Alipay+ has partnered with multiple Asian payment providers in a bid to promote travel and tourism activity in South Korea.
Through the partnership, e-wallet users of AlipayHK, GCash, Touch ‘n Go and TrueMoney are now able to pay at over 120,000 merchants when travelling to the country.
Support is included for taxi payments, duty free and convenience store shopping, as well as for a variety of food and beverage chains, marking the first time Southeast Asian payment providers have entered the South Korean market.
The news comes as international travel in Asia starts to recover, with South Korea lifting the requirements for pre-departure COVID-19 tests and quarantine for arrivals.
Martha Sazon, President and CEO of GCash owner Mynt, said: “With South Korea being one of the most popular destinations of Filipinos, we are delighted that our customers will be able to maximise their GCash app during their travels.
“This innovative partnership aligns with our vision of financial inclusion and is a huge step towards building a cashless ecosystem, worldwide.”
Danny Chung, General Manager of Alipay+ owner Ant Group’s operations in Korea, added: “As the theme of this year’s World Tourism Day is Rethinking Tourism, Alipay+ has been striving to achieve the same goal by supporting a cashless and smart travel experience.
“Through innovation and digitalization, we hope Alipay+ can play its role in the transformation of tourism towards a crucial pillar of development.”
Further comments were also provided by Venetia Lee – General Manager of AlipayHK, who said: “It is our pleasure to announce the connection to South Korea, a popular tourist destination for Hong Kong people.
“AlipayHK aims to provide our users with one-stop lifestyle services, including not only local but also cross-border payments for those who love travelling.”
Finally, Koravut Pavitpok, Head of Commercial at TrueMoney, concluded: “As international travel is on the up again, our partnership with Alipay+ has allowed TrueMoney Wallet to expand our service territory and provide more convenient and safer cross-border cashless payment to our users.”
