Alipay+ has brought its services to Nepal, boosting the country’s tourism and digital payment sectors.
Ant International, which operates the cross-border mobile payment and digitalisation solution, has partnered with Himalayan Bank to enable acceptance at more than 25,000 local merchants.
The move offers numerous advantages to both international travellers and local businesses. Travellers from 10 countries and regions can now enjoy a convenient and cashless experience across Nepal by simply scanning the MOCO Unified QR Code.
As of September 2024, 12 Alipay+ partner payment apps are accepted in the country, including popular platforms from China, Hong Kong, Italy, Macao SAR, Malaysia, Mongolia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, and Thailand.
According to Nepal Tourism Board, tourist arrivals increased by 8.3 percent in August 2024, with more than 720,000 visitors in the first eight months of the year. Alipay data shows a threefold increase in transactions by Chinese tourists between January and August 2024 compared to the same period last year.
“This service will enable seamless and secure payments for both national and international customers, making transactions easier, more convenient and secure. As the regulator, Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) is committed to working collaboratively to address challenges, always prioritising consumer service above all,” said Mr. Binod Raj Acharya, Executive Director of Payment Systems Department at NRB.
“Through our partnership with Himalayan Bank and MOCO Unified QR Code, we want to enable local businesses to benefit from tourism growth and we’re committed to continually enhancing the travel experience and increasing merchant visibility,” said Sittipong Kittiprapapong, Country Manager for Thailand, South Asia and Indochina at Ant International.
Entelechy Asia 