According to the new rules, a tourist who wants to return part of the funds under the VAT Refund program will not need to unpack and show the goods to employees if their cost does not exceed $ 580. The equivalent in the national currency is 20,000 baht. The previous limit was set at $145.
Since January, the minimum cost of consumer goods required to be displayed in front of customs officers has been increased fourfold. Before the innovations, the tourist was obliged to present items from the category of gadgets, electronics, jewelry, accessories, for example, a trouser belt and bags, with the exception of travel, if their amount exceeded $ 290. Now the bar has been raised to $1,150. In Thai baht it is 10,000 and 40,000 respectively.
The Thai authorities have also revised the maximum cost of goods that a passenger is allowed to take on board the aircraft. As hand luggage, you will be able to arrange the most expensive items, for the purchase of which up to 100,000 baht or $ 2,900 was spent.
By adjusting the financial rules, the Thai government pursued a simple goal: to reduce the queues of tourists declaring purchases before departure. The innovations will make it possible to reduce the number of such passengers fourfold from 120 thousand to 30 thousand rested guests of the country.
