Visa-DOT Partnership Drives Digital Payment Adoption and Growth in Philippine Tourism, Get the Details Here

Published on November 30, 2025

To improve credit card acceptance in the Philippines’ primary tourism markets, the Department of Tourism (DOT) formed an alliance with the payment processing company, Visa, on November 27, 2025, at the DOT Headquarters in Makati. The partnership aims for tourists to experience cashless payments in a safe and easy manner. The cashless payments will help local businesses as well. The Collaboration lends assistance to the Philippines’ micro and small enterprises (MSMEs) while also improving data-based tourism in the country.

Empowering Local Businesses and MSMEs Through Digital Payments

The primary goal of the collaboration is to drive the adoption of digital payment tools among local businesses, particularly MSMEs, which are a significant part of the Philippine economy. By encouraging businesses to adopt cashless payment methods, Visa and the DOT hope to make transactions more efficient, secure, and accessible for both domestic and international tourists. This will enhance the overall tourism experience by providing smoother payment options in popular tourist spots, such as resorts, restaurants, markets, and transportation services.

Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco expressed her optimism about the partnership, highlighting that the initiative will not only benefit tourists but also empower local entrepreneurs. “Through this partnership, we aim to create a more inclusive and digitally advanced tourism sector in the Philippines,” Frasco said. She emphasized that the collaboration will open up new opportunities for MSMEs, enabling them to cater to the growing demand for digital transactions, which is increasingly becoming the norm for both travelers and consumers.

Meeting the Changing Needs of Travelers in the Digital Age

The global travel landscape is rapidly evolving, with more travelers opting for cashless and contactless payment methods. A recent Visa study revealed that 97% of travelers in the Asia Pacific region plan to carry debit, credit, or prepaid cards during their trips, while only 17% expect to carry foreign currency. This shift in traveler behavior is a reflection of a broader global trend towards digital payments, which are viewed as safer and more convenient than carrying cash, especially for international tourists.

The MoU between Visa and the DOT aims to meet these changing expectations by ensuring that the Philippines is ready to offer cashless options for tourists across the country. With the increasing reliance on digital payments, the partnership will help the Philippines remain competitive in the global tourism market by making it easier for international visitors to make transactions and navigate the country.

Supporting Data-Driven Tourism Planning for Better Services

Beyond promoting cashless payments, Visa and the DOT are also committed to using data insights to improve tourism planning and services in the Philippines. Data-driven approaches will enable the tourism sector to better understand visitor behaviors, preferences, and spending patterns. This valuable information can help tailor tourism offerings, create personalized experiences, and optimize marketing strategies to attract more international tourists.

For example, insights into tourist spending habits can help businesses and government agencies identify the most popular products and services, allowing them to allocate resources more efficiently. It can also assist in managing visitor flows during peak seasons, ensuring that tourist destinations are not overwhelmed, and providing tourists with the best possible experience.

Global Success Stories of Visa’s Digital Payment Initiatives

Visa has a proven track record of successfully partnering with governments and tourism authorities worldwide to promote digital payments and financial inclusion. In Mexico, for instance, Visa collaborated with local tourism officials to help 3.9 million small merchants start accepting digital payments, significantly improving their ability to serve international visitors. Similarly, in Japan, Visa worked with the Osaka Prefecture and Osaka Tourism Bureau to support the government’s goal of reaching a 40% cashless payment ratio by 2025. These international success stories demonstrate the potential for digital payments to drive growth and inclusivity in the tourism sector, and Visa is now bringing this expertise to the Philippines.

Bella Lai, Regional Head for Southeast Asia at Visa Government Solutions, emphasized the importance of leveraging Visa’s global network and technology leadership to empower the Philippines’ tourism sector. “We hope to help the Philippines grow its tourism sector by providing valuable insights, fostering MSME innovation, and enhancing financial literacy,” said Lai. “Our goal is to improve capacity-building within the industry and ensure that tourism stakeholders are well-equipped to meet the demands of modern travelers.”

Enhancing Financial Literacy and Capacity-Building

A key component of the Visa-DOT partnership is the focus on financial literacy and capacity-building for local tourism stakeholders. As digital payments become increasingly vital in the tourism sector, it’s essential that businesses understand how to leverage these technologies effectively. Visa will work with the DOT to enhance the digital literacy of local business owners, helping them navigate the world of e-payments, e-commerce, and digital marketing. This training will ensure that businesses can effectively integrate digital payment systems into their operations, making it easier for them to cater to the needs of tech-savvy tourists.

The collaboration also aims to promote sustainable tourism practices by encouraging businesses to adopt environmentally friendly payment solutions, such as digital wallets and contactless cards, which reduce the need for paper receipts and cash handling.

The Future of Tourism in the Philippines

Due to the growing adoption of digital payments systems, improved, data-informed, tourism- planning, practices, and strengthened financial literacy, Philippines is positioned to be one of the most competitive and progressive tourist destinations by 2026 and beyond.

With the adoption of these digital technologies, the Philippines will provide international travelers with the digital experiences they expect, all while creating opportunities that will help local companies prosper in the digital economy.