Alipay+ boosts cross-border payments in Asia for CNY

Alipay+, operated by Ant International, the global cross-border mobile payments, and marketing platform, is intensifying efforts to bolster international travel support for its hospitality and tourism partners.

The focus extends to Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and various visa-free destinations popular among Chinese travellers.

This strategic move coincides with the impending Chinese New Year travel boom – the first of its kind post the Covid-19 pandemic.

The objective is to elevate and enrich the travel experience for Chinese tourists on a global scale.

Alipay+ and partners offer secure, convenient payments

Alipay+, operating in 57 markets, has strengthened its position by connecting over 88 million global merchants to 1.5 billion accounts through more than 25 leading e-wallets and payment apps.

Douglas L. Feagin, President of Alipay+, stated, “2024 will be an exciting year for Alipay+ to unlock many digital innovations in online and offline cross-border commerce.”

The platform facilitates both online and offline payments for international travellers, providing seamless transactions with ease and security.

Partner wallets and bank apps collaborating with Alipay+ include Touch ‘n Go eWallet (Malaysia), Alipay (Chinese Mainland), AlipayHK (Hong Kong SAR, China), GCash (Philippines), TrueMoney (Thailand), OCBC Digital (Singapore), and more.

This vast network enables users to make transactions globally using their home payment apps, creating a unified and secure experience for consumers.

Cross-border SGQR, DuitNow, ZeroPay integration

With the 2024 Chinese New Year holidays witnessing a surge in outbound travel bookings, Alipay+ has initiated exclusive campaigns to enhance merchant growth and user savings.

Destinations with visa-free policies, including Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia, are experiencing a notable increase in travel bookings.

Alipay+ has strategically invested in building market leadership, focusing on transparent exchange rates, discounted roaming data packages, and in-app ride-hailing convenience.

Merchants around the world are matching this effort with special packages, including voucher bundles with up to 90 percent savings across Southeast Asia, deals by street merchants in Japan, ZeroPay merchants in South Korea, and luxury brands in Europe.

Additionally, the Dubai Airport Duty Free Shop in the United Arab Emirates is conducting a UEFA ticket lottery throughout February, offering Alipay+ users the chance to win tickets with flights and accommodation included.

Alipay+ is expanding its cross-border merchant ecosystem in 2024, building on the significant expansion achieved in 2023.

The platform has become the exclusive cross-border digital solution partner for leading national QR schemes in the region, such as SGQR (Singapore), DuitNow (Malaysia), and ZeroPay (South Korea).

This allows users to pay using their home e-wallets at virtually all shops in these countries, providing tourists with a more convenient and localised payment experience.

Douglas L. Feagin concluded, “Travel, especially international travel, is clearly an anchor for national and regional prosperity in Asia and beyond.”

Alipay+ is committed to expanding partnerships and digitalization tools to facilitate cross-border travel and commerce, contributing to the prosperity of communities across the region.