KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 3 — TNG eWallet’s international visitors spent over RM1 billion through the application in the first six months of Visit Malaysia 2026 as more used Malaysia’s domestic quick response (QR) payment ecosystem to spend seamlessly at businesses nationwide, said TNG Digital Sdn Bhd.
The digital financial services and lifestyle application operator said the amount accounts for close to half of the RM2.58 billion in inbound tourist spending recorded through TNG eWallet since it was introduced in April 2025.
“Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei, China, Thailand and Australia were among the largest visitor markets during the period, with travellers from each tapping into Malaysia’s domestic QR payment ecosystem.
“While international visitors increasingly expect cashless payment experiences, many small, micro and informal businesses have historically been unable to accept card payments due to the costs of card acceptance infrastructure,” TNG Digital said.
As a result, TNG Digital said a significant portion of tourist spending has historically been concentrated among larger merchants that readily accept foreign cards, with 76 per cent of transactions taking place at physical merchant locations rather than online. This demonstrates that spending was taking place across Malaysia’s physical merchant ecosystem.
“Retail accounted for 43 per cent of inbound transaction value, while food and restaurant merchants contributed a further 40 per cent, highlighting how digital payments are helping tourism spending reach everyday Malaysian businesses,” it added.
TNG Digital chief executive officer Alan Ni said the success of Visit Malaysia 2026 will not be measured solely by the number of visitors Malaysia attracts, but by how widely the economic benefits are shared, with every visitor able to spend easily and every Malaysian business having the opportunity to benefit from that spending.
“Many small businesses, hawkers and night market stalls, have traditionally been excluded from international tourist spending because accepting card payments can be costly and operationally challenging.
“By extending Malaysia’s QR payment ecosystem to international visitors, we are helping connect tourists directly with businesses of every size across Malaysia,” he said.
As Visit Malaysia 2026 continues, TNG Digital will continue to widen merchant participation and enhance the payment experience for international visitors.
