With Malaysia emerging as Southeast Asia’s top travel destination, Alipay+ makes payments seamless and travel experiences smoother for international visitors
Globally
• Alipay+ acceptance expands to over 100 countries and regions, connecting merchants to 1.8 billion users of 40 international payment partners
• More than 6.5 million consumers used Alipay+ cross-border payments for the first time in the first half of 2025, bringing new opportunities to global merchants
Malaysia
• Malaysia recorded the highest transaction growth in Southeast Asia with a 45% year-on-year increase, reflecting the country’s status as the number one destination in the region and top five most popular global destinations for Alipay+ users; and the top growth market amongst Chinese travellers
• Spending growth across tourist attractions, food and beverage (F&B) and retail and services, showcasing the breadth of Malaysia’s tourism offerings
• Alipay+ transactions via PayNet’s DuitNow QR increased more than 80% year-on-year in the first half of 2025, as it remains the leading contributor to Malaysia’s inbound transaction volume
• Tourism spending via Alipay+ at DuitNow QR merchants increased more than 150% during the same period, bringing revenue to local SMEs
Kuala Lumpur, 16 October 2025 – