Alipay+ & Partner E-Wallets promote sustainable travel in year-end campaign

Friday, December 15, 2023

Alipay+, a cutting-edge mobile payment platform for cross-border transactions under the umbrella of Ant International, has unveiled an end-of-year initiative aimed at fostering sustainable cross-border travel. The program introduces a series of enticing incentives, collaboratively provided by global partners, to users of five prominent e-wallets across Asia. These e-wallets include Alipay (mainland China), AlipayHK (Hong Kong SAR, China), Touch ‘n Go eWallet by TNG Digital (Malaysia), GCash (the Philippines), and TrueMoney (Thailand).

Running until December 31, this campaign will be initially launched for destinations such as Hong Kong SAR, Macao SAR, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand. Travelers will be treated to a diverse array of exclusive offers, thoughtfully curated in conjunction with renowned global industry leaders, including ComfortDelGro Taxi, Daimaru Matsuzakaya, Galaxy Macau, King Power, Lotte Duty Free, as well as local small and micro-sized enterprises (SMEs) like Durian BB in Malaysia and IJOOZ in Singapore, providing a broad and inclusive selection for travelers.

Promoting Responsible Travel

Ant International is steadfast in its commitment to promoting sustainable and responsible tourism within the Alipay+ markets. They have initiated an Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) program closely aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The campaign showcases special incentives from Alipay+ and its partners to encourage responsible travel behavior. These incentives include complimentary overseas mobile data packages, in-app discounts across Alipay+’s extensive merchant network, and chances to receive full rebates at partner stores. Travelers are also rewarded for opting for digital payments over cash, choosing public transportation over private cars, bringing their own toothbrushes instead of using disposable ones, and exploring diverse local destinations to support local economies and preserve their unique cultures.

Dr. Cherry Huang, General Manager of Alipay+ Offline Merchant Services at Ant International, expressed, “Our year-end campaign is more than just travel; it’s about making a positive impact. By teaming up with partners who share our commitment to sustainability, we offer travelers the opportunity to explore the world responsibly.”

Digital payments have significantly contributed to the increase in international tourism revenue for local SMEs. In 2023, Alipay extended its collaboration with major international card organizations to facilitate visits by foreign cardholders to China. Alipay+ also introduced 10 Asian e-wallets and banking apps to the Chinese mainland, catering to their traveling users. As a result, in 2023, more than three million merchants in China, including small businesses, conducted their initial international transactions using Alipay+.

With travel surging between the southern regions of mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, and Macao SAR, a total of 220 leading merchants in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, have joined the year-end promotional campaign, offering discount packages valued as high as HK$14,000 (approximately 1,793 US dollars) to AlipayHK and mPay users.

To evaluate the ESG impact of the campaign, Alipay+ will collaborate with the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and an advisory group comprising experts from Tsinghua University, Hong Kong University, University of Geneva, and Northwestern University. Their objective is to measure the reduction in travelers’ carbon footprint, the impact on local businesses, culture, and communities, as well as the influence on business best practices in the ecosystem.

Bruce Zhang, CEO of IJOOZ, a juice vending machine provider in Singapore, shared, “Every year, IJOOZ generates substantial amounts of orange pulp and peels. We recycle orange waste, transforming them into valuable resources for producing new products. We are delighted to collaborate with Alipay+ in promoting sustainable travel among global tourists visiting Singapore.”

Alipay+ in 2023: A Year of Remarkable Growth and Partnerships

Since its launch in 2020, Alipay+, a suite of cross-border payment and marketing solutions, has expanded its reach, connecting over 88 million merchants across 57 markets with 1.5 billion payment accounts encompassing more than 25 digital wallets, banking apps, and Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) platforms.

During the latter half of 2023, Alipay+ recorded an estimated 30% increase in total payment volume (TPV) compared to the first six months. Moreover, daily average transactions (DAT) surged by over 70%. Excluding Alipay, the TPV and DAT of cross-border payments through other Alipay+ partner wallets saw remarkable growth, with TPV increasing by approximately 280% and DAT by around 230% during the second half of 2023.

In terms of transaction volume in 2023, AlipayHK, Kakao Pay, Touch ‘n Go eWallet, and GCash emerged as the top four most popular Alipay+ partner wallets for cross-border travelers, aside from Alipay itself. Touch ‘n Go eWallet, mPay, and TrueMoney were ranked as the top three based on month-on-month (MoM) increases in transaction volume in November 2023. Consequently, merchants in mainland China, Macao SAR, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore reaped substantial benefits from the surge in cross-border mobile payments.

Alan Ni, CEO of TNG Digital, the operator of Touch ‘n Go eWallet, stated, “Tourism plays a crucial role in the local economy, and TNG Digital is dedicated to making a positive impact with our products and services, particularly in promoting sustainable travel. Cross-border payments through Touch ‘n Go eWallet in mainland China witnessed a monthly growth rate exceeding 100% in 2023. With this achievement, we hope to set an example for others to follow.”

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