TouristTap, a digital payment platform developed by Craft Silicon, has been adopted as a payment option by the Government of Kenya. Unveiled during the “Tap into Kenya” event, Tourist Tap is now approved for use across key tourism touch-points such as game parks, hotels, coastal destinations, and a wide range of sites across the country.
Mr Kamal Budhabhatti, Group CEO of Craft Silicon, said TouristTap represents a new era of convenience for travellers visiting Kenya. “By enabling secure, cashless payments across the tourism ecosystem, we are not only enhancing the visitor experience but also supporting financial inclusion, transparency, and operational efficiency for service providers,” Mr Budhabhatti said.
He said TouristTap introduces a secure, efficient, and fully cashless ecosystem that allows international and domestic travellers to transact effortlessly without physical currency. “By removing traditional payment barriers, the platform enhances convenience, improves transaction transparency, and elevates the overall visitor journey,” he added. “At the core of this innovation is a strategic partnership with KCB Bank as the payments partner, alongside Visa, powered through the advanced capabilities of CyberSource, delivered via the Visa Acceptance Platform.”
CyberSource is used by banks and businesses worldwide to securely process digital payments, manage fraud risk, and support fast, reliable transactions. Craft Silicon said this collaboration ensures that TouristTap operates on globally trusted standards of security, reliability, and scalability, supporting high-volume, real-time transactions across the tourism value chain.
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TouristTap enables foreign visitors to pay like locals by using their card directly from their NFC enabled mobile devices. Travellers simply download and register on the TouristTap app, choose where to pay by entering the local till, paybill or mobile number, and complete the payment with a simple tap on their phone and secure PIN.
Payments are processed instantly, allowing tourists to transact seamlessly at shops, markets, hotels, and other attractions, without the need for cash or currency exchange. Kenya’s tourism sector generated approximately Ksh 500 billion in revenue in 2025, highlighting both its economic significance and the growing need for digital transformation. TouristTap is positioned to play a pivotal role in this evolution, enabling seamless payment flows while contributing meaningfully to the sector’s continued growth and formalisation.
Ms Rebecca Miano, the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, said Kenya continues to position itself as a digitally enabled tourism destination. “The adoption of platforms like TouristTap strengthens our commitment to enhancing visitor experience, improving revenue transparency, and ensuring that our tourism ecosystem remains globally competitive,” he said.
Chad Pollock, General Manager and Vice-President, East Africa – Visa, noted: “Tourism is one of Kenya’s most important economic engines, and how visitors pay is a critical part of the experience. This is how digital payments can unlock growth across the entire tourism value chain.
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