Sri Lanka’s Tourism Sector Transformed with Alipay+ Launch, Making Mobile Payments Easy for Tourists from Around the World

Sri Lanka is taking a significant leap in enhancing its tourism experience by partnering with Ant International to introduce Alipay+ across the island.

Sri Lanka has taken a bold step toward modernizing its tourism sector with the announcement of a groundbreaking partnership with Ant International, a global leader in digital payments and fintech solutions. This new collaboration, unveiled on March 25, 2025, at the Shangri-La Hotel in Colombo, aims to revolutionize the way international tourists pay for goods and services in the island nation. With the introduction of Alipay+ across Sri Lanka, more than 400,000 LANKAQR-enabled merchants will now be able to accept mobile payments from visitors using global e-wallets linked to Alipay+.

Alipay+, an innovative cross-border payment platform developed by Ant International, connects over 1.7 billion users across 36 international e-wallets and banking apps. This partnership enables tourists from key global markets to make secure and seamless payments simply by scanning a LANKAQR code at participating merchants throughout Sri Lanka. The first phase of the initiative will include a variety of mobile payment options from 14 global e-wallet partners, bringing a wealth of new payment possibilities for tourists from Italy, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, Thailand, China, and other countries.

The initial list of Alipay+ e-wallet partners includes:

• Alipay (Mainland China)
• AlipayHK (Hong Kong)
• MPay (Macau)
• 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)
• Tinaba (Italy)

This new development is a significant milestone for Sri Lanka’s tourism industry, which has seen rapid growth in recent years. In 2024, the country reported a 38% increase in visitor arrivals, and it aims to attract 3 million tourists in 2025 while generating US$5 billion in tourism-related revenue. The introduction of Alipay+ aligns perfectly with Sri Lanka’s vision of becoming a digitally savvy and welcoming destination for international travelers. By allowing visitors to use their local e-wallets for payments, Sri Lanka is making it easier than ever for tourists to explore the island with convenience and peace of mind.

The partnership between Sri Lanka’s National Payment Network and Ant International also highlights the country’s commitment to fostering a digital ecosystem that benefits both locals and international visitors. The integration of Alipay+ into the existing LANKAQR platform, a nationwide initiative launched by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka in 2020, creates a unified QR code-based payment system. This system ensures smooth interoperability between banks, merchants, and consumers, facilitating secure and efficient transactions across the island.

This initiative is expected to be a game-changer for Sri Lanka, particularly as it strengthens ties with key inbound tourism markets, including Italy, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, Thailand, and China. By enabling mobile payments through familiar platforms, the country is making it easier for tech-savvy travelers to access services, purchase products, and enjoy their time on the island without the hassle of carrying cash or exchanging currencies.

With Sri Lanka set to continue its growth as a top travel destination, this partnership with Alipay+ represents a crucial step in ensuring that the country remains at the forefront of the evolving digital payments landscape. The integration of mobile payments will not only enhance the tourist experience but also contribute to the overall growth of Sri Lanka’s economy, boosting local businesses and positioning the country as a global leader in seamless, cross-border payments.

The post Sri Lanka’s Tourism Sector Transformed with Alipay+ Launch, Making Mobile Payments Easy for Tourists from Around the World appeared first on Travel And Tour World.