From March 1st, citizens of China and Thailand will enjoy permanent mutual visa exemption. In anticipation of the "visa-free era" between China and Thailand, numerous Thai businesses are swiftly leveraging digital services familiar to Chinese tourists, including WeChat Pay, WeChat mini programs andmoreto enhance their travel experiences.

Central World, Bangkok's largest shopping center and a popular destination for Chinese tourists visiting Thailand, launched its WeChat mini program in February this year. Chinese tourists can simply place orders and make payments via WeChat on the mini program, enabling convenient self-pickup. Cross-border direct mail services will also be gradually introduced to meet the demands of more Chinese consumers.

At Thailand's three major airports, Suvarnabhumi Airport, Don Mueang International Airport, and Phuket International Airport, over 90% of merchants now accept WeChat Pay. This includes more than 200 stores such as restaurants, convenience stores, cosmeceutical shops, massage parlors, and vending machines, enabling Chinese tourists to browse the airports with just one app.

LINE MAN, Thailand's largest food delivery platform, launched a Chinese version of the WeChat mini program, facilitating Chinese tourists to order from over 12,000 popular restaurants in Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, and elsewhere. The platform also provides online Chinese language training for delivery riders, enabling them to learn basic greetings and phrases in Chinese.

Since the implementation of the five-month visa-free policy for Chinese tourists in Thailand starting on September 25th, 2023, there has been a significant increase in Chinese tourists visiting Thailand. During the 2024 Chinese New Year holiday, the number of Chinese tourists visiting Thailand reached 211,300, making China the largest source of tourists to Thailand. The surge in tourists has brought substantial benefits to businesses that accept WeChat Pay. For instance, during the holiday period, the average daily transaction volume of 7-Eleven convenience stores in Thailand, all of which accept WeChat Pay, has increased by 320% compared to last year, while King Power saw a remarkable 856% year-on-year increase.

中泰两国互免签证后，泰国商家掀起微信支付接入潮

3月1日起，中泰两国将永久互免对方公民签证。为了更好地迎接中泰迈入“免签时代”，大批泰国商家纷纷通过接入支付、上线微信小程序等方式，用中国游客熟悉的数字化服务不断提升旅行体验。

曼谷最大的购物中心尚泰世界（Central World）是中国游客赴泰旅游热门打卡地。尚泰世界在今年2月上线了微信小程序，中国游客只需要在小程序上下单并进行微信支付，就可以随时自提取货。跨境直邮的业务近期也会陆续开通，以满足更多中国消费者的需求。

泰国三大机场——曼谷素万那普机场、廊曼机场和普吉机场内已有九成商户支持微信支付，包含餐馆、便利店、药妆店、按摩店、自动售卖机等在内的200多个店铺，中国游客基本可以实现一个APP逛机场。

泰国最大的外卖平台LINE MAN不仅上线全中文微信小程序，方便中国游客在曼谷、普吉岛、芭堤雅、清迈等超过12000家热门餐馆点餐，而且还为骑手提供在线中文教学，让骑手们学会中文问候语和基本沟通词句。

自2023年9月25日起，泰国对中国游客实施为期5个月的免签政策，中国赴泰游客数大幅增加。2024年春节假期中，赴泰旅游的中国游客达到21.13万人次，中国成为赴泰旅游人数最多的国家。这也让接入微信支付的商家尝到了甜头。例如已经全泰国店铺接入微信支付的7-11便利店，2024年春节期间日均交易笔数相较去年同比提升320%，王权免税店同比提升高达856%。

文｜记者 王丹阳
图｜受访者供图
译｜邹晓华