ASIA United Bank (AUB) Corp. announced it has partnered with Alipay Singapore E-Commerce Pvt Ltd to allow cross-border digital payments from Hong Kong SAR, South Korea and Malaysia via the lender’s “Paymate” platform.
With the market expansion, AUB said travelers can now pay using their home country’s e-wallets for purchases related to tourism, retail, food and beverage (F&B), entertainment, and attractions in the Philippines.
“We see a resurgence of inbound personal travels this year so our partnership with Alipay+, the first in the Philippine banking industry, will give a much-needed boost to merchants serving the tourism sector,” said Magdalena V. Surtida, senior vice president and Cards and Acquiring Group head of AUB. “Expect more foreign wallets to be added under this unified QR code.”
At present, AUB has enabled Alipay+ acceptance in over 5,000 stores in Manila and Cebu, two of the most popular travel destinations in the Philippines. AUB PayMate is AUB’s all-in-one digital payment acceptance product. It enables all types of merchants to accept digital payments—local or foreign e-wallets, bank payments, and cards—from their customers.
SSP Mactan, a leading operator of F&B outlets in travel locations worldwide, is among the first in the Philippines that used Alipay+, including in all its stores in the Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA), one of the country’s busiest travel hubs.
From mid-September to mid-November, tourists arriving at MCIA will be welcomed by AUB, SSP Mactan Cebu, and Alipay+ and enjoy a more seamless payment experience and exclusive promotions at Alipay+-enabled merchants in the airport.
“We are strengthening our partnership with AUB, our pioneering bank partner in the Philippines, to enhance the travel experience for tourists as they return to visit. Digital payments have become more important than ever, particularly for international visitors who are used to using their e-wallets and bank apps for day-to-day purchases,” Cherry Huang, General Manager of Alipay+ Offline Merchant Services, Ant Group, said.
“Through our local partners, we aim to help more businesses integrate Alipay+, creating a positive digital ecosystem, driving more opportunities for partners, and merchants while making it more convenient and seamless for travelers,” she added.
The Department of Tourism has been increasing its efforts to digitize tourism services nationwide to boost the sector.
As of June 2023, 2.67 million tourists have visited the country, with South Koreans topping the list of international visitors and Malaysia ranking in the top 10, according to DOT figures.
