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

Mixed messages as Japan is about to become more expensive

Holidays in Japan are about to get a little more expensive for foreign tourists.

Japan is expected to introduce a dual pricing policy for entry at major tourist attractions from this northern hemisphere summer, news portal Travel Mole reports.

The two-tier system will charge higher prices for foreigners as the country aims to combat over-tourism issues. That said, it sound like a price gouge.

Authorities say higher prices for foreigners will help ease pressure on overcrowded sites and fund tourism infrastructure improvements.

No price differentials have been disclosed yet in detail, except for citing one example: Junguria Okinawa, a nature-themed park which is opening in July.

Foreign tourists will be charged 8,800 yen, while locals will pay only 6,930 yen.

Japan has set a long-term target of attracting 60 million foreign tourists each year by 2030. 

But imposing extra charges on them is unlikely to help increase numbers.

Security guards employed to keep unruly tourists in line

Not everyone in Japan is delighted by the current tourism boom.

On a recent visit to Kanazawa I saw several restaurants with signs saying they would not serve anyone who didn't speak Japanese.

Several shops displayed blatantly racist signs warning foreigners they were not welcome (image above). 

   
And now a small town in Japan has taken drastic measures and hired a team of security guards to manage badly behaved tourists, news portal Travel Mole reported.

Otaru, a small port town on Hokkaido island has been inundated by crowds of tourists with some of them being a nuisance to locals.

The visitors have been blocking roads and pavements to scramble for photos at Instagram hotspot Funami-zaka, a steep street offering scenic views of the port and ocean.

It was a location for the 1995 Japanese film Love Letter and the 2015 Chinese movie Cities in Love, which have sparked interest in the town.

A Chinese woman was recently killed by a train in the town while reportedly distracted by taking photos.

Local residents have complained about large crowds of tourists blocking roads and some trespassing on private property to get a better vantage point to take photos.

“The road is lined with houses and has heavy traffic," a city official told the Mainichi Shimbun newspaper.

"Tourists standing on the street or walking side by side often make it impossible for vehicles to pass. The impact on residents has been significant.”

A record 36.7 million people visited Japan last year.

Several areas have taken action against over-tourism issues in Kyoto, Fujikawaguchiko near Mount Fujim and the spa town of Ginzan Onsen.

Images: Winsor Dobbin and Hokkaido Tourism 

Mass tourism gets thumbs down in Barcelona

Barcelona wants fewer tourists, but more big-spending visitors.

The Barcelona Tourism Office is dumping its “Visit Barcelona” slogan and replacing it with "This is Barcelona".

The change comes amid growing anti-tourism protests in the Catalan city - which has been a tourism magnet for decades.

But locals have tired of cruise ship visits and visitors on a budget self-catering in rental properties.

“This is Barcelona” is set to launch on August 22, Catalan News reports.

It coincides with a focus on quality tourism rather than the quantity of visitors.

The launch of the new motto will align with the first day of the America’s Cup preliminary regatta.

The new slogan is an attempt to focus on what Barcelona really is, which its leaders say includes being "a city of traditions, sports, gastronomy, museums, and music festivals".

"A real and specific Barcelona, and not just a landscape [is the focus]," said Mateu Hernández, general director of the Barcelona Tourism board.

"We put an end to a global call for them to visit us, and we do a step forward in highlighting us," Hernández said.

In 2023, Barcelona received more than 12 million tourists, and government officials expect the number to increase in 2024. There have been several protests in the city about the impacts of mass tourism. 

A long-term chillout in Thailand is now a lot easier

Ever thought of spending a few months in Thailand, chilling out on the beach?

Visa issues have, until now, made that difficult, but the Thai government is delivering changes to make it easier, the Skift travel news website reported.

In an effort to boost Thailand tourism numbers, ordinary tourists visas can be extended to up to 60 days, along with the possibility of extended stays for post-grad students and remote workers.

And government spokesman Chai Wacharonke said travellers from more countries will be eligible for visas on arrival.

The validity of visas for self-employed "digital nomads" and other remote workers will be extended to five years, with an unbroken stay of up to 180 days. 

The “Destination Thailand Visa” will now allow a 180-day maximum stay per visit, extendable for another 180 days, with another THB 10,000 ($270) fee.

Previously, digital nomads were entitled to only two 30-day stays. 

Wacharonke noted that this measure targets remote workers, freelancers, and those interested in learning Muay Thai and Thai cooking skills. .Also, foreign students can stay in Thailand for an additional year after graduating.

The tourist visas will be available to visitors from 93 countries, up from 57 currently. The new policies will kick off this month.

