Alipay+ is a cross-border mobile payment solution. Ant Internationalthere has been a notable increase in global trade as international travel resumes.
The number of travelers using home payment apps via Alipay+ tripled in the first nine months of 2024, reflecting the shift to familiar payment methods abroad.
Alipay+ currently connects more than 1.6 billion consumers through 30 payment partners and provides access to more than 90 million merchants across 66 markets.
This network has created more opportunities for merchants, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, to take advantage of the recovery in the travel sector.
In Malaysia, for example, transactions through PayNet’s DuitNow QR integrated with Alipay+ recorded an average quarterly growth of 142% in 2024.
Travelers’ spending habits have changed post-pandemic, with a focus on local experiences such as food and tourist attractions.
According to Alipay+ data, spending at restaurants increased by 80% and spending at attractions by 50%.
Payments for transportation services such as ride-hailing and taxis increased by 120%, reflecting the trend towards independent travel.
The increase in the use of mobile payments has been particularly strong across Asia, with China, Japan, Thailand, Macau, and South Korea recording the highest number of Alipay+ transactions.
Additionally, all-in-one apps that offer more than just payment services are becoming increasingly popular, with Alipay+ partners such as Thailand’s TrueMoney reporting a 10x increase in transactions since partnering with the platform.
As the tourism sector continues to recover, Alipay+ is expanding its offerings not only through payment solutions, but also through digital tools such as A+Rewards, which supports destination marketing and local engagement.
“Tourism is critical to economic growth, making it imperative that the industry pursues innovation and new partnerships to reach more people. We are collaborative and open, evolving to include payments, destination marketing and digital lifestyle services, and as more consumers embrace technology to enhance their travel experiences. We believe in an innovative approach and look forward to working closely with our partners across the industry towards a new future for travel.”
Douglas Feagin, president of Ant International, said:
Featured image credit: Edited from freepic
