Ant Group Grows Partnership with STB to Drive Tourism Demand from Asia to Singapore

• The newest section of the partnership consists of the “SingapoReimagine with Alipay+” joint advertising marketing campaign.
• Three new cellular wallets are accepted in Singapore by way of Alipay+, bringing the overall quantity to six.
• Users from Malaysia, the Philippines, South Korea, Thailand, Hong Kong SAR, China, and Chinese Mainland can now seamlessly take pleasure in tourism choices corresponding to points of interest, retail and eating.

Ant Group immediately expanded their partnership with Singapore Tourism Board (STB) to make cross-border journey to Singapore extra seamless and handy. The partnership builds on a collaboration solid in 2019 and is concentrated on driving tourism development in Singapore by way of a collection of digital and advertising initiatives over the subsequent two years.

This press launch options multimedia. View the total launch right here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221026006150/en/

Left to Right: Keith Tan, Chief Executive, Singapore Tourism Board and Angel Zhao, President of International Business, Ant Group (Photo: Business Wire)

To strengthen Singapore’s vacation spot enchantment amongst travellers from Asia, together with key markets like Malaysia, the Philippines, South Korea, and Thailand, Ant Group launched the SingapoReimagine with Alipay+ marketing campaign with STB. As a part of SingapoReimagine, STB’s worldwide restoration marketing campaign, it affords contemporary and progressive experiences to travellers from these markets, whereas permitting transactions in Singapore by way of cellular wallets that they’re already acquainted with.

The joint marketing campaign may also spotlight unique affords to customers of the six Alipay+ associate cellular wallets after they journey to Singapore. In addition, Ant Group will progressively broaden the Passion Made Possible Privileges (PMPP)¹, a mini programme co-branded with STB to serve vacationers to Singapore – beforehand obtainable solely on Alipay – to different Alipay+ cellular wallets. These initiatives will assist Singapore companies attain and interact a brand new pool of shoppers, growing the visibility and consciousness of Singapore’s tourism choices for guests earlier than and through their journeys to Singapore.

As a part of the partnership, STB and Alipay+ may also discover piloting digital options with native companies in areas corresponding to digitalisation of service operations, digital advertising effectivity and enhancing buyer expertise.

The new cellular wallets accepted in Singapore are GCash from the Philippines, TrueMoney from Thailand, and AlipayHK from Hong Kong SAR, China, including to present companions Kakao Pay from South Korea, Touch ’n Go eWallet from Malaysia and Alipay from the Chinese Mainland. This brings the variety of cellular wallets accepted by way of Alipay+ in Singapore to six. Travellers with these cellular wallets can simply and securely transact with native companies throughout tourism and life-style industries that settle for Alipay+, together with retail retailers² at Changi Airport, ComfortDelgro taxis, motels, and points of interest corresponding to Gardens by the Bay.

Ms Angel Zhao, President of International Business, Ant Group mentioned, “We deeply believe that the benefits of digital innovations can be amplified through open collaborations in the ecosystem. Ant Group is always open to join hands with partners such as STB to provide businesses, especially small and micro enterprises the best digital services, including payments and marketing solutions and we are committed to contributing to the digital transformation of industries and create greater value for societies.”

“Amid the fast recovery of the tourism industry, we are excited to play a part in promoting Singapore as a top destination of choice for travellers and making travel safe, seamless and efficient through digital solutions like Alipay+,” she added.

STB Chief Executive, Mr Keith Tan mentioned, “Singapore has seen strong travel demand from Asia since our reopening and we hope our joint initiatives can grow and sustain that demand. The next phase of our exciting partnership with Ant Group will also offer a seamless experience when travellers visit Singapore, build affinity for our destination, and drive the digitalisation of our tourism sector.”

Hong Kong SAR, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, South Korea, Thailand, and Chinese Mainland have been amongst Singapore’s prime 15 markets from January to August 2022³. Prior to the pandemic, roughly a 3rd of Singapore’s guests have been from Southeast Asia, one other third from the Chinese Mainland and the remainder of Northeast Asia, and the ultimate third from the remainder of the world.

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Annex

Quotes from new cellular pockets companions

AlipayHK

Venetia Lee, General Manager of Ant Group Greater China International Business, mentioned, “The acceptance of AlipayHK in Singapore is a significant step for AlipayHK’s global development strategy. Singapore is a popular travel destination for Hong Kong people, and with Alipay+, our users can now use their home e-wallet to make purchases and enjoy rewards in Singapore. We hope that as more destinations accept AlipayHK, it will become a useful travel companion for our users, allowing them to pay in other countries and regions as they do at home.”

GCash

Ms Martha Sazon, President, and CEO of GCash, mentioned: “As global tourism continues to open up, we are glad to be with our customers wherever they go. This partnership with Alipay+ will ensure that our users always have a safe, convenient, and seamless payment experience whenever they travel to popular destinations like Singapore. Surely, this is a big step in our journey towards achieving financial inclusion and building a cashless ecosystem.”

TrueMoney

Koravut Pavitpok, Head of Commercial, TrueMoney Co., Ltd., mentioned, “Singapore has long been one of the top destinations for leisure and business travel for Thais. The country’s proactive push towards innovation and digital transformation has shaped a dynamic and vibrant tourism landscape with local tourism businesses that are digitally and future ready. As a mobile wallet partner of Alipay+, TrueMoney believes that the latest partnership and the joint marketing campaign between The Singapore Tourism Board and Alipay+, coupled with our cross-border cashless payment service availability at the destination, will have a profound impact on enhancing the travel experience.”

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About Ant Group

Ant Group goals to create the infrastructure and platform to help the digital transformation of the service business. It strives to allow all customers and small and micro companies to have equal entry to monetary and different companies which are inclusive, inexperienced and sustainable.

Ant Group is the proprietor and operator of Alipay, the main digital cost platform in China serving lots of of thousands and thousands of customers, and connecting them with retailers and associate monetary establishments that supply inclusive monetary companies and digital each day life companies corresponding to meals supply, transport, leisure, and healthcare.

Ant Group has additional launched Alipay+, which gives world cross-border cellular funds and advertising options that join service provider companions, particularly small and medium-sized companies, with cellular funds and different cost strategies, for them to higher serve their customers and clients from everywhere in the world.

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¹ The Passion Made Possible Privileges (PMPP) mini programme enhances the customer journey expertise in Singapore by way of engaging privileges and offers from taking part companies. It has been obtainable on Alipay since 2019.

² Including duty-free retailers

³ According to STB’s customer arrivals figures, from the Singapore Tourism Analytics Network (STAN), https://stan.stb.gov.sg/content/stan/en/tourism-statistics.html

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