The fee would be used to help cover the costs of Covid-19 relief efforts. Advisors have also recommended legalising gambling dens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Thailand.- The kingdom of Thailand is introducing a new visitor tax<\/strong> to fund Covid-19 relief efforts. Meanwhile, some recommend legalising gambling<\/strong> to increase government revenue.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Tourists who visit the country will have to pay a new 300 baht (US$10) fee<\/strong>, of which 10 per cent will go to insurance coverage, 10 per cent to Covid-19 efforts and the rest to promote tourism and develop attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The <\/strong>tax was due to be introduced in 2020 but it was put on hold in light of the negative impact of the pandemic and related travel restrictions<\/a><\/em><\/strong> on tourism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2020 only 6.5 million people visited Thailand<\/strong>, down from 40 million in 2019. Visitors are currently required to undergo three Covid-19 tests during a 14-day compulsory quarantine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The new tax has now been approved by the National Tourism Policy Committee and will come into effect once it is published in the Royal Gazette.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Thailand\u2019s former Finance Minister, Korn Chatikavanij, has recently advised the government to legalise underground casinos.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n He argued that this would not only bring extra income<\/strong> to state coffers but also help contain the spread of Covid-19<\/strong> in unauthorised venues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Illegal gambling dens and cockfighting rings have been linked to recent infections in the country. Customers continue to attend the venues despite public health recommendations.<\/p>\n\n\n\nLegalisation of gambling<\/h2>\n\n\n\n