Nepal said it has banned popular Chinese digital wallets Alipay and WeChat Pay to prevent the loss of foreign currency earnings from tens of thousands of Chinese tourists.
More than 150,000 Chinese holidaymakers visited Nepal last year, many using digital wallets to pay in hotels, restaurants and shops in tourist areas – especially in Chinese-run businesses.
Laxmi Prapanna Niroula, a spokesman for the country’s central bank which announced the ban on Monday, said Nepal was losing out since the actual transactions took place in China.
“We have enforced a ban on Alipay and WeChat Pay because the country is losing foreign currency earnings through its usage. Action will be taken if anyone is found using the platforms,” Niroula said.
Nepal:
President: Bidhya Devi Bhandari
Prime Minister: KP Sharma Oli
Capital: Kathmandu
Currency: Nepalese rupee