Philippines – The Philippines-based Asia United Bank (AUB), a publicly traded universal bank, is stepping up its efforts to help more local merchants accept cross-border digital payments from Malaysia, South Korea, and Hong Kong SAR. It does this by utilising AUB PayMate and Alipay+.
Tourists can now use their home country’s e-wallets to pay for a variety of purchases connected to tourism, retail, food and beverage (F&B), entertainment, and attractions within the Philippines as the market grows. This includes Alipay (Chinese mainland), Kakao Pay (South Korea), Touch ‘n Go eWallet (Malaysia), and AlipayHK (Hong Kong SAR), in addition to Alipay (Chinese mainland), which Filipino retailers have been accepting since 2017.
At the moment, AUB PayMate has made it possible for more than 5,000 businesses in Manila and Cebu, two travel destinations in the Philippines, to accept Alipay+. As AUB’s all-inclusive digital payment acceptance solution, AUB PayMate enables merchants of all kinds to accept digital payments from their customers, including local and international e-wallets, bank transfers, and card payments.
SSP Mactan, a company that manages restaurants and bars at tourist hotspots around the world, is one of the first organizations in the Philippines to accept Alipay+. One of the busiest travel hubs in the nation, Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA), has adopted it in all of its businesses there. Visitors arriving at MCIA from mid-September to mid-November will be greeted warmly by AUB, SSP Mactan Cebu, and Alipay+, providing them with a more convenient payment experience and special deals at Alipay+-enabled vendors inside the airport.
Mags V. Surtida, senior vice president and cards & acquiring group head of AUB, said, “We see a resurgence of inbound personal travels this year so our partnership with Alipay+, the first in the Philippine banking industry, will give a much-needed boost to merchants serving the tourism sector. Expect more foreign wallets to be added under this unified QR code.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Cherry Huang, general manager of Alipay+ offline merchant services at Ant Group, said, “We are strengthening our partnership with AUB, our pioneering bank partner in the Philippines, to enhance the travel experience for tourists as they return to visit. Digital payments have become more important than ever, particularly for international visitors who have become so used to using their e-wallets and bank apps for day-to-day purchases.”
She added, “Through our local partners, we aim to help more businesses integrate Alipay+, creating a positive digital ecosystem, driving more opportunities for partners, and merchants, while making it more convenient and seamless for travellers.”
