Manila: Digital payments company Visa announced that cardholders of eligible Visa debit and credit cards from participating banks in the Philippines can now integrate their cards with Garmin Pay on compatible Garmin smartwatches.

According to Philippines News Agency, this new feature allows Garmin users to conduct secure and seamless transactions from their smartwatch at any contactless-enabled terminal throughout the country.

Visa's tokenization technology powers Garmin Pay transactions, ensuring secure payment experiences by replacing actual card numbers with unique digital tokens. This innovation significantly reduces fraud risks by preventing the sharing or storage of cardholders' real account information with merchants or devices.

Visa highlighted that over 71 percent of consumers in the Asia and Pacific region prefer using mobile or smart devices for in-store or payment transactions. Besides the Philippines, Garmin Pay is also accessible in Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia.

Visa anticipates that the introduction of Garmin Pay will further enhance the country's tourism sector. Across the Asia Pacific region, 97 percent of travelers expressed a preference for using credit, debit, or prepaid cards during their trips, with only 17 percent planning to carry foreign currency. In the Philippines, 44 percent of tourists have reported encountering payment issues, including non-acceptance by merchants.

Jeffrey Navarro, Visa Philippines Country Manager, stated, "Contactless payment platforms such as Garmin Pay amplify Visa's benefit to Filipinos, enabling speed, convenience, and security with every contactless transaction. With Garmin Pay, Visa provides Filipinos with safer, more convenient ways to pay across shops, public transport, and tourist destinations, empowering local merchants to embrace digital payments and supporting the government's push to become a cash-lite economy."