Thailand will begin collecting a 300-baht entry fee from foreign tourists from April, a government spokesman said on Wednesday.

The move is part of the Tourism and Sports Ministry promotion plan for 2022, themed "Amazing Thailand New Chapter".

The plan includes promotion of "white routes" for tourists in line with a bio-, circular and green economic  plans for more sustainable and safe tourism, the spokesman said.

The 300 baht entry fee would be used to develop tourist attractions and for accident or death insurance for all tourists. The maximum insurance payout would be 1 million baht in the case of death and 500,000 baht for medical expenses.

The charge would be included in air fares. The means of collecting the entry fee from people arriving by land was still being considered.

Despite the prevalence of the Omicron variant of Covid-19, the government would continue with its tourism promotion campaigns, the spokesman said.