Tourists Can Now Link Their Mastercard to Cambodia’s ‘Bakong Tourists App’
Foreign travelers visiting Cambodia can now link their Mastercard to the country’s ‘Bakong Tourists App’ to top up their funds for payments, starting in November 2024. This initiative by the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) aims to simplify digital payments in the Kingdom.
According to their press release, NBC and Mastercard jointly launched the Bakong Tourists app at a ceremony in Phnom Penh on November 11, 2024, led by NBC Governor Dr. Chea Serey, but it was also attended by representatives from government agencies, financial institutions, and other industry stakeholders.
The statement said, “The app simplifies digital payments for international tourists visiting Cambodia. Tourists can download the app upon arrival and seamlessly top up their Bakong accounts using their Mastercard issued in their home countries.”
The Bakong Tourists app was released in August 2024 and at the time it was made known that adding credit card top-ups was on the roadmap of development.
Users can scan KHQR codes and pay at over 3.3 million merchants across Cambodia - a major advantage in a country where only 60,000 POS machines accept card payments.
The Bakong Tourists app also benefits local businesses by improving efficiency and security in digital transactions, said NBC.
Sapan Shah, Senior Vice President of Acceptance Solutions at Mastercard, said, “Mastercard is excited to collaborate with the National Bank of Cambodia by connecting with the Bakong System to make digital payments more accessible and seamless for both tourists and local businesses in Cambodia.
He added, “This collaboration reflects our commitment to supporting the growth of Cambodia’s vibrant economy. At the same time, we’re helping local merchants embrace cashless transactions, boosting efficiency and reducing the challenges associated with handling cash.”
Dr. Chea Serey, NBC’s Governor, stated that this collaboration not only enhances the functionality of the Bakong Tourists App but also underscores their shared vision of fostering economic growth through tourism.
“By making it easier for visitors to experience seamless and fast payments, we are contributing to the sustainability and resilience of our tourism industry.”
In a recent announcement during Singapore Festival 2024, Cambodia’s Bakong joined Mastercard Pay Local with other Asia Pacific digital wallets to facilitate payments for consumers at more than 35 million merchants in the region. With this initiative, resident cardholders or international travelers can easily link their credit or debit cards to a digital wallet and immediately shop at participating merchants, without needing to set up or top up a prepaid account.