Feb 10, 2025

Tourists visiting Nepal may make payments via Nepal Pay

Tourists visiting Nepal may make payments via Nepal Pay

KATHMANDU, Feb 03:Tourists from ten countries can now make payments in Nepal using Nepal Pay QR.

The Nepal Clearing House has stated that users of 14 e-wallets and mobile banking apps from China, Southeast Asia, and Europe will be able to make payments while visiting Nepal. These wallets can be used to make payments.  China's Alipay, Hong Kong's AlipayHK, Italy's Tinaba, Macau's MPay, Malaysia's Touch 'n Go e-wallet and MyPB, Mongolia's HiPay, the Philippines' GCash, Thailand's Truemoney, and Singapore's Changi Pay and and OCBC Digital and South Korea's Kakao Pay, Naver Pay and Toss Pay.

Nepal Pay and Smart Pay are 'interoperable', according to Nepal Clearing House (NCHL), and tourists can use both systems while in Nepal. NCHL operates Nepal Pay QR.

Customers are not charged any additional fees for this service by the merchants here. Currently, 800,000 people in Nepal use Nepal Pay. Visitors from anywhere can use Nepal Pay now that banks have expanded their reach to 753 local levels.

Nepal Pay developed a separate business app for merchants. The application allows merchants to obtain fast payment information from tourists.

Additionally, according to NCHL, this will eliminate the need for tourists to wait for SMS payment information that may arrive late.

With the launch of this service, tourists no longer need to convert foreign money or travel with cash.

Since tourists may easily make payments, local traders will be given access to the international market and boost their business.  It is expected to help Nepal's economy become more digitally integrated.

Tourism is one of the main pillars of Nepal's economy, and NCHL believes that the launch of this service will attract more tourists.

Nepal currently receives more than 1.1 million tourists each year, with the tourism sector earning 82 billion rupees.

According to the Department of Tourism, 218,000 individuals traveled to Nepal in 2024 from China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Myanmar, Malaysia, Italy, and Thailand, among other countries that accept Nepal Pay.

It seems that these tourists will benefit from Nepal Pay's cross-border payment method.

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