Alipay+, Ant International’s cross-border mobile payment and digitalization technology solution, announced new payment partners, expanded global merchant coverage and introduced exclusive rewards for partners’ users in time for the year-end peak travel season.
Alipay+ said it now has 35 international payment partners, serving more global travelers and connecting them to more than 90 million merchants in 66 markets.
It now includes an in-app destination marketing platform with digital lifestyle services, giving merchants direct channels to reach and engage customers. Its destination marketing platform, A+ Rewards, is available in more than 10 leading superapps, including Touch ‘n Go eWallet from Malaysia, TrueMoney from Thailand, GCash from the Philippines and Kakao Pay from South Korea.
It said that in the Philippines, Alipay+ expanded its coverage in key cities in the Philippines and is now accepted by more than 140,000 merchants, including the Mall of Asia, one of the largest shopping malls in the world.
Travel rebounded significantly in 2024, and according to the World Travel and Tourism Council, the tourism industry will break all records in 2024, with international spending increasing by 33 percent.
“Travel has a significant impact to local and regional economies, uplifting communities, small businesses and livelihoods, trends expected to accelerate in 2025,” said Douglas Feagin, president of Ant International.
“Through a combination of innovation and partnerships with merchants and tourism organizations, we aim to help more businesses leverage the opportunities from growth in tourism, while continually enhancing the personalized travel experience for travelers,” Feagin said.
Travel habits have shifted, and travelers are increasingly spending more on localized experiences, with an 80-percent increase at food and beverage merchants, 50-percent increase at attractions and 120-percent growth on transportation such as ride-hailing, taxis and trains.
Alipay+ said its expanded acceptance at these essential travel scenarios enables travelers to ‘travel like a local’ this year-end and beyond.
