7-Eleven stores across Thailand have become more accessible to international tourists, with all 14,500 locations now accepting payment through 13 different e-wallet apps enabled by Alipay+. This move enhances consumer experiences by increasing digitisation efforts to prepare for an influx of tourists ahead of the high travel season during the Chinese New Year.
A digital cross-border payments and marketing platform run by Ant International, Alipay+ has just enabled nine new e-wallets for use in Thailand. The new e-wallets accommodate apps like MyPB by Public Bank Berhad from Malaysia, South Korea's Naver Pay and Toss Pay, Singapore's Changi Pay and OCBC Digital, the Philippines' GCash, Hipay from Mongolia, MPay from Macao SAR, China, and Italy's Tinaba.
Since 2015, Alipay from mainland China has been in use in Thailand, while AlipayHK from Hong Kong SAR, China, Kakao Pay from South Korea and Malaysia's Touch n Go eWallet were enabled in 2023. The integration of these services with 7-Eleven stores was brought to fruition by Counter Service, a company dedicated to creating smooth and innovative payment systems.
Chinese New Year, which started on February 10th, is predicted to attract about a million tourists to Thailand, providing an estimated 28.4 billion baht (or roughly USD $800 million) in revenue for the local economy. The majority of these visitors are expected to be from mainland China and Hong Kong SAR, the Tourism Authority of Thailand reports.
Weeradej Ackapolpanich, Managing Director at Counter Service Company, spoke on the topic: "With a significant rise in travel demand, we aim to accommodate, connect, and cater to tourists from all over the world with cashless trends and convenience services."
Alipay+ operates across 57 markets and connects over 88 million global merchants to more than 1.5 billion accounts across over 25 leading e-wallets and payment apps. The platform is expanding merchant coverage in Thailand and already includes major retail and tourism stores.
Sittipong Kittiprapapong, General Manager, Global Merchant Partnership, Thailand, Ant International, commented, "Thailand is one of the most popular travel destinations globally, and we are excited to do more to support the digitalisation of the vibrant tourism sector locally."
"By working closely with local merchants and partners like the Tourism Authority of Thailand, we are attracting more Chinese and Asian tourists to Thailand, creating a more convenient and worry-free experience for travellers, and helping more businesses benefit from tourism growth," said Sittipong Kittiprapapong.
In anticipation of the increase in visitors, 7-Eleven Thailand and Alipay+ have launched a special promotion for Alipay+ partner users, offering up to 50% savings through coupons. The introduction of a wide range of e-wallets for use in 7-Eleven stores is likely to bring ease and convenience to the fingertips of international tourists during their Thailand visit.