Singapore, 24 July 2024 – In a significant stride towards revolutionizing cross-border payments, Alipay+, operated by Ant International, has expanded its global merchant coverage to an impressive 90 million. This expansion comes amidst a successful summer campaign fueled by the UEFA EURO 2024 craze, indicating a robust rebound in the travel industry.
As the Official Payment Partner of UEFA EURO 2024™, Alipay+ played a pivotal role in enhancing the payment experience for tourists, connecting leading e-wallets and bank apps, such as Bluecode and Tinaba, to 400,000 merchants across Europe. During the championship period from 14 June to 14 July, Alipay+ merchants in Europe experienced a remarkable 27% year-on-year increase in transactions made via its partner e-wallets, with a notable 30% rise in tourists paying through their preferred home payment apps.
Mobile-savvy travelers from regions like the Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong SAR, Europe, Malaysia, and South Korea led the surge in transactions and total spending. Retail remained the most popular activity, but there was also significant use of home payment apps via Alipay+ at pharmacies and attractions, highlighting its growing coverage in essential travel scenarios.
In Germany, Alipay+ transactions saw an impressive 73% increase, with a 40% rise in the number of merchants accepting Alipay+ transactions compared to the previous year. Douglas Feagin, President of Ant International, remarked, “The surge in Alipay+ transactions during UEFA EURO 2024 shows the power of sports and major events to unite people and drive cross-border tourism. European merchants and partners embraced new digital payment trends with remarkable openness and agility. At Ant International, we will continue to expand merchant coverage for consumers and bring more international businesses to the doors of global SMEs.”
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This summer, tourists can enjoy seamless payments with their preferred apps via Alipay+ at over 90 million global merchants in 66 markets. Europe is expected to be a top destination, and Alipay+ plans to continue its momentum from the UEFA EURO 2024 drive with joint campaigns and exclusive promotions at leading merchants in the UK, France, Italy, Spain, and Germany.
Alipay+ is also working to benefit local businesses. In Milan’s Chinatown, tourists can enjoy special deals, and more small businesses across Europe are progressively onboarded. Furthermore, Alipay+ has integrated with the taxi app FREENOW in seven European countries and partnered for digital tax refunds, allowing Chinese tourists to receive instant refunds via the Alipay app.
In Japan, over 2 million merchants accept Alipay+, with special discounts available at 300,000 merchants, including major shopping destinations. In South Korea, summer promotions are rolling out with leading retailers and transportation providers. Alipay+ users can pay for bus rides in Jeju and book train tickets through a mini-program within the Alipay app.
Alipay+ continues to make travel more seamless in the Chinese mainland, with its International Consumer-Friendly Zone Program expanding to more cities. In Southeast Asia, Alipay+ users can purchase discounted travel packs, and exclusive campaigns are running with popular retailers in Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore.
As the travel industry regains pre-pandemic levels, Alipay+ is set to play a crucial role in facilitating cross-border commerce, ensuring that both consumers and merchants can benefit from its extensive network and innovative solutions.
About Alipay+
Alipay+ is a suite of cross-border digital payment, marketing and digitalization solutions that help connect global merchants to consumers. Consumers enjoy seamless payment and a broad choice of deals using their preferred payment methods while travelling abroad. Small and medium-sized businesses may use Alipay+ digital tools to enhance efficiency and achieve omni-channel growth.
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