Mitihoon – Visa, a world leader in digital payments, in collaboration with Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) and fintech innovator Soft Space, have announced the expansion of the Tap to Pay initiative to two of Bangkok’s most iconic and high-traffic shopping destinations Chatuchak Weekend Market and Pratunam Market. This strategic partnership aims to modernise payment acceptance for local merchants, enhances convenience for tourists, and unlocks greater spending potential to support Thailand’s economic growth.
The initiative introduces a contactless payment solution that enables merchants to accept credit and debit card payments directly through their existing smartphones. This offers a flexible and convenient option alongside EDC terminals, with no additional hardware required. Whether using a smartphone or a dedicated EDC machine, businesses can now provide a seamless, cashless shopping experience perfect for international visitors and everyday customers alike.
Benefits for Key Stakeholders
- For Merchants: Tap to Pay boosts sales and expands customer reach by enabling small businesses to accept card payments easily using just a smartphone. This reduces reliance on cash and foreign currency, lowers operational costs, and allows merchants to serve a broader customer base, including international tourists and digital-first consumers.
- For Customers (Thailand-based & Tourists): Contactless cards and mobile wallets offer a fast, and secure payment experience. Transactions are completed quickly and conveniently without the need for physical cash or currency exchange, making shopping seamless for both local customers and international visitors.
- For Thailand: The initiative supports the development of a modern digital economy and strengthens cross-border payment infrastructure. By making it easier for tourists to spend, it helps increase tourism revenue and encourages higher spending per visitor, contributing to national economic growth.
Choenporn Sawasdivorn, Head of Client, Visa (Thailand), stated, “Visa is dedicated to advancing Thailand’s digital economy by making payments more inclusive, secure, and innovative. Over the past year, contactless payments in Thailand have surged, with more than 66 per cent of Visa transactions now taking place via contactless methods each month. This rapid growth is driven by strong adoption among small businesses from street food vendors to local shops who are utilising Tap to Pay to attract more customers and expand their operations. By equipping merchants with modern payment solutions, Visa is not only enhancing the shopping experience for both tourists and locals, but also helping to build a more vibrant, resilient, and digitally connected economy across communities throughout Thailand.”
Thanawatn Kittisuwan, First Executive Vice President, Head of Digital Business and Payment SolutionsFunction, Siam Commercial Bank said, “As a leader in digital banking innovation, SCB is proud to partner with Visa and Soft Space to champion a more inclusive financial ecosystem. This partnership makes a significant milestone, positioning SCB as the first bank in Thailand to enable merchants to offer Tap to Pay payment option via mobile devices. This initiative empowers merchants of all sizes, from bustling street stalls to established shops, with the tools they need to succeed in the digital age. By providing seamless and secure payment solutions, we are advancing our shared vision of economic growth and expanding opportunities for businesses across Thailand. This aligns perfectly with SCB’s strategy of being a “Digital Bank with a Human Touch.”
Joel Tay, Chief Executive Officer, Soft Space added, “Contactless payment acceptance, which was once costly and less accessible for Thai small businesses, is now affordable, enabling even the smallest businesses to accept cards alongside QR payments. The solution we’ve introduced with Visa and SCB empowers Thai consumers and tourists the freedom to choose a convenient, friction-free and cost-effective way to pay.”
Since its launch just one year ago, the “Mae Manee Tap to Pay” initiative has seen remarkable adoption nationwide. Tens of thousands of merchants particularly small businesses in tourist-heavy areas like street food vendors, cafés, beauty salons, spas, and community shops have embraced the solution. These are businesses that previously lacked access to electronic payment systems. The programme’s rapid growth underscores the strong demand for modern, easy-to-use, low-cost payment solutions among Thailand’s small business sector.
Following its success in major cities, Visa and SCB have extended the Tap to Pay programme into provincial areas and new retail categories, ensuring equitable access to digital payment tools across the country. From family-run shops to service providers, local businesses can now better cater to both domestic and international shoppers.
This expansion highlights Visa, SCB, and Soft Space’s shared commitment to promoting digital innovation, financial inclusion, and sustainable economic development in Thailand’s most dynamic retail zones.
To celebrate the expansion of Tap to Pay, Visa is rewarding shoppers who embrace a cashless experience. From now until December 31, 2025, customers who spend THB 500 or more using Tap to Pay or Visa QR credit at participating merchants will receive an exclusive treat. A choice between a Starbucks e-coupon worth THB 100 or a bubble tea voucher worth THB 80. To claim the reward, simply register via the LINE Official Account: @th_promotion and upload your receipt. Don’t miss out on the chance to enjoy more, every time you tap.
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