Singapore – This Chinese New Year season, spending by Chinese and other Asian tourists surpassed that of CNY 2019, with Southeast Asia (SEA) as one of the top travel destinations globally, according to a press release by Alipay.

Notably, Alipay categorised SEA as one of the most popular travel destinations for Chinese tourists, with Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore combined seeing a 7.5% increase over 2019, and a 580% leap over 2023.

Going into more detail, the global top destinations in SEA are namely, Thailand placing 4th, Malaysia (5th), and Singapore (6th). Alipay+ played a role in the rankings of the aforementioned countries, enabling new international e-wallets to be used within each country.

In Singapore, Alipay enabled the use of six new e-wallets namely, Hipay (Mongolia), MPay (Macao SAR, China), MyPB by Public Bank (Malaysia), Toss Pay and Naver Pay (South Korea), and Tinaba (Italy). 

On the other hand, Thailand also received these six options, with the addition of GCash (Philippines), Changi Pay (Singapore) and OCBC Digital (Singapore). Malaysia received these options as well, and gained access to HelloMoney by AUB (Philippines) and TrueMoney (Thailand).

Talking about this turnout, Cherry Huang, general manager of Alipay+ offline merchant services, Ant International, commented, “Based on the recent Chinese New Year spending trends, we can see that it has already far surpassed 2023 and back to 2019 levels. Other than Chinese tourists, we have also seen an increase in spending by other Asian tourists via our Alipay+ partner payment apps.”

Thailand Alipay+, the cross-border mobile payments and marketing network run by Ant International, unveils that all 14,500 7-Eleven locations in Thailand are now set up to take digital payments from extra visitors via 13 payment applications, with 9 additional international e-wallets. 

This initiative fits in with their ongoing digitization efforts to meet the growing needs of travellers, particularly as they prepare for the busiest travel period around Chinese New Year. Counter Service connects Alipay+ to the 7-Eleven retail network, enabling the integration. 

The e-wallets that have recently been integrated are MyPB from Public Bank Berhad in Malaysia, GCash from the Philippines, Hipay from Mongolia, MPay from Macao SAR, China, Naver Pay and Toss Pay from South Korea, Changi Pay and OCBC Digital from Singapore, and Tinaba from Italy. 

Thailand has been accepting Chinese mainland Alipay since 2015. Further supported payment methods since 2023 are AlipayHK from Hong Kong SAR, China, Kakao Pay from South Korea, and Touch ‘n Go eWallet from Malaysia. 

Alipay+ continues to broaden its merchant network in Thailand, adding retail, leisure, and travel businesses to its network. This covers every mall run by The Mall Group and Central Retail Corporation in addition to local brands like King Power and Jim Thompson. 

Weeradej Ackapolpanich, managing director at Counter Service Company Limited, said, “Counter Service, the world-class reliable, trustful, and innovative payment system, has strengthened and increased digital payment channels for 7-Eleven stores nationwide and provide daily conveniences, which includes financial service, insurance, sports and concert ticket, travel and tourism, etc. With a significant rise of travel demand, we aim to accommodate, connect, and cater to tourists from all over the world with cashless trend and convenience services.” 

Meanwhile, Sittipong Kittiprapapong, general manager, Global Merchant Partnership, Thailand, Ant International, stated, “Thailand is one of the most popular travel destinations globally and we’re excited to do more to support the digitalization of the vibrant tourism sector locally. By working closely with local merchants and partners like the Tourism Authority of Thailand, we’re attracting more Chinese and Asian tourists to Thailand, creating a more convenient and worry-free experience for travellers, and helping more businesses benefit from tourism growth.” 

Singapore – Alipay+, Ant International’s cross-border mobile payment digital platform, announced that it has enabled new e-wallets in Singapore and expanded its partnership with Resorts World Sentosa(RWS) to accept more cross-border mobile payments in preparation for the upcoming Chinese New Year.

Through this expanded partnership, more tourists visiting Resorts World Sentosa(RWS) will now be able to pay with their home e-wallets, with Alipay+ enabling the use of six new e-wallets namely, Hipay (Mongolia), MPay (Macao SAR, China), MyPB by Public Bank (Malaysia), Toss Pay and Naver Pay (South Korea), and Tinaba (Italy).

RWS is amongst the first of Alipay+ merchants in Singapore to accept 12 international e-wallets, which can be used at all its attractions and stores. The previously accepted e-wallets include AlipayHK (Hong Kong SAR, China), GCash (Philippines), Kakao pay (South Korea), Touch n’ Go eWallet (Malaysia), TrueMoney (Thailand) and others, in addition to Alipay (Chinese mainland), which has been accepted by RWS since 2015.

