Source::
Kathmandu, 17 March 2026 —
The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Nepal Chapter, in collaboration with Visa and supported by the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI), and the Thamel Tourism Development Council (TTDC), has launched the baseline survey for the “Cross-Border (XB) Acceptance in Thamel” initiative.
Targeting Thamel which attracts over 80% of international visitors, the initiative addresses ongoing gaps in digital payment adoption among tourism SMEs. Despite high transaction volumes, many businesses still lack access to or readiness for cross-border payment systems.
The survey, conducted by 30 tourism and hospitality students from PATA member institutions, will assess digital payment usage, merchant readiness, and key challenges. It will also identify businesses not yet accepting international card payments and support their onboarding with acquiring banks.
Sabbir Ahmed, Country Manager for Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan at VISA, said:
“Visa is committed to advancing digital payments that strengthen Nepal’s tourism ecosystem. Expanding crossborder acceptance in Thamel will make transactions easier for international visitors while helping local SMEs access new business opportunities. We are proud to partner with PATA Nepal Chapter and industry stakeholders to support Nepal’s journey toward a more digitally enabled tourism economy.”
Suresh Singh Budal, CEO of PATA Nepal Chapter, said:
“At PATA Nepal, we are committed to enabling our tourism SMEs to thrive in a digital-first global economy, with Thamel serving as a model destination. We sincerely thank Visa, NTB, TTDC, and CNI for their collaboration and support in this initiative.”
The project will engage businesses across handicraft shops,retail, hospitality, and wellness sectors, followed by training and capacity-building programmes, aiming to create a scalable model for SME digital transformation across Nepal’s tourism destinations.
Also Read
