Alipay enters Sri Lanka boost online Tourism!

                       Alipay enters Sri Lanka 

There's in a major boost to Sri Lanka’s tourism and digital payment landscape, LankaPay, the country’s National Payment Network, has partnered with Ant International to enable Alipay+ acceptance across the country. But now this partnership allows over 400,000 LANKAQR merchants across Sri Lanka to accept cross-border mobile payments from tourists and business travelers through 14 international e-wallets connected to Alipay+ during the initial phase.

Incase Alipay, a cross-border mobile payment and digitalisation solution from Ant International, connects over 1.7 billion users through 36 international e-wallets and bank apps worldwide. Initially, travelers from 10 countries and regions can scan the LANKAQR code at Sri Lankan merchants and make payments as they would in their home countries. “The national LANKAQR infrastructure by the Sri Lanka Central Bank and LankaPay lays a strong foundation for the digitalisation of local businesses, and we’re proud to partner with LankaPay to enhance interoperability and connect global customers to the local payment ecosystem,” Edward Yue, General Manager for Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand at Ant International, told a media briefing last week.

Furthermore, Alipay+ partners enabled in Sri Lanka include Alipay (China), AlipayHK (Hong Kong), MPay (Macao), Hipay (Mongolia), GCash (Philippines), Changi Pay and OCBC Digital (Singapore), Touch ‘n Go eWallet and MyPB by Public Bank Berhad (Malaysia), Naver Pay and Toss Pay (South Korea), TrueMoney (Thailand), BigPay (Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand), and Tinaba (Italy). According to the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), the country saw a 39% increase in tourist arrivals in 2024 compared to the previous year. For 2025, Sri Lanka aims to attract 3 million tourists and generate $5 billion in tourism-related revenue. The introduction of Alipay+ is expected to contribute significantly to this growth by offering a seamless digital payment experience.

Channa de Silva, LankaPay CEO, highlighted the significance of the partnership. “We are delighted to partner with Ant International and enable Alipay+ cross-border payment solutions, marking a landmark milestone in our global journey. In collaboration signifies our commitment to enhancing payment convenience for tourists and business travelers while attracting much-needed foreign exchange into the country.” LANKAQR, launched in 2020 by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka and managed by LankaPay, ensures standardized and interoperable QR code-based transactions across Sri Lanka. The network connects consumers, banks, and merchants into a single payment platform.

Lastly, Beyond enabling seamless payments, Alipay+ also provides merchants with opportunities to connect with travelers through digital services within mobile apps icon. “Tourism will be a significant driving force in the global economy, and based on trends we are seeing, Sri Lanka will significantly benefit as travelers seek rich cultural, nature, and unique experiences,” Yue added. Ant International and LankaPay plan to expand Alipay+ e-wallet acceptance in Sri Lanka and collaborate on joint marketing efforts to promote digital transactions across the country.

Quoted from EconomyNext