Thailand
Alipay retains its allure
Alipay’s transaction volume in Thailand ranked No.2 globally, behind Hong Kong, and was tops in Southeast Asia, tallying 1.4 times last year’s volume, while the average spending per user of 1,584 yuan (7,501 baht) was 0.95 times last year’s figure.
During China’s Golden Week holiday (Oct 1-7), Alipay, the world’s largest mobile payment and lifestyle platform, operated by Ant Financial Services Group, processed 2.2 times as many overseas in-store transactions compared with last year.
Asia continued to dominate the top 10 list of destinations in terms of transaction volume. Hong Kong topped the list again, with Thailand retaining its second ranking. Japan rose to third this year.
Less-visited destinations in Europe saw some of the fastest growth in Alipay use thanks to the mass rollout to merchants across the region over the last 12 months. Switzerland saw 27 times the volume of transactions from 2017.
Average total spending per user increased 30% to US$288 from last year’s $223. Average total spending per user was highest in Denmark at copy,276, followed by France and Italy. Destinations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa accounted for most of the countries in the top 10 in terms of the highest total spend per user.
Europe averaged $528, US and Canada $275, Australia and New Zealand $265, Southeast Asia $222 and East Asia $269.
Iceland and the Maldives started to provide Alipay for Chinese travellers ahead of this year’s Golden Week. The service is available in over 40 countries and regions.
Twice as many women as men used Alipay overseas. Those born in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s accounted for 96% of all those who used Alipay overseas. Those born in the 1960s using Alipay overseas during Golden Week doubled compared with last year.
In Thailand, convenience stores, duty-free shops and drugstores were places with high levels of use by Chinese tourists.
Suvarnabhumi airport ranked third among all airports globally for transaction volume after Hong Kong airport and Changi in Singapore, with transaction volume of 1.3 times last year and average spending per user of 1,091 yuan, (5,163 baht).
Before Golden Week, 3,000 Thai airport taxis started to accept Alipay, and hundreds of fares used the service during the holiday period. It is becoming a significant trend in Thailand for Chinese visitors to pay for taxi rides by Alipay, reported the service.
Source: https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/news/1556590/alipay-retains-its-allure