Thailand to Test Crypto Payment Sandbox for Tourists

Thailand is preparing to roll out TouristDigiPay, a new initiative that will let foreign travelers convert cryptocurrencies into Thai baht and spend them electronically during their stay. The project is framed as a regulatory sandbox and is set to officially begin on Monday.

Good to know

• Tourists must complete Know Your Customer (KYC) checks before using the service.
• The system includes monthly spending caps and prevents direct cash withdrawals.
• The plan comes as Thailand faces a drop in visitor numbers, particularly from China.

How TouristDigiPay Will Work

Visitors who want to use crypto payments will need to open an account with a regulated digital asset business and an e-money provider. Both must operate under the oversight of the Bank of Thailand and the Securities and Exchange Commission. Once verified, tourists will be able to swap cryptocurrencies for baht and use e-money services for payments across participating merchants.

The scheme aims to modernize how tourists interact with the Thai economy while keeping safeguards in place. Spending will be capped, and the system won’t allow straight withdrawals of cash. Full details are scheduled to be released by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira.

Why Thailand Is Turning to Crypto

The plan is largely about boosting tourism at a time when visitor numbers have softened. Thailand welcomed 16.8 million tourists in the first half of 2025, down from 17.7 million a year earlier. According to the World Tourism Institute, arrivals from East Asia dropped by 24 percent, while Chinese visitors fell by 34 percent.

The report suggested travelers are choosing destinations like Japan, where the weaker yen makes trips cheaper, and Vietnam, which has become more cost-competitive. It warned:

“Thailand’s 5% tourism decline in 2025 underlines the urgent need for diversification, market repositioning, and enhanced visitor experiences to compete in a changing regional landscape.”

By offering crypto-based payment options, Thailand hopes to appeal to tech-savvy tourists and create smoother spending experiences.

A Long-Running Idea

The crypto payment concept isn’t entirely new. Back in January, Thailand revealed a plan to test digital payments for foreign tourists in Phuket, though that pilot is still in progress. Later, in May, Chunhavajira introduced TouristDigiPay during an investment seminar in Bangkok.

The initiative also follows the Thai SEC’s public consultation on financial innovation and the role of digital assets in economic growth, which wrapped up on August 13.