Nepal’s 1.7 million merchants now have direct access to international wallets as Alipay+ joins mobile payment network Fonepay.
The partnership allows travellers from more than 11 countries, including China, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand, Germany and Italy, to pay at Fonepay QR merchants.
They can use e-wallets such as Alipay, KakaoPay, GCash, Touch ’n Go, AlipayHK, TrueMoney and Tinaba.
By scanning QR codes, visitors can make purchases without relying on cash or currency exchange.
With Nepal preparing for a record number of tourist arrivals this year, the companies said the move will improve convenience for visitors, increase revenue opportunities for local businesses and support cross-border connectivity.
Edward Yue, General Manager for SEA, South Asia and ANZ, Ant International, said,
“We’re very proud to celebrate this landmark moment to support the advancement of Nepal’s digital payments and travel ecosystem.
Alipay+ builds on the growing digital infrastructure in Nepal, and we can jointly transform payments into a catalyst for economic opportunity, cultural resonance, and tourism prosperity, benefitting both local merchants and global consumers.”
Diwas Sapkota, CEO of Fonepay, added,
“It’s about making payments seamless for travelers while helping our merchants reach more customers.”
