Seamless via QR codes

Making travel easier: The move will allow South-East Asian visitors in Japan to pay for goods and services by scanning QR codes, like they use at home. — AFP

THE Japanese government has started talks with South-East Asian countries to enable the joint use of QR code payment services, allowing international travellers to make purchases abroad with the payment methods they use at home, Nikkei Asia reported.

Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry has been in talks with South-East Asian governments and central banks over the matter. The initiative, in which QR code systems would be made compatible across countries, is set to begin by April 2025, the report said, quoting a source from the ministry.