Cross-border card usage in Thailand evolving: Detailed data analysis from various directions
Thailand's Cross-Border Payment Landscape Evolves Amid Economic Changes
Thailand, a key player in both inbound and outbound cross-border payments, is experiencing a significant shift in its payment landscape, according to a data analysis of the Bank of Thailand's published data.
Credit and debit card use continues to see growth in Thailand, with both transaction volumes and spending patterns showing an upward trend. This growth is not limited to domestic transactions, as cross-border card usage in Thailand has been growing steadily, with clear trends in both outbound and inbound transactions.
Outbound card transactions by Thai consumers and inbound transactions by foreign tourists have witnessed a surge, reflecting a global trend that likely includes Thailand as a market with increasing outbound card usage. Visa reported that cross-border volume excluding intra-Europe rose 11% in constant dollars, with processed transactions growing 10% year over year as of mid-2025 [4].
The Bank of Thailand is promoting digital initiatives to facilitate and encourage spending by inbound tourists. One such initiative is the "Tourist Wallet," a digital payment system aimed at making it easier for foreign visitors to spend locally via cards and digital wallets [3].
The shift towards contactless and digital payments is another factor driving this growth. As Thailand rapidly adopts contactless payments—including cards—the ease of use supports more frequent cross-border transactions both by Thais traveling abroad and tourists in Thailand. The infrastructure enhancements and better acceptance, such as tap-to-pay and mobile wallets, help increase spend per transaction and transaction counts.
However, Thailand has faced significant economic headwinds, including the Covid-19 pandemic, which have created challenges for both inbound and outbound travel and cross-border payments. Despite these challenges, spend per transaction in both inbound and outbound cross-border card payments in Thailand has grown.
Thailand, being one of the most important economies within Southeast Asia, is an emerging market region of significant interest to payments players for future growth. The country supports a broad range of payment types, with e-wallets being popular payment types for residents, but card ownership also being high. Card use remains popular for many foreign travelers in Thailand.
Data published by the Bank of Thailand will be analyzed to understand the evolution of international use of payment instruments in Thailand and how they have been shaped by its changing conditions. The analysis will reveal the evolution of this dynamic payment landscape, providing insights into the future of cross-border payments in Thailand.
- The Bank of Thailand's digital initiatives, such as the "Tourist Wallet," contribute to the growth of technology-driven cross-border card usage in Thailand, making it easier for foreign visitors to spend locally via cards and digital wallets.
- The increase in cross-border card transactions in Thailand can be attributed to both economic changes and advancements in finance and technology, including the shift towards contactless payments, infrastructure enhancements, and better acceptance methods like tap-to-pay and mobile wallets.
