Thailand is taking a major step toward crypto-enabled tourism. Starting August 18, the country will launch TouristDigiPay, a new initiative that allows foreign visitors to convert their cryptocurrencies into Thai baht for local spending.
Announced by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira, the program is designed to revive Thailand’s tourism sector and attract tech-savvy travelers. Tourists will be able to open accounts with SEC-regulated digital asset operators and e-money providers supervised by the Bank of Thailand. All users must complete full KYC and anti-money laundering checks.
TouristDigiPay does not allow direct crypto payments. Instead, it operates in a regulatory sandbox and enables crypto conversion into baht for electronic payments, such as QR code transactions. Spending is capped at 500,000 baht per month for merchants using card terminals.
With more than 35 million visitors annually and revenue of 1.67 trillion baht recorded in 2024, Thailand sees digital assets as a tool to boost tourism back to pre-pandemic levels. Industry leaders including Gulf Binance CEO Nirun Fuwattananukul say the program could help position Thailand as a regional digital finance hub. However, some analysts stress the need for clear regulations to manage long-term money-laundering risks.
By allowing tourists to spend crypto in a compliant and secure way, Thailand is aiming to turn digital finance into real-world economic growth.