Thailand welcomed 14.3 million tourists for the year to date. In 2019, pre-Covid, it welcomed a record 39.9 million arrivals.

Image: Winsor Dobbin

Meet the famous English city that wants to gouge tourists

Most cities see tourism as a positive factor; helping local businesses by providing extra income.

But some cities in the UK, which have long promoted themselves as being tourist friendly, now see visitors as a cash cow.

One example is the university city of Cambridge, which is considering imposing a tourist tax at hotels.

Cambridge City Council is looking at a £2 per night hotel tax per room per night for properties with at least 10 rooms.

It would then increase £3 nightly in the third year.

A feasibility study commissioned by the council, the tax could raise up £2.6 million per year. And lose goodness knows how much more in goodwill. Many tourists hate being nickled and dimed.

The city would apparently set up a special organisation that would would manage the collection of the hotel tax. At a cost goodness knows how much cost.

The proposed tax would not affect short-term rentals or colleges which rent out rooms outside of term times, Travel Mole and the BBC report.

“In order for the [organisation] to be established, there needs to be a ballot of the hotels within that catchment area. It’s not something the council can decide,” said Jemma Little, economic development manager at Cambridge City Council.

Manchester recently announced a £1 plus VAT per room, per night hotel tax.

If proposals are approved, the new Cambridge system could start as soon as next year.

Labour councillor Cameron Holloway said: "I think it's a great initiative and one that would be really positive for the city."

So there it is. Cambridge is ready to gouge tourists. It is hard to see two quid a night discouraging anyone from visiting, but it is probably enough to annoy visitors.  

Fortunately, there are lots of alternative places to stay. 

Where tourists are made welcome. 

  

Tourism to South Africa bouncing back in style

International tourist arrivals to South Africa are booming - and are close to returning to pre-Covid numbers.

International tourist arrivals from January to November 2023 totalled 7.6 million, representing a remarkable 51.8% increase when compared with same period in 2022.

While recovery towards pre-Covid-19 numbers is encouraging, this performance remains 17.6% lower compared to the same period in 2019.

South African Tourism reports: "South Africa remains an attractive destination, for both domestic and international travellers. The numbers show that the tourism sector is successfully driving travel to South Africa while shaping cultural exchanges and contributing to inclusive economic growth."

Arrivals from other countries in Africa numbered 5.8 million visitors, a significant 75.5% of all arrivals.

“I am so pleased by these numbers from the rest of the African continent," says Minister of Tourism Patricia De Lille.

With 1.1 million tourist arrivals, Europe contributed to 14.6% of the total arrivals during the first eleven months of 2023.

This marks a 43.2% increase when compared to the same period last year. The UK remains the top European source market ahead of Germany.

“Europe continues to show strong growth and recovery when compared to the same period in 2022. Notably, the Netherlands has achieved 90% of 2019 arrivals, solidifying their position as the fourth largest international market behind the United States of America, the United Kingdom and Germany," says de Lille.

"This recovery can be attributed to consistent efforts to showcase South Africa as a welcoming, responsible tourism destination, highlighting experiences that align with intrepid, green economy conscious travellers.

“It is evident that our country remains attractive and that more can be unlocked with more policy and regulation revisions. I am committed to working with all partners and government colleagues to unlock barriers such as visa regulations, safety concerns and limited air access and air lift, so that we can grow our sector and meaningfully contribute to our country’s economy."

See https://www.southafrica.net

Images: Table Mountain, Cape Town (top), Soweto (middle)

Hong Kong to welcome back visitors after two years

Hong Kong is to lift its ban on visitors arriving in the city for the first time since the Covid pandemic.

Hong Kong officials have announced said they would open borders to visitors from May 1, the first time in two years, ending strict border controls that effectively shut the international financial hub off from the outside world as it mirrored mainland China's strict zero-Covid policies.

The city drew about 56 million visitors in 2019 before virus restrictions dragged that figure to nearly zero, dealing a blow to the city's economy and sparking an expatriate exodus, Travel Mole reported.

The move came after Hong Kong allowed venues including gyms, theme parks, beauty parlours and movie theatres to reopen after a four-month closure sparked by an omicron-fuelled new outbreak.

Hong Kong has also dropped its mandatory hotel quarantine for visitors from 21 days to one week.

Meanwhile, citing a drop in infections, Singapore has said it is relaxing border controls by allowing all fully vaccinated travellers to enter via air or sea checkpoints without requiring a PCR test within two days of their departure.

Image: James Wong, scop.io