Chinese mobile payment platform Alipay has announced the expansion of its in-store mobile lifestyle and payments service to the North American retail market.
Just in time for the Chinese New Year, this year’s holiday period is expected to see international travel from Chinese tourists break last year’s record by 9.8%, according to travel intelligence company ForwardKeys.
Some 3.3% more tourists are expected to land in North America this Chinese New Year, which kicks off January 27.
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Therefore, Alipay is looking to enhance the shopping and travel experience of Chinese consumers visiting the U.S. and Canada, according to a press release, and is expanding its partnership with DFS Group, a luxury travel retailer.
The partners will launch Alipay in-store mobile payment at the DFS store in Honolulu International Airport store and at the DFS Hawaii store in Honolulu’s downtown T Galleria. DFS Group has previously launched Alipay in its airport stores in San Francisco and Los Angeles, and at JFK in New York City.
“Chinese consumers love to shop when traveling to the U.S. and Canada, but language and payment barriers often complicate the process for many North American retailers,” Souheil Badran, president of Alipay North America, said in a statement.
“Alipay offers Chinese consumers a familiar and seamless in-store checkout experience, eliminating the need for cash or international credit cards, which often carry high foreign-transaction fees.”
Chinese tourists who visit North America for their shopping trips nowadays either pay in cash, or use their China UnionPay. However, carriers of the latter can only receive it if they have a Chinese bank-issued credit card, which is rare.
More than three million Chinese consumers are expected to visit North America in 2017, according to the U.S. Travel Association.