500 Baht Tourist Fee proposed

The reasons both pro and con regarding this proposed fee, simply don't hold water.
Here are a few of the reasons reported

• Increase in quality of tourists
• Reduction in overstay
• Funds would go for "additional Care" of tourists

The fee probably will not hurt tourism in the least.  Other countries have much higher fees without ill effect.

The fee is to go into effect January 1, but there are some wispers of postponing it by a few weeks, as not to cause 'Confusion.'

Rather than a tourism fee with no visible benefit, I would have prefered the proposed mandatory medical insurance fee.  The difference here is the tourism fee can go straight into the general fund, while the medical insurance fee must provide a service.

Thailand prepares to introduce arrival tax

More than 100,000 foreigners

staying illegally in Thailand