Thailand is embracing the crypto revolution with a pilot program designed to revitalize its tourism industry. Dubbed TouristDigiPay, this initiative enables foreign visitors to convert digital assets into Thai baht for local spending, using an established QR code payment system.
The 18 month regulatory sandbox allows tourists to exchange cryptocurrency via licensed platforms into e wallets. Transactions are then made in baht through PromptPay or QR systems with merchants receiving only a local fiat settlement. The scheme is fortified with anti money laundering safeguards, KYC protocols, and capped monthly spending to ensure transparency and security.
Officials anticipate that TouristDigiPay could inject up to $15 billion into the national economy by attracting tech savvy travelers. The program’s design includes built in safeguards: funds are locked until the visit concludes, and limits (e.g., around 500,000 baht per tourist) are in place to discourage misuse or illicit transfers.
This comes at a critical juncture. Thailand’s tourism sector, a vital economic pillar, has been under pressure tourist arrivals dropped noticeably in the first half of 2025. With neighboring nations offering cheaper alternatives, Thailand needs innovative measures to stand out.
If TouristDigiPay succeeds, it may prove to be a blueprint for how nations can marry digital asset adoption with economic stimulus. Its impact could ripple beyond Southeast Asia serving as one of the most closely watched real world tests of crypto’s mainstream viability in tourism.
