The Tourism Authority of Thailand launched “Scan Thailand Pay Like A Local,” promoting cross-border QR payments to enhance digital transactions, convenience, and revenue for local businesses in key Bangkok districts.
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The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) launched the “Scan Thailand Pay Like A Local” campaign to promote cross-border QR code payments for international tourists. The roadshow was held on November 2 at The Old Siam Plaza in Bangkok, targeting businesses in Yaowarat, Samphanthawong, and Phra Nakhon to facilitate mobile banking and digital wallet transactions.
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TAT Executive Director Kanokkittika Kritwutikon highlighted the rising popularity of digital payments, especially among East Asian travelers. The initiative aims to boost tourist spending, improve transaction convenience, and support small local businesses, building on similar events held earlier in Udon Thani and Asiatique The Riverfront.
- Eight commercial banks participated, offering free merchant QR registrations and promotional benefits. Payment network representatives from Alipay, UnionPay, WeChat Pay, and NETS provided insights on transaction security. The campaign seeks to enhance payment convenience and increase tourism revenue for local communities.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), in collaboration with the Bank of Thailand, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, several financial institutions, and private-sector partners, launched the “Scan Thailand Pay Like A Local” campaign to promote the adoption of cross-border QR code payments among international tourists. The campaign aims to enhance the use of mobile banking apps and digital wallets in popular tourist districts such as Yaowarat, Samphanthawong, and Phra Nakhon. This initiative was formally introduced during a roadshow held at The Old Siam Plaza in Bangkok on November 2, marking a significant step towards integrating digital payment technology within Thailand’s tourism sector.
TAT Executive Director for the Central Region, Kanokkittika Kritwutikon, emphasized the rising preference for digital payments among travelers, particularly from East Asia and neighboring countries. The campaign seeks to leverage this trend by facilitating seamless and secure payment transactions, thereby increasing tourists’ spending capacity and promoting convenience. Furthermore, the campaign plays a strategic role in supporting small and local businesses by broadening their customer base and streamlining payment processes. This effort builds upon previous successful implementations of similar initiatives in Udon Thani city and at Asiatique The Riverfront in Bangkok, reflecting a consistent push towards digital transformation in tourism-related commerce.
Integral to the campaign’s operational success is the participation of eight commercial banks that provided free merchant QR code registrations, compatibility assessments for payment systems, and various promotional incentives to participating businesses. Additionally, representatives from prominent international payment platforms such as Alipay, UnionPay, WeChat Pay, and NETS contributed expertise concerning payment security and the specifics of cross-border transaction management. The collaboration among government bodies, financial institutions, and private partners underscores a multifaceted approach to enhancing payment infrastructure, which is expected to increase tourism revenue and fortify local economies by improving accessibility and reliability of digital financial services for foreign visitors.
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