The collected fees would go into the national budget coffers before they are transferred to different agencies, he said.
Regeringen har grävt så många hål som behöver fyllas igen
och allt prat om att pengarna ska gå till försäkringar för att hjälpa turister tror jag inte ett dugg på.
"The government should be take serious steps to solve the problems in the country and to improve the quality of tourism here. Then things will improve," Mr Samphan said.
Sitdiwat Cheevarattanaporn, chairman of the Association of Thai Travel Agents (Atta), took the same tone, saying it is not a good move and not in line with the government's plan to promote tourism.
"The plan will affect the tourism industry, both in the short run and the long run, because tourists will feel bad about Thailand and they may feel they are being cheated," Mr Sitdiwat said.
Porntip Hirunket, vice chair of the Tourism Council of Thailand, said collecting entry fees from foreigners would dampen the tourism atmosphere.
Authorities should do a better job of screening tourists, enforcing the existing laws and preventing tourists from being conned, she said.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/375635/tourism-sector-opposed-to-b500-tourist-entry-fee