Thailand has put plans to introduce a 1,000-baht departure tax on outbound travellers on hold, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas has said.

Ekniti said the government currently has no plans to introduce the tax, following discussions between the Finance Ministry and the country’s Revenue Department.

He said the decision was aimed at sustaining growth in the tourism sector following the progress made after Thailand hosted the 2026 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Group.

The minister said introducing the tax was not appropriate at this time, as the government wants tourism to continue growing without disruption.

He also stressed that any new tax measures must be carefully assessed amid instability in the Middle East and rising energy prices, warning that additional taxes could undermine efforts to revive the tourism sector.