Travellers from China can now pay Thai merchants directly using Alipay, UnionPay, or WeChat Pay, as Thailand rolls out its long-awaited cross-border QR payment linkage.

The Bank of Thailand (BOT) said the initiative connects the retail payment systems of both countries to support trade, investment, and tourism.

It allows Chinese visitors to use familiar mobile payment apps to scan Thai QR codes at local merchants, making transactions faster and more convenient.

The linkage was developed through collaboration between the National ITMX (NITMX) and the three Chinese payment providers, with Bangkok Bank and Krungthai Bank serving as the Thai settlement banks for cross-border transactions.

At launch, participating Thai banks include Bangkok Bank, Krungthai Bank, Kasikornbank, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Thai), Siam Commercial Bank, and the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Co-operatives.

Additional institutions such as Bank of Ayudhya, Government Savings Bank, Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, and TMBThanachart Bank will join in the coming months.

The BOT said the initiative reflects ongoing efforts to expand real-time cross-border payment linkages, offering consumers and businesses a secure, efficient, and cost-effective retail payment option.

Thailand now has similar QR payment connections with Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Japan, and Hong Kong.

Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by Freepik