PATA Nepal Chapter, NMB Bank, VISA sign MoU to promote digital payments in tourism

KATHMANDU: Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Nepal Chapter, NMB Bank and VISA have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to promote digital payment solutions across Nepal’s tourism and hospitality sector.

The signing ceremony took place on Tuesday at NMB Bank’s head office in Babarmahal, Kathmandu. The agreement seeks to encourage adoption of NMB Bank’s Soft POS technology, a contactless payment solution intended to improve convenience, security and efficiency for tourism businesses and travellers.

The MoU was signed in the presence of Khem Lakai, Chairman of PATA Nepal Chapter; Gobind Ghimire, Chief Executive Officer of NMB Bank; and Sabbir Ahmed, Country Manager for VISA in Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan, alongside representatives from the three organisations.

Leaders from PATA Nepal Chapter, NMB Bank and VISA described the partnership as a milestone in advancing Nepal’s digital transformation in the travel and tourism sector. The collaboration is expected to widen acceptance of digital payments among tourism enterprises, particularly small and medium‑sized businesses, and to contribute to financial inclusion and improved service efficiency.

The initiative aligns with the three organisations’ shared aim of supporting sustainable tourism growth, technological innovation and smarter business practices across Nepal’s tourism value chain.