As global and inbound tourism stages a recovery, Alipay, the foremost digital payment and lifestyle service platform in China, joins forces with Fliggy, a leading online travel platform, to unveil an exclusive marketing campaign aimed at enriching the travel journey for international visitors exploring China.
The collaboration was announced during the official launch of the overseas promotion of China Ice & Snow attractions in Kuala Lumpur.
The campaign features the introduction of air ticket coupons for international travelers, with the inaugural batch tailored for Malaysians visiting ice and snow destinations and other tourist hotspots in China.
To participate, Malaysians planning trips to China can download the Alipay app, navigate to the Fliggy mini program within the app, and search for keywords such as “ice,” “snow,” or “travel to China” to claim coupons offering up to RM68 off for a single air ticket.
The campaign, effective from January 29 to February 17, operates on a limited, first-come, first-served redemption basis.
Hannah Tan, country manager and strategic partnerships for Malaysia at Ant Group, expressed, “Through the introduction of this marketing campaign, we hope to enhance the travel experience for international visitors in China, providing increased convenience for Malaysians utilising Touch ‘n Go eWallet or Alipay during their travels across the country.
Together with our partners, we remain committed to enhancing the overall users’ journey to ensure a seamless travel experience with added value.”
With a surge in demand driven by increased flight frequencies and favorable policies, cross-border travel, including inbound travel to China, is on the rise.
Notably, Switzerland and Ireland have joined the list of countries enjoying visa-free entry to China, following the earlier extension of this privilege to travelers from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia.
Overseas tourists can download the Alipay app and link an international credit or debit card from Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Discover®, and Diners Club International® to initiate their mobile payment journey across China.
Alipay offers a versatile range of services, from shopping in brick-and-mortar stores to hailing cabs, taking public transport, and booking flight tickets or hotels.
Similarly, Malaysians traveling to the Chinese mainland can use either the Alipay app or Touch ‘n Go eWallet to scan the merchant’s Alipay QR code, joining users of nine other overseas home e-wallets, including AlipayHK (Hong Kong SAR, China), mPay (Macao SAR, China), Kakao Pay (South Korea), Hipay (Mongolia), Changi Pay (Singapore), OCBC Digital (Singapore), Naver Pay (South Korea), Toss Pay (South Korea), and TrueMoney (Thailand).
Since 2022, Alipay has continually enhanced its payment service for international travelers, partnering with international card networks to introduce various promotions.
In August 2023, a marketing campaign was launched, allowing overseas tourists to earn discounts of up to 100 RMB per transaction when using Alipay with international cards at Chinese mainland merchants during the Asian Games.
In December 2023, Alipay collaborated with top online travel agencies, including Trip.com and Tuniu, to provide selected tour packages and travel guides on the app, catering to international tourists exploring China.
The packages include tours with English-speaking guides at renowned attractions, some offering up to a 20% discount.
