International visitors spent over RM1 billion through TNG eWallet in the first half of 2026 during Visit Malaysia 2026, marking strong adoption among tourists in Malaysia [1, 2, 3]. Since the eWallet's launch in April 2025, total inbound tourist spending through the platform has reached RM2.58 billion [1, 2, 3].
Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei, China, Thailand, and Australia were the largest markets using TNG eWallet to pay for purchases [1, 2, 3]. About 76% of the transactions occurred at physical merchant locations rather than online, indicating widespread use across Malaysia's brick-and-mortar outlets [1, 2, 3]. Retail accounted for 43% of the inbound transaction value while food and restaurant merchants contributed 40% of spending [1, 2, 3].
Alan Ni, CEO of TNG Digital, said the success of Visit Malaysia 2026 will be measured "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" [1]. He noted that many small, micro, and informal businesses have traditionally been excluded from international tourist spending due to high costs and challenges of accepting card payments [1, 2, 3]. Ni added that by extending Malaysia’s QR payment ecosystem to international visitors, TNG eWallet helps connect tourists directly with businesses of every size across the country [2].
TNG eWallet's introduction in April 2025 created a new digital avenue for inbound tourist spending, making cashless payments accessible for both consumers and merchants across Malaysia [1, 2, 3]. The high percentage of in-person transactions highlights acceptance at a broad range of physical merchant locations.
The next major milestone for TNG eWallet will be the assessment of second-half 2026 spending figures, expected after the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign concludes, providing insight into whether international payment growth maintains momentum [1, 2, 3].
