Ahead of Chinese New Year, one of the busiest travel periods of the year, Alipay+ has increased its presence in Singapore by adding six additional international e-wallets, expanding its total to 12. RWS (Resorts World Sentosa) has also extended its collaboration with Alipay+ for broader acceptance of international mobile payments.
Singapore's six newly introduced e-wallets are Hipay from Mongolia, MPay from Macao SAR, China, MyPB by Public Bank from Malaysia, Toss Pay and Naver Pay from South Korea, and Tinaba from Italy. These will operate alongside the six e-wallets previously enabled in Singapore: Alipay from the Chinese mainland, AlipayHK from Hong Kong SAR, China, GCash from the Philippines, Kakao Pay from South Korea, Touch n' Go eWallet from Malaysia, and TrueMoney from Thailand.
Alipay+ has expanded its merchant coverage in Singapore through collaborations with partners, including RWS, to facilitate tourists' use of home e-wallets. The company is also promoting growth for local businesses.
Together, RWS and Alipay+ are launching exclusive offers for Chinese tourists visiting Singapore, facilitated by the new visa-free policy. RWS is amongst the first Alipay+ merchants in Singapore to accept all 12 international e-wallets at its attractions and shops.
The Singapore Tourism Board anticipates continued growth in the sector for 2024. Visitor numbers over the first 11 months of 2023 have already doubled compared to the same period in the previous year. Tourists from the Chinese mainland, Malaysia, the Philippines, and South Korea are ranked among the top 10 for visitor arrivals.
To enhance the visitor experience, the partnership expansion between RWS and Alipay+ provides Chinese and Asian tourists with a more seamless, enjoyable experience at RWS.
Chang Chee Pey, Senior Vice President and Chief Experience Officer of RWS, commented: "Chinese visitors are an important source market for Resorts World Sentosa. With increased flights and visa-free travel to Singapore soon, we want to make it even more convenient for Chinese visitors."
Alipay+ is widely accepted across key categories of tourist usage in Singapore, including taxis, food, retail, and attractions. Now operating in 57 markets worldwide, the platform connects over 1.5 billion accounts on more than 25 leading e-wallets and payment apps to 88 million global merchants.
Dr Cherry Huang, General Manager of Alipay+ Offline Merchant Services, Ant International, asserted: "More travellers can now enjoy seamless mobile payments and a more hassle-free experience that will allow them to enjoy the attractions, food, and retail options even more."
With an expected increase in tourists during Chinese New Year, RWS and Alipay+ have jointly launched a festive campaign exclusively for Alipay users, offering special promotions and privileges within the app.
To wrap up the Chinese New Year celebrations, Resorts World Sentosa is offering a virtual RMB $128 red envelope to Alipay users, who can collect it via the Alipay app to offset payments for the RWS Mini program and on-site payments.