Alipay+, the cross-border mobile payment and digitalization solution operated by Ant International, has extended its global summer campaign, launched during UEFA EURO 2024, to support the travel industry’s anticipated full rebound by the end of 2024..
As the Official Payment Partner of UEFA EURO 2024™, Alipay+ connects leading e-wallets and bank apps, including European partners like Bluecode and Tinaba, to 400,000 merchants across Europe. During EURO 2024, from June 14 to July 14, Alipay+ saw significant growth and adoption:
- Transaction Growth: Merchants in Europe saw a 27% year-on-year increase in transactions from partner e-wallets, many of which are mobile payment leaders in Asia. The number of tourists paying with their preferred home payment app via Alipay+ rose by over 30% during the championship period.
- Top Spenders: Mobile-savvy travelers from the Chinese Mainland, Europe, Hong Kong SAR, Malaysia, and South Korea led the European travel craze in terms of transaction volume and total spending.
- Diverse Spending: Travelers used their home payment apps via Alipay+ at a variety of locations, including pharmacies and attractions, with increased coverage in essential travel scenarios.
- Cross-Border Consumption: Consumption rose with various user and merchant campaigns across UEFA EURO host cities like Berlin and Munich. In Germany, Alipay+ transactions increased by more than 73%, with a 40% increase in the number of merchants accepting Alipay+ compared to the previous year.
“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,” said Douglas Feagin, President of Ant International.
“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.”
Alipay+ Enhances Global Summer Campaign
This summer, tourists can use their preferred payment apps via Alipay+ at over 90 million global merchants in 66 markets. Alipay+ continues to expand its merchant coverage, connecting users of more than 30 payment partners.
With Europe expected to be a top destination this summer, Alipay+ is building on its momentum from UEFA EURO 2024 with more joint campaigns to promote the usage of home payment apps, offering exclusive promotions at leading merchants in key destinations like France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK.
In addition to major retailers, Alipay+ is collaborating with local partners to benefit smaller businesses.
Tourists can enjoy special deals at many small shops in Milan’s Chinatown, with more small businesses across Europe progressively onboarded. Alipay+ has also integrated with the taxi app FREENOW, available in seven European countries, and formed partnerships for digital tax refunds, allowing Chinese tourists to receive instant tax refunds on their Alipay app in-store.
Growing Presence in Southeast Asia
In Southeast Asia (SEA), Alipay+ is widely accepted, allowing users of AlipayHK, Touch ’n Go eWallet, GCash, and TrueMoney to purchase discounted travel packs for use at all Alipay+ merchants in the region. Partnerships with national QR systems in Singapore and Malaysia enable tourists to ‘travel like a local.’
The partnership between Alipay+ and PayNet in Malaysia has led to a significant increase in Alipay+ transactions on the DuitNow QR network, benefiting both tourists and local SMEs.
Alipay+ is introducing more innovations and campaigns in SEA, including exclusive offers with top retailers in Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore. In Thailand, Alipay+ is enhancing its Alipay+ D-hub and Amazing Thailand e-card within the Alipay app to promote more cities, merchants, and discounts.
In Japan, where over two million merchants accept Alipay+, tourists can enjoy special discounts at 300,000 locations, including airport shops, department stores, shopping malls, convenience store chains, electronics retailers, and beauty shops.
Alipay+ is also rolling out summer promotions in South Korea with leading retailers, theme parks, traditional markets, and transportation providers, including Hyundai, Lotte World, Olive Young, Shilla, Shinsegae, and ZeroPay Jeju market, for users of AlipayHK, GCash, Touch ‘n Go eWallet, and TrueMoney.
