Alipay is currently in talks with relevant Thai government agencies, including the TAT, to enhance Chinese tourists’ overall experience in Thailand.

 

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and Alipay have signed a letter of intent (LoI) to form a long-term strategic partnership to offer Chinese tourists more product and service options in the South-east Asian nation.

 

Mobile and online payment platform Alipay, operated by Ant Financial Services Group, is currently in talks with relevant Thai government agencies, including the TAT, to enhance Chinese tourists’ overall experience in Thailand. Alipay, which boasts over one billion members, will provide a more efficient payment method via its platform and help Thai local merchants improve their services and better support Chinese travellers.

 

TAT’s governor Yuthasak Supasorn said: “The LoI signifies the commitment between both parties to forge a long-lasting strategic partnership. This cooperation in the field of tourism will facilitate Chinese tourists to access more options and enjoy better services while raising awareness among the Chinese about the ease of travelling to and around Thailand.”

 

According to a report by China Tourism Academy and Ctrip, Thailand was the most popular destination for Chinese visitors in 2018. Last year, over 10.5 million visitors out of 38 million total arrivals to Thailand were from China, making it the number one source market. In addition, Chinese tourists spent on average 55,579 baht (US$1,744) per person per trip in 2018, up 5.1 per cent year-on-year, generating 586.5 billion baht in revenue (up 12.6 per cent).