Revolution in tourism: Digital means of payment for travel 2026!

Revolution in tourism: Digital means of payment for travel 2026!

On October 1, 2025, it was announced that SBI Ripple Asia and Tobu Top Tours signed a memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to develop an innovative payment platform. The aim of this cooperation is the introduction of proprietary tokens that are created on the XRP Ledger and are tailored to the needs of partner companies and organizations. This initiative could represent a big step towards the tokenization of payments and open new opportunities both in the tourism sector and in fan economics.

The planned platform is expected to put itself into operation in the first half of 2026. Tobu Top Tours plans to use its extensive industry knowledge to gain partners and to establish a far -reaching network of connected shops. The marketing initiatives also include the development of NFTs that can act as digital souvenirs or discount vouchers.

Diverse applications

A central feature of the new platform is the support of various applications. In this way, the tokens in the tourism sector are to be geographically bound to certain travel destinations. This could mean that they can be used as a digital currency in entire cities or shopping quarters. This strategy aims to improve the cashless experience for travelers and at the same time ensure that tourist expenses for the local economy benefit.

Another innovative approach is the connection of the transactions to NFTS. These can not only represent digital souvenirs for travelers, but can also be used as a discount vouchers. This could appeal to the customer and provide additional incentives to support local business.

Social responsibility and support in times of crisis

The platform will also present a new approach for disaster aid and regional support. Donations are to be issued as tokens that can only be used in the affected area. This measure aims to ensure that financial aid arrives directly from local companies instead of flowing to larger, national chains or online retailers.

In addition, the platform is also aimed at the fan economy. Sports teams, artists and cultural institutions could create their own brand tokens, which can then be used for merchandise and meals. In this context, NFTs could serve as programmable membership cards.

These innovations not only promise new sources of income, but also the opportunity to deepen the loyalty of the fans by activating special experiences or rewards based on the expenses of a fan.

Overall, the cooperation between SBI Ripple Asia and Tobu Top Tours shows how the digitization and tokenization of payments can help to set both economic and social impulses. These developments could pave the way for far -reaching changes in various industries and at the same time strengthen local communities.