Kathmandu :
The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Nepal Chapter, in collaboration with VISA and with the support of the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI), and the Thamel Tourism Development Council (TTDC), has officially launched the baseline survey phase of the “Cross-Border (XB) Acceptance in Thamel” initiative today. To conduct the survey, PATA Nepal Chapter has engaged 30 tourism and hospitality students from its educational member institutions.
Thamel, Nepal’s most vibrant tourism hub, attracts more than 80% of international visitors to the country. While tourism activity and transactions in the area are significant, many small and medium enterprises (SMEs) still face challenges in adopting digital payment systems and participating in cross-border commerce.
The baseline survey will assess the current status of digital payment usage, merchant readiness, challenges, and knowledge gaps among SMEs operating in Thamel. It will also help identify merchants who do not yet accept international card payments and facilitate their potential 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 cross‑border 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 initiative will engage businesses, including handicraft shops, retail outlets, tour operators, cafés, restaurants, hotels, and wellness centers, aiming to strengthen digital payment adoption and enhance the experience of international visitors.
The project will later implement training programs, merchant engagement activities, and capacity-building initiatives, with the goal of creating a replicable model for SME digital transformation in other tourism destinations across Nepal.
