Alipay+Ant International’s cross-border mobile payments and marketing platform, is intensifying the global travel campaign for its hotel and tourism partners on the eve of the first major return of Chinese New Year travel after the Covid pandemic.
Alipay+ operates in 57 markets and currently connects more than 88 million merchants around the world with 1.5 billion accounts across more than 25 major e-wallets and payment applications. This allows international travelers to easily and securely pay online and offline using their local payment apps around the world.
On his part Companies use Alipay+’s digital marketing and growth tools to attract more customers within and outside their country. As of January 2024, Alipay+’s partner wallets and banking apps include Alipay (Mainland China), AlipayHK (Hong Kong SAR, China), GCash (Philippines), TrueMoney (Thailand), Touch ‘n Go eWallet (Malaysia) and OCBC Digital ( Singapore). ) and more.
Exclusive campaigns to drive merchant growth and user savings
With Chinese New Year 2024 starting on February 10, Travel bookings outside of China have increased more than tenfold compared to 2023. The top destinations for Chinese tourists include Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia as well as Japan and South Korea.
To make the Alipay app a travel companion for Chinese globetrotters, Alipay has invested in consolidating its market leadership with three main axes– Transparent and competitive exchange rates, free or discounted roaming data packages and the ability to book car trips to more and more locations via the app. When it comes to destinations, retailers around the world offer very different special packages:
- Luxury brands from all over Europe, such as Cartier, Valentino, Harrods, Selfridges, Duomo di Milano, La Rinascente and The English Court.
- Special voucher packages with up to 90% savings available for redemption at all Alipay+ merchants in Southeast Asia.
- Offerings from more than 500 street shops around Mount Fuji in Fujiyoshida and Lake Kawaguchi in Japan.
- All ZeroPay merchants in South Korea and stores in the most popular shopping district, Myeongdong.
- Dubai Airport Duty-Free in the United Arab Emirates is hosting a UEFA ticket draw throughout February, offering Alipay+ users the chance to win a range of UEFA tickets including flights and accommodation when they spend more than AED 250.
Expanding the cross-border trade ecosystem
The new momentum in 2024 builds on the significant expansion of Alipay+ merchant coverage in key tourism destinations throughout 2023.
Europe: Alipay+ has partnered with IVS Ibérica to implement Alipay+ in vending machines in countries such as Spain, Italy and France. There will be a special offer until March 2024 for users who pay with Alipay+.
Italy: Alipay+ coverage continues to grow with URI Taxi, the largest association of taxi cooperatives in Italy, with 10,000 vehicles in 12 regions of Italy, including major tourist destinations such as Milan, Rome and Florence.
Alipay+ became the only cross-border digital solution connected to the main national QR systems: SGQR (Singapore), GermanyNow (Malaysia) and ZeroPay (South Korea). This allows users of Alipay+ payment partners to pay with their national e-wallets in almost all large and small businesses in these countries, making it easier for tourists to travel and pay.
Thailand: The more than 100,000 stores connected to Alipay+ include international premium brands such as King Power and Jim Thomson, as well as shopping centers such as Central, Robinsons, Siam Paragon and EmQuartier. The recent expansion of 7-Eleven, McDonalds and Big C supermarkets offers tourists more convenience in their daily lives as they travel around Thailand like a Thai.
Singapore: Alipay+’s merchant coverage continues to expand with the addition of popular travel hotspots such as Resorts World Sentosa (RWS), Mount Faber Peak and Jumbo Seafood. RWS is launching a festive campaign for Chinese tourists through Alipay, where users can access special promotions and privileges in the app.
Japan: Alipay+ is now accepted by more than 1.5 million merchants. Naver Pay and Toss Pay from South Korea, OCBC Digital and Changi Pay from Singapore, Public Bank’s MyPB from Malaysia, Tinaba from Italy, Hipay from Mongolia and MPay from Macau are the latest digital payment methods that you can use to pay at affiliated merchants Alipay+ rolled out nationwide, bringing to 16 the total number of Alipay+-connected e-wallets and banking applications that can be accepted in small businesses in the country.
United Arab Emirates: Alipay+ has announced new partnerships with key industries and government agencies in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. In Dubai, more than 100,000 companies now accept Alipay+. More than 17,000 taxis in the UAE already support e-wallets and banking applications related to Alipay+. At Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah airports, tourists will also benefit from real-time tax refunds for purchases made with their e-wallets via Alipay+.
“2024 will be an exciting year for Alipay+, bringing with it many digital innovations in online and offline cross-border commerce.” “As a global travel phenomenon, Chinese New Year is the perfect time to announce our strategic agreements, campaigns and product offerings to create a to create a seamless and authentic travel experience and bring more business to retailers large and small.”he assured Douglas L. Feagin, President of Alipay+.
Furthermore, he stated: “Travel, particularly international travel, is clearly an anchor for national and regional prosperity in Asia and beyond. Alipay+ will continue to expand its partnerships and portfolio of digitalization tools to help communities grow through travel and cross-border trade«.