Ant International has expanded the reach and features of its Alipay+ platform, introducing new artificial intelligence-powered services and increasing the platform's payment ecosystem to link 1.8 billion users to merchants across more than 100 markets.
Recent data from Alipay+ reveals a notable change in the habits of international travellers, with over 6.5 million users employing the platform for the first time overseas in the first six months of this year, leading to a 30 percent rise in transaction volumes.
AI redefines travel
Alipay+ highlights the growing influence of artificial intelligence in the travel industry, positioning AI-powered tools as increasingly central to planning and making purchases while abroad. Key to this approach is the Alipay+ Voyager feature, an AI travel agent aimed at helping users plan journeys, facilitate payments and discover local experiences.
The platform's expansion presents a significant opportunity for tourism operators, especially in markets like Australia, to attract international visitors who prefer mobile and AI-based interactions. As mobile wallets become more widespread, the data shows they are changing consumer spending patterns, particularly benefiting local businesses looking to attract overseas travellers.
"Travel has a significant impact to local economies, and we believe that mobile wallets can be a catalyst for growth, connecting travellers and businesses in more ways than ever," said Douglas Feagin, President of Ant International. "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. Through greater collaboration, we can create a new future of travel, one that enhances the experience for consumers, and promotes growth and connectivity."
Improved global acceptance
Alipay+ now supports cross-border payment acceptance in over 100 countries and regions, drawing in 1.8 billion users of 40 international payment partners. This includes new partners such as Bluecode (Europe), PayPay (Japan), and KBank (Thailand), broadening the options for travellers who wish to pay using their domestic banking or wallet applications while abroad.
The payment ecosystem's expansion also leverages services like Alipay+ Voyager, the built-in AI agent that integrates with third-party partners such as Trip.com, Agoda and Grab. Additionally, the Alipay+ GenAI Cockpit offers digital wallets the tools to create AI-native solutions, and Global Blue's tax refund features have been extended within the application, seeking to deliver a complete digital experience for users.
Changing travel patterns
Analysis reveals that more travellers are opting for short-haul and value-conscious trips, with a focus on affordable destinations and increased expenditure on local services such as food, wellness and transport. The data shows intra-Asia travel is a significant contributor to global tourism growth in 2025, with notable increases in cross-border transactions, particularly within China, Japan, South Korea and Southeast Asia. Transactions among Alipay+ partners within Asia surged by 32 percent year-on-year.
The platform's marketing features, such as A+ Rewards, have also proven popular. The number of redemptions of local offers and coupons grew by 57 percent, while transactions under USD $10 rose by 37 percent, demonstrating a shift towards spending at local businesses. Interest in less traditional destinations has also grown: countries like Hungary, Greece and Norway recorded the highest transaction growth rates in Europe, as travellers search for new experiences while remaining mindful of their budgets.
Diversified expenditure
An increasing proportion of mobile wallet users are spending money across a wider range of travel-related services. Although retail, attractions and food and beverage continue to attract considerable expenditure, local offerings in sectors such as beauty, healthcare and education are increasingly popular. For instance, payments for Korean beauty services in South Korea rose by 115 percent year-on-year.
The way travellers move about is also evolving, with payments for ride-hailing platforms doubling and those for public transport rising by nearly 50 percent. The expanded acceptance of Alipay+ across different types of merchants and transit options has made it increasingly accessible for visitors to reach not only major cities but also smaller towns across countries including Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and Thailand.
Expanding national integration
An important aspect of Alipay+'s growth has been its collaboration with national payment networks. Transactions processed through standardised QR codes have nearly doubled, offering more small and medium-sized enterprises in a variety of destinations-including smaller cities-the ability to benefit from tourism-driven spending.
Alipay+'s platform is now positioned to further connect global travellers and merchants, leveraging developments in artificial intelligence and the popularity of mobile payments to support evolving trends in travel, commerce and local economic participation.
