Thailand postpones introduction of tourism tax

Thailand has once again pushed back the introduction of its tax on tourists arriving in the country.

The new fee will now be imposed from mid 2026, local media reported.

The tourist fee was first approved in 2023 at THB 300 ($14).

Assistant Tourism Minister Chakrapol Tangsutthitham has confirmed that it would be shelved due to current market conditions.

Thailand tourism arrivals are currently down about 5%.

“We are delaying implementation until tourism demand rebounds,” the minister said.

The long-planned fee is locally referred to as the Kha Yeap Pan Din (literally, “stepping onto Thai soil” fee).

Chakrapol said the decision was made following a review by Minister Sorawong Thienthong.

“We must wait to assess international tourist demand during the upcoming high season in Q4 this year,” Chakrapol explained, saying the ministry needs more time to study the details and determine an appropriate fee structure based on the mode of travel - land, sea, rail, or air.

The revenue generated will be used to enhance tourist sites and fund insurance coverage for foreign visitors.

Image: Koh Samui

The world's biggest wine producer may surprise you

Which country produces the most wine? 

Many people would guess France, but the French actually trail in third place behind Italy and Spain, the latest figures released by the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV). 

Overall world wine production in 2021 is expected to be 4% lower than in 2020, based on a report using information collected from 28 wine producing countries. 

In the European Union alone, "due to the late spring frost and generally unfavourable weather conditions," says the OIV production down 13% on 2020. 

Some countries defied the trend with Portugal (6.5 million hectolitres +1%), Romania (5.3 million hectolitres +37%), Hungary (3.1 million hectolitres +4%) and Germany (8.4 million hectolitres +4%) all in growth. 

The world's largest producers are all showing a clear decline. 

Italy (vineyards in the Alto Adige are pictured above) is experiencing a 9% drop in production (44.5 million hectolitres). 

France, second in 2020, produced only 34.2 million hectolitres, a fall of 29% compared to the previous year.  France has "suffered the most from the effects of a disastrous vintage", says the report.

The downturn "France's lowest production volume since 1957" has allowed Spain (35 million hectolitres, or -14%) to take over, by a narrow margin, second place worldwide. 

Italy, Spain and France combined represent 45% of total world production.