BANGKOK, Thailand – Krungthai Card Pcl (KTC) and JCB International (Thailand) on Monday reported a continuous increase in credit card spending driven by Thai consumers’ preference for Japanese lifestyle products and services, with Japan accounting for 60% of total overseas transactions. Spending on KTC-JCB credit cards grew 12% in 2025, with data for 2026 showing an expansion of over 25% year-on-year. Spending on the premium KTC-JCB Ultimate card, which requires a minimum monthly income of 50,000 baht, rose by more than 60%. Tosapong Rangkawara, Head of Credit Card Marketing at KTC, said the company aims to position the card for all Japan-related spending under a unified campaign for both domestic and overseas use. In Japan, top spending categories included retail stores, airport shops, fashion, department stores, and specialty retailers. In Thailand, spending frequency in the restaurant category grew 20% year-on-year, while the number of active users increased by 30%, reflecting the popularity of Japanese cuisine.
Yusuke Matsui, Managing Director of JCB International (Thailand), said cross-border spending between Thailand and Japan remains steady, particularly in travel, dining, and lifestyle categories. JCB currently has approximately 2 million cardholders in Thailand, with the member base growing around 10% year-on-year. Hajime Nakasugi, Executive Director of the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) Bangkok Office, stated that approximately 1.2 million Thai nationals visited Japan in 2025, up 7.3% from the previous year. Around 95% traveled for tourism purposes.
According to JNTO data, 80% of Thai tourists were free independent travelers (FITs), about 70% were repeat visitors, and roughly 25% had visited Japan at least six times. About 40% of Thai tourists chose to stay overnight outside major metropolitan areas, and more than half stayed for six days or longer. Beyond seasonal attractions like cherry blossoms and snow, interest has grown in niche activities such as skiing, camping cars, tea culture, and marathons. (TNA)
