Alipay+, a cross-border mobile payment digital platform owned by Ant International, has revealed a campaign promoting sustainable cross-border travel. The initiative involves a series of incentives offered by global partners to users of five major e-wallets in Asia.

These include Alipay in mainland China, AlipayHK in Hong Kong SAR, China, TNG Digital's Touch n Go eWallet in Malaysia, GCash in the Philippines, and Thailand's TrueMoney. The campaign facilitates travellers with special offers from Alipay+ and its partners, promoting more sustainable travel practices like choosing public transport over cars, supporting local communities and preserving cultural heritage by visiting diverse local destinations.

In addition, Alipay+ will also launch a research project to evaluate the ESG impact of the campaign on the environment and local businesses. Commenting on this initiative, Dr Cherry Huang, General Manager of Alipay+ Offline Merchant Services at Ant International, said, "Our year-end campaign is not just about travel; it's about making a positive impact. By collaborating with partners who share our commitment to sustainability, we offer travellers the opportunity to explore the world responsibly."

Alipay+ recorded a significant rise in transactions during the second half of 2023, with an estimated 30% increase in total payment volume (TPV) compared to the first six months, and an over 70% increase in daily average transactions (DAT). Excluding Alipay, the TPV and DAT of cross-border payments within the rest of the Alipay+ partner wallets increased by around 280% and 230% respectively in the same period.

Among Alipay+ partner wallets, AlipayHK, Kakao Pay, Touch n Go eWallet and GCash emerged as the top choices for cross-border travellers, apart from Alipay itself. Alipay+'s impact has also been felt at a local level, supporting small and micro-sized enterprises like Durian BB in Malaysia and IJOOZ in Singapore.

For instance, IJOOZ, a juice vending machine provider in Singapore, has taken steps towards sustainability. Bruce Zhang, CEO of IJOOZ, commented: "We recycle orange waste, turning them into valuable resources for making new products. We are happy to join hands with Alipay+ in promoting sustainable travel among global tourists visiting Singapore."

Alan Ni, CEO of TNG Digital, operator of Touch n Go eWallet, also highlighted the role of digital payments in boosting tourism. He noted, "Tourism is an important contributor to the local economy, and TNG Digital is committed to making a positive difference with our product and services, especially to encourage sustainable travel. Touch n Go eWallet cross-border payments in the Chinese mainland have grown by more than 100% month-on-month in 2023."