Tanzania Mandates Digital Payments for Tourism and Key Transactions
Tanzania has introduced mandatory digital payments for a broad range of transactions, including tourism services, hotels, restaurants, public transport and property transactions, under amendments to the Electronic Transactions Act (Cap. 442) that came into effect on 1 July 2026. The measures, introduced through the Finance Act 2026, require all payments within the specified categories to be made via mobile money, bank transfers, payment cards, POS machines, internet banking or government electronic payment systems.
The reform is aimed at reducing cash usage, improving revenue collection and closing loopholes for money laundering and tax evasion. Business operators are also now required to demonstrate they have a compliant digital payment facility - such as Lipa Namba or TANQR - in order to obtain or renew a business licence. For the tourism sector, the mandate represents a significant operational shift, with all tourism service providers required to ensure digital payment infrastructure is in place to remain compliant and maintain their licences.
Source: Daily News Tanzania
