More than 90 million global merchants use Alipay+ payment and digitalization solutions to attract and engage travelers this Chinese New Year

As global tourism transitions from a year of recovery to a year of growth in 2025, global merchants tap on Alipay+, Ant International’s cross-border mobile payment and digitalisation solutions, to enhance payments, in-app marketing and digital services development, to attract and welcome tourists for Chinese New Year, the first travel peak of the year. 

 

Alipay+ supports over 35 international wallet and bank payment partners, connecting their 1.6 billion user accounts to more than 90 million merchants in 66 markets. Alipay+ recently enabled acceptance for new partners, including Kaspi.kz (Kazakhstan) and BigPay (Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand), connecting even more users to its global merchants.

Alipay+ partners with global merchants to launch exclusive Chinese New Year campaigns to excite travellers

In anticipation of the seasonal travel surge, Alipay+ and its merchant partners worldwide are launching joint promotions for Alipay+ payment partner users. Leading retailers, including Resorts World Sentosa, Marina Bay Sands, Central Retail, King Power, Pavilion KL, Lotte World, Olive Young, Daimaru, Printemps, Galleries Lafayette, and airport duty-free stores, are driving in-store and in-app engagement with increased rewards.

• China: In anticipation of the seasonal travel surge, Alipay+ and its merchant partners worldwide are launching joint promotions for Alipay+ payment partner users. Leading retailers, including Resorts World Sentosa, Marina Bay Sands, Central Retail, King Power, Pavilion KL, Lotte World, Olive Young, Daimaru, Printemps, Galleries Lafayette, and airport duty-free stores, are driving in-store and in-app engagement with increased rewards.
• South Korea: Alipay+ is accepted by over 2 million merchants, including those that accept ZeroPay. Users can receive tiered discounts at select merchants, and in Seoul, they can expect additional benefits such as Lotte World and select stores in the Myeongdong, Dongdaemun, and Seongsu districts. The NAMANE x Alipay+ Transit Pass Card, which can be used on buses and subways nationwide, was recently launched to make travel more convenient.
• Japan: Alipay+ accepts payments at over 3 million merchants nationwide, including izakayas, wagashi shops, snack stores, guesthouses, leading retailers, health and beauty stores, and popular attractions such as Tokyo SKYTREE, Tokyo Solamachi, and Tokyo Mizumachi.
• Southeast Asia: Alipay+ is widely accepted, including via DuitNow in Malaysia and SGQR in Singapore, and local transportation options including trains in Malaysia and Thailand, and taxis in Singapore. In the Philippines, Alipay+ welcomes SM Supermalls, the largest retail chain in the Philippines and cornerstone of Filipino lifestyle culture, and Hennan Group of Resorts, a premier hospitality brand with 10 resorts in Boracay and Bohol. Users can expect special promotions at top retailers like Pavilion KL, Central Retail in Thailand, and Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore, along with nationwide vouchers for use at any local merchants accepting Alipay+.
• Europe: In popular European destinations like the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and Spain, Alipay+ payment partner users can enjoy discounts at retailers, restaurants and attractions.
• Middle East: Alipay+ payment partner users will enjoy discounts at all Alipay+ merchants across the region and upsized rewards at duty-free stores in major airports in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Istanbul.

The travel industry is expected to grow in 2025, with all regions seeing more travelers than they did before the pandemic in 2019. According to a joint report by Ant International and IDC, tourism spending in Southeast Asia, Japan, and South Korea will increase by more than 330% by 2027, with greater integration of payment methods across online and offline commerce unlocking even more growth.

“Tourism is playing an increasingly significant role to local economies, accelerating growth for merchants across sectors, but businesses need to adapt to new digital habits and preferences. Starting with mobile payments, Alipay+ offers merchants solutions to connect, engage and retain customers who want to leverage technology to enhance their travel experiences. We will continue to offer more innovative ways for businesses to transform and benefit from the continued growth in tourism.” ~Douglas Feagin, President of Ant International

 

Unified solution for merchants to engage travellers from payments to digital services

Travelers can simply use their preferred home payment app, such as e-wallets, banking apps, or BNPL.  These travelers can "travel like a local" and pay seamlessly at online and offline merchants throughout their journey, from online travel agencies, airlines, and hotels to street vendors, restaurants, shopping malls, attractions, transportation, and more. More than 90% of Alipay+ merchants are MSMEs, allowing these small businesses to expand by accepting multiple international payment methods.  

Alipay+ is accepted at offline merchants in key destinations throughout Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, covering a wide range of travel situations. Alipay+'s partner payment apps allow users to make convenient payments almost anywhere in these Asian hotspots thanks to partnerships with standardised QR operators such as PayPay in Japan, ZeroPay in South Korea, DuitNow in Malaysia, SGQR in Singapore, and the Alipay merchant network on the Chinese mainland. Alipay+'s acceptance in Europe continues to grow, with over 400,000 merchants now supporting interoperable payments via Bluecode.

Alipay+, through Antom, Ant International's merchant payment and digitisation services provider, also connects leading Asian e-wallets to online travel platforms, most recently with AirAsia MOVE and Booking.com, simplifying the overall payment process for Asian travellers looking for a getaway this Chinese New Year and thereafter.

Merchants and tourism boards can directly engage travellers using A+Rewards, an in-app destination marketing platform, by highlighting the best food, attractions, and shopping in each destination and offering exclusive promotions to attract new customers. In Singapore, for example, through a collaboration with the Singapore Tourism Board, visitors can purchase a discounted voucher pack to use in taxis, convenience stores, shopping malls, and at popular attractions such as Sentosa and Mandai Wildlife Reserve.

To improve and streamline the travel experience, Alipay+ provides mini programme development solutions that allow users of its payment partners to access a variety of services, such as attraction booking, ride hailing, and tax refunds, directly within the app, eliminating the need to download additional apps or spend time on physical processes. Ahead of Chinese New Year, the Geneva Tourism Bureau will use Alipay+'s mini program solution to launch an in-app hub on select e-wallets and banking apps to assist tourists with navigation, attraction booking, and overall travel experience in Switzerland.