With Visa, Siam Commercial Bank (SCB), and fintech innovator Soft Space joining forces, contactless payments are now arriving at Bangkok’s bustling street markets, Chatuchak and Pratunam, transforming how locals and tourists shop, pay, and experience Thailand’s most vibrant marketplaces.
Visa, a global leader in digital payments, together with Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) and innovative fintech firm Soft Space, has expanded its Tap to Pay initiative to two of Bangkok’s busiest shopping hubs — Chatuchak Weekend Market and Pratunam Market. The partnership seeks to modernize payment acceptance for local vendors, offer greater convenience for tourists, and stimulate consumer spending to help drive Thailand’s economic growth.
The initiative introduces a contactless payment solution that lets merchants accept credit and debit card payments directly on their smartphones, without any extra hardware needed. It provides a flexible alternative to traditional EDC terminals, allowing businesses to offer a smooth, cash-free checkout experience suited for both everyday shoppers and international visitors.
Benefits for Key Stakeholders
For Merchants: Tap to Pay helps boost sales and expand customer reach by allowing small businesses to accept card payments easily through mobile devices. It reduces dependence on cash and foreign currency, lowers operational costs, and supports merchants in serving a wider customer base, from local buyers to global travelers.
For Customers (Local and Tourists): Contactless cards and mobile wallets deliver a quick, secure, and hassle-free payment experience. Transactions are completed in seconds without the need for cash or currency exchange, making shopping effortless for both Thai consumers and visiting tourists.
For Thailand: The initiative contributes to the growth of a modern, inclusive digital economy and strengthens the country’s payment infrastructure. By making spending easier for tourists, it supports tourism revenue and boosts overall consumer spending, driving national economic growth.
Choenporn Sawasdivorn, Head of Client at Visa Thailand, noted that Visa remains committed to advancing Thailand’s digital economy through secure, inclusive, and innovative payment solutions. Contactless payments have grown rapidly, with over 66% of Visa transactions now made this way each month. This surge, driven by adoption among small businesses, from street food stalls to local stores, demonstrates how Tap to Pay is helping merchants attract more customers and grow sustainably.
Thanawatn Kittisuwan, First Executive Vice President and Head of Digital Business and Payment Solutions at Siam Commercial Bank, emphasized that SCB’s partnership with Visa and Soft Space marks an important step toward financial inclusion. As Thailand’s first bank to enable Tap to Pay on mobile devices, SCB is empowering merchants of all sizes with secure, seamless digital payment options. This initiative, he added, reflects SCB’s goal of being a “Digital Bank with a Human Touch.”
Joel Tay, CEO of Soft Space, highlighted that contactless payment acceptance, once out of reach for many Thai small businesses, is now both affordable and accessible. The collaboration with Visa and SCB enables even the smallest vendors to accept card payments alongside QR codes, giving customers a simple, friction-free, and cost-effective payment experience.
Launched just a year ago, the “Mae Manee Tap to Pay” programme has already seen widespread adoption across Thailand. Tens of thousands of merchants, especially small businesses in tourist hotspots like cafés, salons, and local shops, have embraced the solution, many for the first time gaining access to digital payments. Building on this success, Visa and SCB are expanding the programme into more provinces and retail sectors to ensure that small businesses nationwide can benefit from modern payment tools.
To celebrate the expansion, Visa is offering rewards to shoppers who go cashless. Until December 31, 2025, customers spending THB 500 or more using Tap to Pay or Visa QR credit at participating merchants can claim their rewards using the LINE Official Account.
