14/05119. Explera DMC is IATA TIDS-registered (96215733) and an ASTA member (900408341).
