Thailand urged to tax duty-free tobacco

Tina Milton

Print Article E-Mail Article E-Mail Author

Reports in the Bangkok Post suggest that Thailand's health lobby is winning support for a tax on duty-free cigarette sales

The Thailand Excise Department is pushing to introduce a tax on sales of cigarette sales at duty-free stores, according to reports in the Bangkok Post.

Excise director general Utid Tamwatin said that although he favoured collecting taxes on duty-free cigarettes, the issue was yet to be discussed with Customs.

Secretary general of the Thailand Action on Smoking and Health Foundation Prakit Vathesatogkit has been invited to discuss the future of duty-free tobacco in Thailand with the country's excise department. He cited the World Health Organization's call to tax duty-free sales and pointed to action taken in neighbouring countries, such as Singapore.

At next month's TFWA Asia Pacific show in Singapore, the European Travel Retail Council is to host a workshop to discuss how best to defend duty-free tobacco sales in Asia and beyond. The event, to be held at the Singapore Suntec Centre level 2 on Tuesday May 17 at 08.30, is open to all delegates and press.