Tourists planning their next getaway may notice rising costs—sometimes in the form of new climate-focused fees attached to hotel stays, ferry tickets, or entry to national parks and protected sites. Far from being just another burden on the traveller’s wallet, a new wave of tourist taxes is reshaping how the tourism industry responds to the escalating climate crisis, aiming to preserve some of the world’s most treasured and vulnerable destinations for future generations.
The momentum behind tourist taxes tied explicitly to climate action accelerated after catastrophic events linked to global warming, such as the deadly wildfires that ravaged Maui, Hawaii in August 2023. With 102 fatalities and more than 2,000 buildings destroyed, the disaster prompted Hawaii to enact a “Green Fee”—America’s first tourist tax linked directly to the climate crisis. Effective from 2026, this new 0.75% surcharge on accommodation is expected to generate US$100 million annually for recovery, environmental protection, and climate adaptation BBC.
For Thai readers, understanding these emerging trends is especially salient. Thailand welcomes tens of millions of visitors each year—an essential economic driver but also a source of immense pressure on beaches, islands, coral reefs, and cultural heritage zones. The nation’s tourism model has historically prioritised quantity over sustainability, but the global shift toward climate-resilient tourism could signal a future path for Thailand’s own policies.
The Hawaiian Green Fee is not an isolated case. In 2024, Greece replaced its existing overnight stay tax with a new “Climate Crisis Resilience Fee,” now ranging from €0.50 to €10 per night by hotel class and season, and up to €20 per person during peak periods in high-traffic places like Mykonos and Santorini. The Greek government expects to raise roughly €400 million annually, earmarked for water infrastructure, disaster prevention, and ecological restoration. Similarly, Bali introduced a 150,000 rupiah (about 360 baht) fee this year for foreign tourists, supporting environmental protection efforts. The Maldives, which has collected a “Green Tax” since 2015, doubled its charge in 2025 to $12 per person per night, with proceeds supporting waste management and coastal resilience. New Zealand’s International Visitor Levy, nearly tripled in value since its launch in 2019, now stands at roughly 2,500 baht and funds conservation and climate-proofed tourism infrastructure such as the iconic Cycle Trails and storm-damaged hiking routes BBC.
These fees are just a fraction of overall travel costs—often less than a single tour or restaurant bill. Yet, if managed transparently and efficiently, their collective impact can be transformative, according to Dr. Rachel Dodds, professor of tourism management at Toronto Metropolitan University. “Tourism taxes can be an easy source of additional income to support sustainability or climate initiatives,” she told the BBC. “But transparency is essential to ensure the money actually goes to those initiatives.” In this context, clear accounting and communication are vital. The Maldives, for example, publishes monthly public reports about how revenue from its Green Fund is used, listing allocations for coastal protection, waste treatment, and water access. New Zealand, similarly, issues annual reports on levy-funded projects.
In Hawaii, authorities responded to the Lahaina tragedy by establishing a Climate Advisory Team (CAT), which issued a comprehensive 60-page public report outlining potential resilience strategies and funding sources, including survey data from residents and actuarial projections on the impact of future climate disasters. According to a recent CAT statement, detailed and inclusive planning helped build broad public support: “The comprehensive data… resulted in a favorable public opinion of a climate fee,” noted the CAT’s chair.
The willingness of tourists themselves to accept climate-linked fees is growing in line with global awareness. According to Booking.com’s 2024 Sustainable Travel Report, 75% of travelers worldwide expressed a desire to travel more sustainably, while 71% said they hoped to leave places better than they found them. A separate Euromonitor study found that almost 80% of respondents are willing to pay at least 10% more for sustainable travel options. Still, visitors want assurance that their money is being used well. As a Japanese tourist told the BBC, “If it’s just 0.75%, like an extra $3 on a $400 stay, then that seems fine…If it’s going toward protecting Hawaii’s beaches and forests, then that’s a good thing… It feels like a contribution to something important.” Likewise, a recent visitor to Greece described noticing the new fee and expressed a willingness to pay more “as long as the money is going to the right place” BBC.
Thai stakeholders in the tourism sector may find lessons in these international developments. While Thailand has periodically discussed measures like entry fees for foreign tourists—primarily to cover accident or insurance costs—comprehensive climate-adaptation funding via tourism is still in its infancy. Yet, the country’s tourism-dependent regions, from Chiang Mai’s mountains to the Andaman coast’s crowded islands, are already facing climate stresses, such as coral bleaching, freshwater scarcity, and increased storm activity. Learning from places like Hawaii, Greece, and the Maldives, Thai authorities could explore linking visitor taxes directly to resilience projects: mangrove replanting, coral restoration, flood infrastructure, and sustainable transport systems.
To achieve widespread support and maximum impact, transparency and public engagement are crucial. “Tourists want to know their contribution counts—where the money goes, and what changes it delivers,” observes one senior sustainability officer at an international tourism body. Echoing this, several Thai hotel associations and tour operator networks have begun piloting voluntary green surcharges, with the proceeds donated to local conservation trusts or community projects.
Such efforts must ultimately shift sustainability from being a premium “add-on” to a baseline expectation embedded within the tourism industry itself, says the Vice President of Research and Sustainability at the World Travel & Tourism Council. “Baking sustainability into all operations and services means travellers choose it by default,” he argues. “If sustainability is embedded from the start, people won’t need to consciously choose it—it will simply be the obvious choice.” BBC.
In Thailand, culture of merit-making and shared social responsibility—expressed in concepts such as “khon dee tham dee, dai dee” (good deeds yield good returns)—aligns neatly with the logic behind green tourist taxes. If well-designed, these measures not only preserve natural beauty and safeguard livelihoods but also reinforce the nation’s reputation as a responsible, welcoming destination. Greater dialogue between government agencies, business groups, local communities, and the travelling public will be key to finding the right balance and ensuring accountability.
Looking ahead, the proliferation of climate-related tourist taxes appears set to expand, not shrink. As climate impacts intensify and community demands for fairness grow louder, destinations worldwide—including Southeast Asia—will increasingly be expected to show how tourism revenue directly supports resilience and sustainability.
For Thai travellers and businesses, the message is clear: responsible tourism isn’t just about polite behaviour or supporting local vendors, but about taking proactive steps—however small—to protect the shared environment. Considering Thailand’s vulnerability to both over-tourism and climate shocks, stakeholders are encouraged to participate in local forums, monitor where tourism taxes are spent, and support businesses with credible sustainability credentials.
In conclusion, as global tourism adjusts to the realities of a warming world, transparent, well-targeted tourist taxes are emerging as a vital tool for safeguarding cultural and natural heritage. For Thailand, embracing these global lessons could secure a brighter future for its iconic destinations and the communities who depend on them. Tourists themselves—foreigners and Thais alike—can help by seeking out operators with a clear sustainability ethos, learning about the impact of their fees, and, crucially, seeing their travel as a contribution to the shared stewardship of our world’s most precious places.