Thailand has opened a service allowing foreign tourists to convert cryptocurrency into the local currency and pay directly at stores. It is an attempt by the Thai government, seeking to revive tourism revenue, to draw digital-asset holders in as a new category of spender.

Thai fintech companies Wipay and Waan Exchange announced on the 13th that they have launched WORPT, a cryptocurrency payment application for foreign tourists. After completing identity verification in the app, tourists link an external digital-asset wallet and convert their holdings into Thai baht to build a balance. They can then scan PromptPay QR codes — the QR payment network used across Thailand — to pay at restaurants, hotels and retail shops. The key point is…