Thailand 450-Baht Entry Fee Eyes Early 2027: Golf Trip Cost Impact

Thailand is moving ahead with a 450-baht entry fee for foreign tourists. Officials are targeting the first quarter of 2027, once the National Tourism Policy Committee and Cabinet sign off, as Thai Examiner reported on October 7, 2026. A separate draft 1,000-baht departure tax is also out for public consultation. For a golfer planning a 2027 Chiang Mai trip, that could mean up to 1,450 baht more per person, so budget for it now.

What exactly is being proposed?

There are two separate measures, and they come from two different parts of government.

The first is the 450-baht tourist entry fee, proposed by the Tourism and Sports Ministry. Air arrivals would be charged first, with land and sea collection suspended for a year. The fee would include medical and death-benefit insurance, with exact terms still to be set. Thai travellers would not pay. After Cabinet approval it must be published in the Royal Gazette, and it would take effect within 180 days of that, so early 2027 is a target, not a launch date.

The second is a draft 1,000-baht departure tax with the Revenue Department running the consultation. It would apply to air passengers of every nationality, Thais included, with exemptions for children aged two and under, transit passengers and tickets bought before the law takes effect. Public consultation runs until October 29, 2026, according to Thai Examiner on October 8, 2026. No start date has been set.

Both would sit on top of the Passenger Service Charge, which Airports of Thailand raised from 730 to 1,120 baht on June 20, 2026, for international departures from its six major airports. That charge is usually built into your airfare.

How much more will a Chiang Mai golf trip cost?

Per foreign golfer arriving and leaving by air, if both proposals pass as drafted:

• Entry fee: 450 baht
• Departure tax: 1,000 baht
• Total new cost: 1,450 baht per person

For a four-ball, that comes to 5,800 baht across the group. It won't change whether a trip is worth taking, but it's worth a line in the group budget so nobody is caught out at the airport.

Which travel dates are affected?

Trips this winter, November and December 2026, fall before the early 2027 target, so they should not be affected by either fee. Groups booking January to March 2027 are the ones most likely to see the entry fee arrive mid-season.

Our advice is to pick dates for the golf, not the fee. Cool mornings and good course conditions matter far more to your trip than 1,450 baht. If you are choosing between late December and mid-January for other reasons, the fee timeline is a small factor in favour of the earlier window.

Does it change which package or course makes sense?

The fees are a fixed cost per trip, not per round, so they matter less the longer you stay. Spread across a week, 1,450 baht barely registers.

• Longer stays: the Lanna Signature, 7 nights and 5 rounds spreads the fixed cost over the most golf, with rounds that can include Alpine Golf Resort and Gassan Legacy Golf Club.
• Mid-length trips: the Highlands Classic, 5 nights and 4 rounds suits groups who want variety, including Chiangmai Highlands Golf & Spa Resort.
• Short breaks: on a Weekend Warrior, 3 nights and 3 rounds, the new fees make up a bigger share of the total. The draft departure tax exempts tickets bought before it takes effect, so booking flights early may help.

What should golfers do now?

1. Book winter 2026 trips as normal. No new fees are expected before early 2027.
2. Add 1,450 baht per person to any 2027 trip budget, and treat it as a reserve until confirmed.
3. Check your fare breakdown. The 1,120-baht Passenger Service Charge is usually already included in the ticket price.
4. Recheck before you fly. The entry fee could be collected through airline tickets, an app, a website or a payment kiosk, and no method has been chosen yet.