In the first half of 2025, over 6.5 million consumers used Alipay+ for cross-border payments for the very first time, presenting fresh opportunities for global merchants.
Alipay+, which operates under Ant International, enables merchants to accept payments via leading mobile wallets and digital banking applications, and has identified three crucial trends that are shaping the tourism landscape for 2025 and beyond:
- Payments: The acceptance of Alipay+ for cross-border transactions now spans more than 100 markets, while its partner ecosystem has grown to include 40 providers, totaling 1.8 billion users.
- Partners: New partnerships with Bluecode (Europe), PayPay (Japan), and KBank (Thailand) allow users to pay using their preferred banking and wallet apps while traveling abroad.
- Services: New offerings feature:
- Alipay+ Voyager: An integrated AI travel agent that collaborates with partners like Trip.com and Agoda.
- Alipay+ GenAI Cockpit: A service that provides AI-as-a-Service for digital wallets to create AI-first solutions.
- Enhanced Global Blue in-app tax refunds for more partners, creating a seamless end-to-end digital payment experience.
“Travel significantly impacts local economies, and we believe mobile wallets can catalyze growth by linking travelers with businesses,” stated Douglas Feagin, President of Ant International. He expressed hope that Alipay+ would support the travel ecosystem through AI-driven payments and services, enhancing customer engagement for mobile-savvy consumers.
The Rise of Mobile Payments for Global Merchants
Travelers in 2025 are increasingly relying on familiar payment apps, with 6.5 million digital wallet users embracing Alipay+ solutions for the first time, leading to a 30% increase in transactions on both online and physical retail platforms. This trend allows travelers to transact more seamlessly as locals, while businesses benefit from an expanded customer base.
To promote inclusive growth, Alipay+ is intensifying tactical collaborations with national payment networks. Transactions utilizing standardized QRs have nearly doubled, streamlining payments across small merchants in smaller cities across various destinations including South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia, and Sri Lanka.
Short-Haul Travel is Surging
Tourism trends also show a marked inclination towards short-haul, cost-effective travel, opening fresh avenues for local businesses. Asia is projected to spearhead global travel growth in 2025, with intra-Asia excursions being a crucial aspect of overall tourism, as China, Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia emerge as prime travel destinations. Transactions through Alipay+ within Asia have shown a 32% year-over-year increase.
Travelers are keen to save while still indulging in local experiences. Significantly, redemptions via A+ Rewards, Alipay’s in-app marketing platform, have jumped 57%, indicating travelers are increasingly engaging with local promotions and discounts. There’s also a notable rise in spending at local establishments, particularly with transactions under USD 10 increasing by 37%.
Despite traditional travel hot spots in Europe like France, Italy, Germany, and the UK maintaining popularity, emerging destinations such as Hungary, Greece, and Norway experienced substantial transaction growth as tourists seek new locales cost-effectively.
Demand for Unique Travel Experiences
As we venture into 2025, travelers are favoring diverse experiences, spending less on retail and more on local services. For instance, K-beauty transactions in South Korea alone surged 115% year-over-year, while spending on ride-hailing and public transportation platforms has doubled and increased by nearly 50%, respectively. By enhancing Alipay+ acceptance across a variety of merchants and modes of transport, travelers are increasingly able to explore smaller towns, such as Shikokuchūō in Japan, and Jeollabuk-do in South Korea.