This partnership to accept more Alipay+ partner payment apps, will welcome Chinese and Asian tourists in a more efficient manner, enabling them to have a more seamless, enjoyable experience at RWS.

To better serve the expected increase in tourists during Chinese New Year, RWS and Alipay+ are jointly launching a festive campaign exclusively for Alipay users, where they can access special promotions and privileges within the Alipay app.

To start, RWS is offering a virtual RMB$128 red packet to Alipay users who can collect it via the Alipay app, which can be used to offset payments for the RWS Mini program and on-site payments.

Alipay is also a key payment partner for RWS’ ‘Bai Jiu Shake Up’ event, where Alipay users can enjoy Bai Jiu cocktails with their Chinese New Year dinners at restaurant table65, and CHIFA! where dinner is paired with Bai Jiu cocktails specially created by Bar Sanyou. Alipay users can also enjoy a further RMB$150 discount for the event when they collect the red packets online.

The partnership will also see both parties jointly introducing campaigns for other Alipay+ partner users throughout the year.

Talking about the partnership, Chang Chee Pey, senior vice president and chief experience officer at RWS, said, “With increased flights and visa-free travel to Singapore soon, we want to make it even more convenient for Chinese visitors during key Chinese travel periods such as the Lunar New Year. With Alipay already widely accepted as a fast and convenient payment mode across Resorts World Sentosa, this payment experience for visitors will definitely be welcomed.”

Meanwhile, Cherry Huang, general manager of Alipay+ offline merchant services, Ant International, commented, “Resorts World Sentosa is a must visit destination for tourists coming to Singapore, and through this expanded partnership, more travellers can now enjoy seamless mobile payments and a more hassle-free experience that will allow them to enjoy the attractions, food and retail options even more.” 

“To help businesses in Singapore, big and small, to benefit from the growth in tourism in 2024 and beyond, we’re focused on strengthening our Alipay+ ecosystem locally, by bringing in more users via our payment partners and expanding our merchant coverage through close collaborations with our local partners and our integration with SGQR. We look forward to bringing more innovation to our partners and enhancing the digital travel experience for tourists,” she added.

Philippines Alipay+, Ant International’s cross-border mobile payment digital platform, has announced a year-end program targeted at promoting sustainable cross-border travel. The promotion offers a variety of rewards supplied by global partners to users of five popular e-wallets in Asia.

These wallets are Touch ‘n Go eWallet by TNG Digital (in Malaysia), GCash (in the Philippines), TrueMoney (in Thailand), Alipay (on the Chinese mainland), and AlipayHK (in Hong Kong SAR, China). 

The campaign, which will run until December 31, will initially target Hong Kong SAR, Macao SAR, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand. Travellers in these countries will be treated to a choice of exclusive offers handpicked by global industry such as ComfortDelGro Taxi, Daimaru Matsuzakaya, Galaxy Macau, King Power, and Lotte Duty Free. 

Furthermore, the campaign includes local small and micro-sized firms (SMEs), such as Durian BB in Malaysia and IJOOZ in Singapore, resulting in a wide and inclusive variety for travellers to enjoy.

The campaign promotes sustainable travel behaviour by highlighting special deals from Alipay+ and its partners. These benefits include free international mobile data packages, in-app savings available across Alipay+’s vast merchant network, and the opportunity to receive 100% rebates at participating partner locations.

Reward points are awarded to travellers who choose to utilise digital payments rather than cash, take public transit rather than drive themselves, pack their own toothbrushes rather than use disposable ones, and visit a wider variety of local attractions. These methods aid in maintaining regional cultures.

Alipay+ will collaborate with the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) to monitor the campaign’s ESG impact. An advisory panel consisting of professionals from Tsinghua University, Hong Kong University, the University of Geneva, and Northwestern University will collaborate to evaluate various topics. These include the impact on local enterprises, culture, and communities, as well as the impact on best practices within the business ecosystem.

Speaking about the campaign, Dr. Cherry Huang, general manager of Alipay+ offline merchant services, Ant International, said, “Our year-end campaign is not just about travel; it’s about making a positive impact. By collaborating with partners who share our commitment to sustainability, we are offering travellers the chance to explore the world responsibly.”

Singapore – L’Oreal Travel Retail Asia Pacific and Alipay+ have entered into a partnership in a move to thoroughly understand consumer insights and purchasing behaviours across regions. L’Oréal Travel Retail Asia Pacific is the first beauty company to partner with Alipay+, a partnership that has started since 2020 in Hainan and Macau.

Through this partnership, the two entities have now expanded to reach over 100 million outbound Chinese travellers in global destinations, starting with great achievements during October Golden Week in Thailand and Dubai. 

