The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), in collaboration with the Bank of Thailand (BoT), financial institutions and relevant agencies, is accelerating the rollout of a cross-border QR code payment system to support digital tourism and promote seamless spending under the “Pay Like a Local” concept.
The program allows visitors from China, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, South Korea, Laos and Cambodia, as well as Hong Kong, to use their domestic mobile banking applications or e-wallets to make direct payments to Thai merchants through QR codes without the need to exchange cash.
Tourists visit Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, one of the tourist destinations in Chiang Mai Province, northern Thailand, Nov. 13, 2025. Photo by Reuters |
According to the TAT, the initiative is expected to enhance travel convenience, strengthen the confidence of international visitors and help Thai businesses adapt to the growing demand for digital payment options.
Participating merchants can register through leading Thai banks and international payment partners, including Alipay, WeChat Pay and UnionPay.
In the first five months of 2026, Thailand welcomed 14 million foreign tourists, generating an estimated THB 679.27 billion (US$20.8 billion) in revenue, a slight year-on-year decline of 2.3% compared to the same period in 2025.
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