International Payments for Tour Operators: Methods by Region
Cards are not the default everywhere. This guide maps the payment methods travellers use by region, the gateways that support them and the costs to watch.
If your guests come from many countries, a card form alone is not enough. A Dutch traveller may expect iDEAL, a Brazilian traveller Pix, an Indian traveller UPI, a Kenyan traveller M-Pesa. Offering the method someone uses every day removes a reason to abandon the booking.
This guide maps the most common local payment methods by region, the gateways that support them and the costs and pitfalls to watch. Payment methods and gateway coverage change often, so confirm current availability with the provider before you build your checkout around any of them.
Why local payment methods matter
Not everyone has, or wants to use, an international credit card online. Stripe’s payment methods overview puts it plainly: “Different payment methods are more dominant in certain regions, meaning not all customers have or prefer a card payment method.”
Payment choice also affects checkout completion more generally. In the Baymard Institute’s checkout survey of US online shoppers, 9% of those who abandoned a checkout said there were not enough payment methods, and 19% said they did not trust the site with their card details. Familiar local methods help on both counts.
Payment methods by region
The table summarises widely used methods. It is not exhaustive, and the right mix depends on where your guests actually come from.
| Region | Common methods | Gateways that support them (examples) |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands, Belgium | iDEAL / Wero, Bancontact | Stripe, Mollie |
| Poland, Austria, Switzerland | BLIK, EPS, TWINT | Stripe |
| Wider Europe | Cards, PayPal, SEPA transfers, Klarna | Stripe, PayPal, Mollie |
| Brazil | Pix, boleto | Stripe, Mercado Pago |
| Mexico | Cards, OXXO cash vouchers, SPEI | Mercado Pago, Stripe |
| Argentina | Cards in instalments, cash tickets | Mercado Pago |
| India | UPI, cards, netbanking, wallets | Razorpay |
| Japan | Cards, konbini, PayPay, bank transfer | KOMOJU, Stripe |
| Indonesia | QRIS, virtual accounts, OVO, DANA, ShopeePay | Xendit |
| Philippines | GCash, Maya, GrabPay, QR Ph | PayMongo |
| Nigeria, Ghana | Cards, bank transfer, USSD, mobile money | Paystack, Flutterwave |
| Kenya and East Africa | M-Pesa and other mobile money | Paystack, Flutterwave |
| Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain | mada, KNET, Benefit, Apple Pay | Tap |
| Turkey | Cards with instalments (taksit) | iyzico |
| Nepal | eSewa, Khalti | eSewa, Khalti |
Europe
Card payments are widespread, but bank-based methods are strong in several countries. iDEAL, now branded iDEAL | Wero, is a common way for Dutch customers to pay using their bank, and Stripe notes that iDEAL payments cannot be disputed by the customer with their bank. Mollie’s documentation lists iDEAL, Bancontact, SEPA transfers and buy-now-pay-later providers such as Klarna. One point to note: iDEAL does not support holding funds and capturing later, which matters if you rely on card authorisations for no-show guarantees.
Latin America
Pix, the real-time payment system developed by Brazil’s central bank, lets customers pay by scanning a QR code in their banking app. Stripe accepts Pix from Brazilian customers for businesses in many countries, but there are limits and costs to know: by default a 3,000 USD per-payment maximum, and a 3.5% IOF tax on international purchases that the customer pays unless you choose to absorb it.
In Mexico, Mercado Pago’s documentation lists OXXO cash payments and SPEI bank transfers. Cash vouchers are paid later at a store, so a booking is not confirmed until the payment arrives. Hold the seat for a limited time and release it if payment does not come.
In Argentina, paying by card in instalments (cuotas) is common, and Mercado Pago supports instalment options at checkout.
South and South-East Asia
In India, UPI is the everyday way to pay. Razorpay supports UPI alongside cards, netbanking, wallets and EMI.
In Indonesia, Xendit supports QRIS, bank virtual accounts and e-wallets including OVO, DANA and ShopeePay. In the Philippines, PayMongo’s documentation covers GCash, Maya, GrabPay and ShopeePay, and the national QR Ph standard.
In Nepal, wallets such as eSewa and Khalti are widely used for online payments alongside bank transfers.
Japan
Cards are common, but many customers still pay in cash at convenience stores. With konbini payments, the customer receives a payment code and pays at a FamilyMart, Lawson or other participating store. KOMOJU also supports konbini, PayPay and bank transfer. Some methods require a Japanese company, so check eligibility early.
Africa
Paystack’s payment channels vary by country: cards, bank transfer and USSD in Nigeria, mobile money in Ghana, M-Pesa in Kenya and EFT options in South Africa. Flutterwave supports mobile money in a range of countries including Kenya, Ghana, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda.
Middle East and Turkey
In the Gulf, local debit networks matter. Tap’s support documentation lists mada in Saudi Arabia, KNET in Kuwait and Benefit in Bahrain. In Turkey, buyers often pay by card in instalments; iyzico’s documentation describes instalment options by card family and amount.
Currency: show local prices, settle in your own
Showing a price in the traveller’s currency reduces hesitation, but you still need to decide how the money is settled.
- Price in your own currency, display in theirs. The guest sees an approximate local price; the charge is in your currency. Simple, but the final amount on their statement may differ slightly.
- Charge in their currency. Clearer for the guest, but you take on conversion. Stripe’s pricing page lists an extra 1.5% for international cards and 1% when currency conversion is required, on top of the standard rate in the US.
- Use a local gateway for local guests. Where you have many guests from one country, a local gateway in local currency is often cheaper and more familiar.
Practical considerations before adding methods
Confirmation timing
Cards and most wallets confirm instantly. Cash vouchers and some bank transfers confirm later. Decide how long you will hold a seat for a pending payment, and make sure your system releases it automatically.
Refunds and disputes
Refund rules differ. Stripe’s documentation notes, for example, that Pix refunds can be requested within 90 days and iDEAL refunds within 180 days, and that konbini refunds need the customer’s bank details. Check the refund window for each method against your cancellation policy.
Deposits and saved payment methods
Not every method can be charged again later. If you collect balances automatically, cards and some wallets support this; many bank and voucher methods do not, so guests using them should receive a payment link before the balance date instead.
Account eligibility
Some methods are only available to businesses registered in certain countries, or require extra verification. Apply early, before peak season.
Who holds the money
Ask whether payments go straight into your own gateway account or are collected by your booking software and paid out later. Payments into your own account give you control over refunds and payout timing.
A simple plan
- List the top five countries your guests come from.
- Check which methods are most common in each.
- Choose one global gateway (often Stripe or PayPal) and add a local gateway for your home market or largest source market if needed.
- Turn on only the methods you can support well, including refunds.
- Review your checkout data after a season and adjust.
How Tourtify helps
Tourtify connects to Stripe, PayPal and many local gateways, including Mercado Pago, Paystack, Flutterwave, Razorpay, Xendit, KOMOJU, Tap, iyzico, PayMongo, Mollie, Square, eSewa and Khalti. Payments go straight to your own account, guests can see prices in their own currency, and there is no commission on bookings. Your website can be published in English and 28 more languages. See the pricing page or start a 30-day free trial, no card required.