#digital payments

East Africa's tourism and hospitality industry is growing due to rising international visitor arrivals and increased tourism earnings. This growth offers opportunities for hotels, safari lodges, and tour operators, but many businesses still use fragmented operational systems that hinder efficiency. The article discusses how digital payments are influencing this transformation in the sector.

Kenya has solidified its status as a leading digital financial market, bolstered by widespread mobile money adoption and a growing cashless payment ecosystem. The mobile merchant payments sector has seen consistent growth, primarily fueled by Safaricom's Lipa na M-Pesa platform, which has significantly enhanced mobile retail transaction volumes.

Visa is enhancing its digital payments ecosystem by introducing new features for Visa Accept and Visa Direct, which allow small businesses to use smartphones for receiving payments and sending real-time payouts without the need for additional payment hardware. These updates are specifically designed to support micro, small, and medium-sized businesses in emerging markets, according to TechTrends KE.

Visa, along with First National Bank (FNB) and Rand Merchant Bank (RMB), is focusing on the corporate cash market, following the trend of South Africans adopting digital payment methods at retail locations. The companies believe that businesses will increasingly move towards digital transactions, similar to consumer behavior.

According to CIO Africa, Africa's payments landscape is evolving into a new phase that goes beyond mere digital transactions, focusing on the development of intelligent and interconnected financial ecosystems. This shift indicates a significant transformation in how financial services are delivered and utilized across the continent.