Mastercard-Alipay partnership enables cardless payments for tourists in China

Mastercard, a payments giant, has partnered with Alipay to launch a new payment option for international visitors in China. The latter, which is under the Ant Group, is the leading open platform for payments and digital services in China. The collaboration, which was announced on Wednesday, allows tourists to go pay cashless while on the Chinese Mainland.

Mastercard-Alipay partnership

The offering from the Mastercard-Alipay partnership allows international visitors in China to pay just like the locals in a simple, seamless, and secure way. This is regardless of the country the Mastercard card was issued. Notably, the partnership is an advancement from the collaboration announced in 2019.

To enjoy this service, all a cardholder needs to do is link their Mastercard debit or credit card to the Alipay digital wallet. This eliminates the need to sign up or top up a prepaid account.

The General Manager of Ant Group’s Greater China International Business, Venetia Lee stated, “The new service offered by Alipay and Mastercard will not only enable a better experience for international travelers when visiting China but will also unlock more business opportunities for merchants on the Alipay open platform as global travel is set for rapid growth”.

The Alipay-Mastercard partnership comes as the Chinese economy steadily recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic that heavily impacted travel to and within the nation. The cashless payment option will be safe and convenient for international visitors as they work, play, shop, and relax in the Asian country. This also means more opportunities for businesses of all sizes.

With Mastercard Payment Gateway Services (MPGS), overseas transactions on the Alipay digital wallet are processed via Mastercard’s omnichannel payments platform. This allows businesses to accept payments from any part of the globe. At the same time, consumers are assured of a safe and easy way of completing international transactions.