Marketing Southeast Asia

Tourism Authority of Thailand expands ‘Pay Like a Local’ cross-border QR payment initiative

by Aliza Carmona

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June 30, 2026

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Tourism Authority of Thailand expands ‘Pay Like a Local’ cross-border QR payment initiative

Bangkok, Thailand – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is promoting the nationwide adoption of cross-border QR payments across the tourism sector under its “Pay Like a Local” initiative, aiming to make digital payments more convenient for international visitors while expanding opportunities for local businesses.

The initiative expands the use of cross-border QR payments at tourism establishments nationwide, allowing eligible international travellers to pay through supported banking apps and e-wallets from their home markets instead of relying on cash or currency exchange. The service is currently available to users from China, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, South Korea, Laos, Cambodia, and Hong Kong, with further market expansion planned.

The rollout is supported by the Bank of Thailand, eight participating banks—Krungthai Bank, Bangkok Bank, Kasikornbank, Siam Commercial Bank, Bank of Ayudhya, ICBC Thai, Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives, and CIMB Thai Bank—as well as payment infrastructure partners National ITMX, Alipay, WeChat Pay, and UnionPay.

TAT is also promoting the initiative through its international marketing channels, particularly across East Asia, where QR-based mobile payments are widely used.

To support implementation, TAT is conducting a Merchant Activation Roadshow at Asiatique The Riverfront Destination in Bangkok, where tourism businesses can register for QR merchant services, consult participating banks, and assess their readiness to accept cross-border QR payments.

The Bangkok event builds on a pilot programme held in Udon Thani in March 2026, which introduced QR payment acceptance to local tourism businesses ahead of an expected increase in Chinese visitors. The pilot combined merchant training with on-site outreach for small businesses, serving as an early test of the initiative before its broader rollout.

Mrs. Sirigesanong Trirattanasongpol, TAT Executive Director of the East Asia Region, said, “Changing traveller behaviour, particularly among visitors from East Asia and neighbouring markets where mobile payment and QR Payment are widely used in daily life, makes Cross-Border QR Payment increasingly important to the visitor experience.

She added, “This cooperation marks another important step in advancing Thailand’s tourism industry, creating business opportunities for operators, and reinforcing the country’s image as a modern global destination for digital travellers from around the world.”