UOB Thailand and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) have partnered to enhance business efficiency and promote sustainable growth in Thailand's restaurant sector. This collaboration aligns with broader goal of positioning Thailand as a leading gastronomy destination.
Thailand's restaurant industry has seen substantial growth, driven by both domestic demand and international tourism. According to Ministry of Commerce and Office of Small and Medium Enterprise Promotion, there are over 384,000 restaurants in Thailand. In 2023, restaurants and food establishment were among the top three businesses with the highest registration rates. The TAT also estimates that 20-25 per cent of tourism expenditures are on food and beverage with over 77 per cent of tourists favoring local restaurants and street food experiences over fine dining.
To support this thriving market, UOB and TAT recently organised a seminar title "Road to Top of Mind Restaurant". The event aimed to equip restaurant owners with UOB's comprehensive financial services and business solutions and provide opportunities to access the Bank's network of ecosystem partners to explore new business opportunities.
Mrs Sayumrat Maranate, Country Function Head of Business Banking, UOB Thailand said "Many restaurants still face challenges in accessing the resources and networks needed to fully capitalise on this growth. By leveraging on our partnership with TAT and Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) through UOB's Sustainability Innovation Programme (SIP), we are committed to supporting local restaurants more than ever. With our UOB BizSmart platform, we're not just offering financial solutions; we're providing tailored tools and insights that help restaurants run more efficiently, stay competitive, and grow sustainably. We want to see these businesses flourish and become an even stronger part of Thailand's vibrant tourism industry."
Mr Nithee Seeprae, Deputy Governor for Marketing Communications, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) said "Tourism is the key growth driver of Thai economy and food tourism has always been one of the country's main attractions, encouraging tourists to stay longer. As we aim achieve more than 35 million international visitors by year-end, we will continue to forge new partnership across different industries to promote Thailand as a world-class gastronomy destination. We are excited to have UOB joining our efforts to promote Thailand's food tourism. With UOB's financial capabilities and network of ecosystem partners, local entrepreneurs will be able to attract broader customer base and elevate their businesses to new heights."
As part of the collaboration, SME restauranteurs will have the opportunity to be included in TAT's Sustainism Project (กิน เที่ยว ยั่งยืน), an online campaign combing local restaurants that have passed basic sustainability criterias to attract tourists who prioritize environmental consciousness and sustainability.
They can also tap into UOB BizSmart platform, an integrated digital business solutions platform to streamline operations and enhance service offering and grow sustainably including ChocoCRM loyalty programme, a Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Point of Sales (POS) and Customer Data Management (CDM) and Social Media platform; Peak Accounting, an online accounting platform and GHL- EDC payment service, an all-in-one solution platform.
To learn more about UOB Bizsmart solutions for restaurant businesses please visit https://www.uob.co.th/bizsmart-en/solutions.html