The advanced digital solutions of Alipay+ technology, partnered with L’Oréal’s mega portfolio of brands in both online and offline touchpoints, connect global shoppers to traveler-centric brand experiences.

Moreover, the partnership aims to meet constantly evolving consumer preferences for seamless shopping while travelling and enriches the traveller experience with personalised beauty needs and offers for them.

Tao Zhang, managing director at L’Oréal Travel Retail Asia Pacific, said, “his collaboration between L’Oréal Travel Retail Asia Pacific and Alipay+ is a significant leap forward for the new Trinity between brands, retailers, and platforms. In an era where the travel retail landscape is undergoing transformative changes, we seek to captivate modern travelers by offering them a seamless shopping experience empowered by deep insights and digital technology; at the right place, right time.”

Meanwhile, Joyce Lui, chief marketing officer at L’Oréal Travel Retail Asia Pacific, commented, “Since the start of the collaboration, we have onboarded more than 10 brands with over 50 activations in just one year, scaling this to reach our global shoppers. For the first time, in-depth insights shared collectively by both parties can enable more precise and enjoyable end-to-end journey for travellers.”

Cherry Huang, general manager of Alipay+ Offline Merchant Services at Ant International, said, “Travelers today have greater expectations in the way they engage brands as they travel the world, particularly in the use of technology to enhance their experience. As we strengthen our partnership with L’Oréal Travel Retail Asia Pacific, not only can we offer immediate benefits of convenient payments and exclusive rewards, we are also looking to the future to further personalize the shopper experience, both online and offline.”

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.”

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Ant Group and PayNet jointly announced the integration of Alipay+ to promote seamless payment for inbound and outbound Malaysian travellers. 

The partnership will enable all Malaysian e-wallets supported by PayNet to be accepted by Alipay+ merchants network globally in 2024, with a collaboration with Ant Group on joint digital marketing efforts to enhance visibility of businesses directly within the users’ e-wallets.

The collaboration comes amidst travel recovery to Malaysia, with 4.5 million tourist arrivals in the first quarter of 2023, with most coming from ASEAN countries. As travel rebounds, it is vital for businesses to adapt to new digital habits, particularly the acceptance of localised digital payment options like e-wallets, which has become the norm for day-to-day transactions. 

By the end of this year, users of five leading Asian e-wallets, including AlipayHK (Hong Kong SAR), GCash (Philippines), Kakao Pay (South Korea) and TrueMoney (Thailand), will be able to use cashless payments when they travel to Malaysia with Alipay+.

Gary Yeoh, chief commercial officer of PayNet said,  “This partnership between PayNet and Alipay+ is forged at a vital time when overseas travel and tourism have fully resumed, and are rapidly increasing. Consumers and merchants in both countries who are already accustomed to digital payments expect the same seamless and hassle-free experience when travelling overseas. They also expect this to be conducted at competitive exchange rates.” 

“Since Malaysia has long been a favourite and popular destination with Asian tourists, and vice-versa, this collaboration will likely result in higher trade growth between the two nations. We do see the proliferation of seamless international payments at scale sooner than we think. It is just a matter of time,” he added. 

Meanwhile, Dr. Cherry Huang, general manager of Alipay+ Offline Merchant Services, Ant Group, said, “Alipay+’s collaboration with PayNet  is a significant development for regional travellers. We are jointly making efforts to bring local businesses and international visitors closer together, offering not just convenience to tourists but greater opportunities and visibility for Malaysian businesses.” 

“Travellers today have greater expectations when they travel, particularly the use of digital solutions to enhance their experience. They want it to be simpler, with less complexity and less hassle, and in working with our local partners, this is exactly what we want to achieve – personalised, seamless and borderless experiences,” added Huang. 

Bangkok, Thailand – Ant Group has announced that it has teamed up with Thailand retail company Central Retail Corporation (CRC) to launch the payment solution Alipay+ across CRC’s over 3000 stores in the country. 

Some of the stores being supported include Central Retail, including Central and Robinson Department Stores, Supersports, Tops, Power Buy, B2S, OfficeMate, Matsukiyo, Tops Vita and Muji, unlocking convenience and choice for tourists in Thailand.

Users can also make digital payments via their local digital wallet, including China’s Alipay, Hong Kong’s AlipayHK, Malaysia’s Touch ‘n Go eWallet and South Korea’s Kakao Pay without having to carry cash or exchange to Thai currency. 

Piyawan Leelasompop, head of corporate marketing at Central Retail Corporation, said, “This partnership between Central Retail and Ant Group to launch Alipay+ in Thailand will increase digital payment channels for Central Retail customers, delivering comprehensive services to serve consumers who prefer cashless payments. The company aims to target Asian tourists travelling to Thailand, providing convenience for those shopping at brands under Central Retail via Alipay+ with their local mobile wallet.”

