SET-listed BTS Group Holdings Plc, operator of the skytrain, plans to increase the number of Rabbit cardholders by 33% to 4 million by next year.
"BTS plans to diversify the use of the Rabbit card so that cardholders can use it in many ways," executive director Surapong Laoha-Unya said yesterday.
He said the targeted increase in the number of cardholders was easy to achieve, as the current number stood at 3.5 million, well above the previous target of 3 million by this year.
The Rabbit card is now the only micropayment card, which can be used to pay for mass-transit fares and at various outlets such as the skytrain and BRT as well as partner stores. Use of the card will be extended to other mass-transit systems in the future.
"We found that increasing privileges such as giving discounts at partner stores and the convenience the card provides are major reasons that have helped to increase the number of cardholders," Mr Surapong said.
Currently, about half of BTS users buy one-way tickets.
However, the company plans to reduce the number of one-way tickets to 20% by boosting the use of Rabbit cards.
The company also plans to increase the number of trips per passenger by 3% from an average 600,000 trips per day.
To achieve this goal, the company has partnered with personal finance company Aeon Thana Sinsap (Thailand) to provide more privileges to cardholders as well as expand the user base.
Cardholders will receive discounts at various retail outlets as well as be able to withdraw cash from ATMs.
Aeon expects to issue at least 150,000 Aeon Rabbit cards this year and another 700,000 within five years.
BTS shares closed yesterday on the SET at 9.90 baht, up five satang, in trade worth 241 million baht.