Bangkok sightseeing easier with a Visa card
Visa has announced that Siam Hop, a sightseeing bus service, has become the first such operation in Bangkok to accept Visa cards for both online and offline payments.
Their partnership will ensure faster customer service as well as greater efficiency for Siam Hop’s operations spanning nearly 50 stops along four distinctive routes around Bangkok, the principles said.
“Encouraging acceptance of electronic payment in Thailand is a business priority for Visa,” said Suripong Tantiyanon, Country Manager for Visa Thailand.
“With Thailand continuing to be one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations, our merchant clients are looking for ways to improve experience and satisfaction, drive operational efficiencies, grow their business and ultimately strengthen tourism in Thailand.”
According to Visa’s Global Travel Intentions Study, Thailand is consistently one of the most popular destinations for travellers, both global (13 per cent) and from elsewhere in Asia (18 per cent).
It said strengthening the digital infrastructure and the acceptance of electronic payment were key to supporting tourism growth.
“Tourist behaviour is changing, especially when it comes to payment,” said Jiradej Huayhongthong, President of Total Biz Connect, operator of Siam Hop. “That’s why we are pleased to offer the option of electronic payments for our city sightseeing bus service.
“Passengers can use their bank-issued Visa cards to purchases tickets online prior to their trips or at Hop stops throughout Bangkok starting in March. We believe this would provide Siam Hop the opportunity to demonstrate innovation and key differentiation factor.”
The collaboration could offer an insight into how open-loop digital payments in transportation could be applied to the mass transit system in Thailand, such as Bangkok’s Skytrain, subway system, buses and boats.
