Alipay+, the global cross-border payment and digital service platform of Ant International, reported that mobile wallets are becoming central to new travel behaviors and inclusive economic growth.
“Alipay+ aims to support the travel ecosystem with AI-powered payments and digital services to enable online and offline merchants, tourism partners, and other fintechs to create customer-centric engagements for mobile-savvy consumers,” said Douglas Feagin, president of Ant International. “Through greater collaboration, we can create a new future of travel, one that enhances the experience for consumers and promotes growth and connectivity.”
The company said it has strengthened its ecosystem in payments, partnerships, and services to cater to this emerging trend.
Alipay+ is now accepted in more than 100 markets and has expanded its partner network to 40, covering 1.8 billion users. New integrations allow users of Bluecode in Europe, PayPay in Japan, and KBank in Thailand to use their home wallets for cross-border payments. It also launched Alipay+ Voyager, an AI-powered travel assistant that integrates partners such as Trip.com, Agoda, and Grab; the Alipay+ GenAI Cockpit, an AI-as-a-Service solution for digital wallets; and expanded in-app tax refund services through Global Blue.
More than 6.5 million digital wallet users made their first cross-border payment through Alipay+ in the first half of 2025, with transactions across online travel agents and retail merchants growing by over 30%. This growth enables travelers to pay conveniently while helping businesses reach more international customers.
To promote inclusive growth, Alipay+ is strengthening ties with national payment systems. Transactions made through standardized QR codes have nearly doubled, allowing travelers to pay at small and medium-sized enterprises in smaller cities across South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia, and Sri Lanka.
Alipay+ data shows that Asia continues to drive global travel expansion, with intra-Asia travel rising significantly. Transactions among partners in China, Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia increased 32% year on year. Travelers are also becoming more budget-conscious, with A+ Rewards redemptions up 57% and small-value transactions under $10 growing 37%.
In Europe, while destinations such as France, Italy, Germany, and the United Kingdom remain strong, countries like Hungary, Greece, and Norway are seeing faster growth. Beyond shopping, travelers are spending more on local services such as beauty, medical, and education, including a 115% increase in K-beauty transactions in South Korea.
Spending on ride-hailing and public transport also grew sharply, supported by the wider acceptance of Alipay+ across transport networks in smaller destinations such as Shikokuchūō in Japan and Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya in Thailand.