Alipay+ is expanding its global network to connect merchants with 1.8 billion consumers as more tourists pay through their home wallet apps abroad.
Operated by Ant International, the platform now covers more than 100 countries and regions and supports 40 partner wallets and banking apps, including new partners Bluecode in Europe, PayPay in Japan, and KBank in Thailand.
In the first half of 2025, over 6.5 million people used Alipay+ for cross-border payments for the first time, reflecting the growing shift toward mobile-based travel spending.
Transactions across online travel agents and in-store merchants rose by more than 30 percent compared with the same period in 2024.
Alipay+ has strengthened collaborations with national payment networks, nearly doubling transactions made through standardised QR codes.
This broader acceptance has made it easier for travellers to pay at SMEs, including those in smaller cities such as Shikokuchūō in Japan, Jeollabuk-do in South Korea, Semporna in Malaysia, and Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya in Thailand.
Mobile Payments Fuel Local Growth and New Travel Patterns
The company has also introduced new digital services to enhance the travel experience.
These include Alipay+ Voyager, an AI-powered travel assistant integrated with Trip.com, Agoda and Grab, and expanded in-app tax refund options through Global Blue.
Short-haul and value-conscious travel continue to drive growth across Asia, with intra-Asia transactions rising 32 percent year-on-year.
Travellers are spending more at local merchants, with purchases under US$10 increasing by 37 percent, while redemptions on A+ Rewards, the in-app platform for local deals and coupons, climbed 57 percent.
In Europe, emerging destinations such as Hungary, Greece and Norway saw the strongest growth in transactions, even as France, Italy, Germany and the United Kingdom remained popular travel spots.
Beyond retail and dining, travellers are spending more on niche services such as beauty, healthcare and education.
In South Korea, K-beauty transactions grew by 115 percent year-on-year, while mobility-related spending also rose, with ride-hailing transactions doubling and public transport payments increasing by nearly 50 percent.
“Travel has a significant impact to local economies, and we believe that mobile wallets can be a catalyst for growth, connecting travellers and businesses in more ways than ever.
Alipay+ aims to support the travel ecosystem with AI-powered payments and digital services to enable online and offline merchants, tourism partners, and other fintechs to create customer-centric engagements for mobile-savvy consumers.”
said Douglas Feagin, President of Ant International.
Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by Ant International’s Alipay+ via BUSINESS WIRE
