The initiative was highlighted at an event held yesterday morning (Aug 20) at the Royal Phuket City Hotel, where OSMEP and the Revenue Department launched the programme ‘Activities to Enhance Capacity and Expand Marketing Opportunities for SMEs with the VRT Measure’.
Presiding over the opening ceremony, Wannawat Opaswattana, Director of OSMEP’s SME Promotion Policy and Planning Division, stressed that the VAT Refund for Tourists (VRT) scheme was a key driver in stimulating foreign tourist spending while reinforcing confidence in the quality of Thai products.
Between October 2023 and July 2024, purchases from SMEs participating in the VRT system exceeded B9 billion, he noted.
For 2025, OSMEP is expanding the scheme in partnership with the Revenue Department and One Electronic Billing Public Co Ltd by introducing the digital e-VRT system. The system, powered by blockchain technology, is designed to increase efficiency for tourists claiming VAT refunds while strengthening the competitiveness of Thai SMEs in the international quality tourism market.
This year’s campaign was held in two major tourist provinces – Chiang Mai (Aug 5) and Phuket (Aug 20) – both of which are home to SMEs with unique products that attract foreign visitors.
In addition, OSMEP has incorporated the e-VRT service into its Business Support System (BDS), offering co-payment measures covering 50-80% of costs, up to B200,000 per case per year, to help entrepreneurs develop products, access consulting services and expand to wider markets.
Mr Wannawat said the initiative was a model for integrating SME policies with tourism and the digital economy, supporting sustainable growth while ensuring Thai businesses remain competitive on the global stage.