Uzbekistan is reportedly advancing technical preparations to introduce contactless smartphone payments for international tourists, with Apple Pay expected to launch following the deployment of Google Pay. According to statements from the Tourism Committee, these financial upgrades are being coordinated alongside the Central Bank, commercial banks, and domestic payment operators HUMO and Uzcard.

Authorities claim that the ongoing integration efforts place a specific strategic focus on expanding markets from China and India, which account for a growing share of incoming visitors. As part of this initiative, integration with international platforms such as Alipay+ and NPCI International is actively underway. Specifically, an Alipay+ payment gateway was reportedly launched within the HUMO infrastructure, allowing Chinese tourists to make transactions across Uzbekistan via the UZQR system. *

Furthermore, during the Global Fintech Fest 2026 exhibition held in Mumbai, representatives from HUMO and India's NPCI International allegedly discussed prospective cross-border QR payment mechanisms. The contemplated project to link UZQR with India's UPI system is purported to enable Indian travelers to settle purchases at local retail locations by scanning QR codes through their domestic mobile applications.

Source: www.gazeta.uz