She added, “Additionally, users can also receive promotions and special privileges provided by Central Retail and international mobile wallet providers, delivering next-level shopping experiences. There are also plans in the pipeline to expand payment services, accommodating tourists from other countries, including in Asia and Europe.”

Meanwhile, Sittipong Kittiprapapong, general manager for global merchant partnership in Thailand at Ant Group commented, “It is considered an important partnership between Ant Group and Central Retail in offering modern and convenient services so international customers can make borderless digital payments. Additionally, Alipay+ will also enable vendors in Central Retail to accept digital payments from Asian tourists as well as provide a convenient platform for international shoppers to browse products throughout their time in Thailand, delivering convenient and seamless experiences just as if they are in their home country.”

Singapore – To strengthen payments and digital marketing throughout DFS’ broad network of brick-and-mortar and online retailers, DFS Group and Ant Group have partnered together in a global partnership. Because of Alipay+ it would enable DFS to provide its clients with an inclusive digital experience as it recognizes the trend of consumers adopting digital lives.

In this partnership, DFS and Ant will collaborate to deploy marketing cooperation, thereby increasing DFS’s visibility directly within Alipay and Alipay+ partner wallets’ apps. This collaboration aims to offer more targeted, personalised, and relevant rewards to shoppers, including exclusive offers, to enhance their shopping experience.

By integrating Alipay+ as a payment option, DFS enables cross-border payment acceptance from mobile wallets, making it convenient for travellers from the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong SAR, Malaysia, Philippines, South Korea, and Thailand to use their home mobile wallets for payments. 

Speaking about the partnership, Long Chiu, executive vice president, global marketing and digital ventures of DFS Group, said, “This alliance with Ant Group is not just about numbers and statistics, it’s about creating a seamless and exceptional experience for travellers and shoppers. Our commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction will be elevated to new heights through this collaboration.”

He added, “With Ant’s expertise and our passion for innovation and providing unforgettable services, there is no doubt that we will achieve remarkable success together.”

Meanwhile, Dr. Cherry Huang, general manager of Alipay+ offline merchant services, Ant Group, expressed, “We are excited to strengthen our partnership with DFS, evolving to now incorporating more mobile wallets, marketing capabilities and D-Store online-offline integration via Alipay+.” 

She added, “DFS is a favourite retail destination amongst tourist right at the beginning and end of their trip, and we believe this partnership will sweeten travellers’ experience. As travel resumes, we aim to help more brands cater to these new digital-first habits and drive continued visibility and growth for them.”

Singapore – Financial technology giant Ant Group officially launched its Alipay+ D-store solution last November 3 at the Singapore FinTech Festival 2022. The solution intends to support the service industry and brick-and-mortar businesses to boost efficiency by digitalizing their operations.

Alipay+ D-store allows businesses to build digital stores across various digital platforms in a fast, scalable, and cost-efficient way. It will also give businesses a suite of toolkits to digitalize merchants’ payments, operations, services, and marketing efforts. 

The solution also gives its partners the ability to build digital stores on digital platforms in the form of mini programmes. These digital stores could also be developed as H5 pages and can be easily embedded in social media and online platforms to reach consumers.

Partner platforms of Alipay+ D-store include Chope, Alipay, Touch ‘n Go eWallet, and AlipayHK, among others. Food and beverage industry companies such as Burger King, Koufu, and more than 2,000 brands in Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong SAR, China, and other markets have already adopted Alipay+ D-store in their operations.

“We welcome more digital platforms to collaborate to accelerate the digitalization of the global service industry together,” said Dr. Cherry Huang, global head of Alipay+ D-store.

She added, “Leveraging digital solutions is critical for the service industries to boost operational efficiency and adapt to the fast-changing market conditions. The Alipay+ D-store solution is developed with the goal to make it easier for brick-and-mortar businesses to go digital at scale, so that businesses can better serve and engage digital-savvy consumers by providing a seamless omni-channel experience.”

Moreover, Ant Group also announced that Alipay+ merchant coverage has more than doubled to over 2.5 million. 

Angel Zhao, president of international business of Ant Group, also revealed that Alipay+ rewards, the digital marketing platform developed by Alipay+, are already adopted by mobile payment apps such as GCash (Philippines), DANA (Indonesia), Kakao Pay (South Korea), Touch ‘n Go eWallet (Malaysia), TrueMoney (Thailand), and AlipayHK (Hong Kong SAR, China) to help global brands better engage with consumers worldwide through digital coupons and exclusive deals.

Ant Group has previously expanded its partnership with the Singapore Tourism Board, which aimed to promote tourism in Singapore through a series of digital and marketing campaigns for the next two years.