Alipay+, the cross-border mobile payment digital platform under Ant International, has unveiled a year-end campaign aimed at fostering sustainable cross-border travel. The initiative offers a range of incentives, in collaboration with global partners, to users of five prominent e-wallets across Asia.
These e-wallets include Alipay (Chinese mainland), AlipayHK (Hong Kong SAR, China), Touch ‘n Go eWallet by TNG Digital (Malaysia), GCash (the Philippines), and TrueMoney (Thailand).
Running until 31 December, the campaign initially targets travellers heading to destinations such as Hong Kong SAR, Macao SAR, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. Travelers can look forward to a selection of special offers crafted in partnership with global industry players, including ComfortDelGro Taxi, Daimaru Matsuzakaya, Galaxy Macau, King Power and Lotte Duty Free.
Additionally, the campaign embraces local small and micro-sized enterprises (SMEs), such as Durian BB in Malaysia and IJOOZ in Singapore.
Promoting responsible travel
Ant International aims to advance sustainable and responsible tourism across the Alipay+ markets, aligning closely with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The campaign promotes sustainable travel behaviour through special offers, including free overseas mobile data packages, in-app discounts within Alipay+’s extensive merchant network, and opportunities to receive 100 per cent rebates at partner stores.
Travellers are also incentivised to opt for digital payments over cash, choose public transportation, carry their own toothbrushes instead of using disposables, and explore diverse local destinations to support local economies and preserve cultures.
To monitor the ESG impact of the campaign, Alipay+ will collaborate with the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), and an advisory group consisting of experts from Tsinghua University, Hong Kong University, University of Geneva University and the Northwestern University to measure travellers’ carbon footprint reduction, the impact on local businesses, culture and communities, as well as the impact on business best practices in the ecosystem.
“Our year-end campaign is not just about travel; it’s about making a positive impact,” said Dr Cherry Huang, general manager of Alipay+ offline merchant services, Ant International. “By collaborating with partners who share our commitment to sustainability, we are offering travellers the chance to explore the world responsibly.”
Digital payments
In 2023, Alipay expanded its cooperation with major international card organisations to facilitate foreign cardholders visiting China. Alipay+ also welcomed 10 Asian e-wallets and banking apps to the Chinese mainland, marking a significant milestone in the international expansion of these leading payment methods.
As a result, over three million merchants in China, including small local businesses, conducted their first international transactions through Alipay+ in 2023.
Since its launch in 2020, Alipay+, a suite of cross-border payment and marketing solutions, has expanded to connect over 88 million merchants in 57 markets to 1.5 billion payment accounts of over 25 digital wallets, banking apps and buy now, pay later (BNPL) apps.
In the second half of 2023, Alipay+ recorded an estimated 30 per cent increase in total payment volume (TPV) compared to the first six months, and over 70 per cent increase in daily average transactions (DAT). Excluding Alipay, the TPV and DAT of cross-border payments of the rest of Alipay+ partner wallets increased by some 280 per cent and 230 per cent respectively in the second half of 2023.
