SERVING CHINESE ABROAD
The celebration of Thailand's Songkran Festival in April marks a high season for Chinese tourists to visit the country. In Bangkok, Chiang Mai and other cities, Wechat Pay and Alipay are widely used by Chinese visitors in stores, restaurants, and even massage parlors.
"I don't need to take my wallet out, I don't need to wait for change, there is some discount and no commission, the payment method has so many advantages," a woman from Beijing surnamed Liu told Xinhua while shopping in downtown Bangkok.
China's mobile payment service took its first step toward global market in 2008 by supporting cross-border in-store payment, and has since been venturing out to overseas market to facilitate Chinese travelers' experience abroad.
Alipay now partners with more than 120,000 businesses covering catering services, supermarkets, convenient stores, duty free shops, airports, department stores and theme parks in 27 countries and regions in Asia, Europe, America, and even the Arctic area.
"Alipay is a really easy and convenient payment method for Chinese customers. When they come to store and they realize that we accept Alipay, they're presently surprised and they're quite excited," said Hannah Jackson, Business Development Project Manager of the Body Shop in London.
Rita Liu, head of Alipay EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa), pointed out that Alipay also serves as a marketing platform for overseas businesses targeting Chinese consumers.
"For example, Chinese tourists in London can browse through local commercial areas and recommended shops on the app, and receive discounts and coupon information," Liu said.
Above all of these, Alipay squeezes margins to provide favorable exchange rates to its 520 million users, she added.
"Chinese people have strong purchasing power, and it will continue increasing with the rise of the middle class," she said. "Foreign businesses value Chinese customers and see the opportunity, and that's why we are pushing global outreach as our priority."
Chinese people's top shopping destinations include South Korea, Thailand, Japan, Australia, Singapore, New Zealand, to name a few. Similarly, Wechat pay serves Chinese people in a dozen countries and regions, and processes payments in more than 10 foreign currencies.
The layout of mobile payment services overseas resembles a sophisticated ecosystem, encompassing every stage of outbound travels, from reserving flight tickets and booking hotels, to shopping at airports and commercial areas, dining and travelling in cities.
"Our vision is to realize a digital lifestyle. We believe that people' s payment and consumption habits will be more digital-leaning in the future," Rita Liu said.
