Want to go to Thailand? You might have to pay a fee to get in the country just for being a tourist. You can thank other tourists who didn't pay their medical bills for that.
According to News.com.au, Thailand is considering charging tourists 500-baht, or $16.60 to enter the country to make up for the costs of unpaid medical bills from other tourists.
"The policy is the result of foreign tourists who have accidents or fall sick in Thailand and seek treatment at our hospitals but then can't pay their bills," the Health Ministry's Deputy Permanent Secretary Charnvit Phrathep said according to News.com.au.
The unpaid medical bills cost the state about 700 million baht, of $23.25 each year. "We try to send the bills on to the respective embassies but they always say they have no budgets," Charnvit said. "We will be the first country to implement such a policy, but Britain and Cambodia are considering something similar."
The Interior Ministry, Health Ministry and Tourism Ministry have agreed that the policy is the right step to take. Health Minister Pradit Sintavanarong said the policy may go into effect on January and may prevent "trash" tourists from entering Thailand.
The 500-baht fee would apply to air travelers. Those who enter by land would have to pay 30 baht for each day that they're in the country. Even tourists who have health insurance would still have to pay the fee.
"In the longer term it will add value to the tourism industry," Phrathep said. "We think most foreigners can afford 500 baht and if they come here and have a heart attack they will be happy to know they can get treatment at the nearest hospital with no questions asked."
However those in the tourist industry fear that the policy may keep tourists away. "It's a sledgehammer to crack a nut and it doesn't smell right to me," chairman of the Pacific Asia Travel Association, Martin Craig said according to News.com.au.
Samphan Panphat, adviser to the Thai Hotels Association, told News.com.au that those who come to Thailand on tours "already have medical insurance so this fee would be redundant. If Thailand does something strange like this, there could be a long-term negative impact on the whole industry.
About 22 million people visited Thailand last year, bringing in $32 billion in foreign exchange revenues to the country.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
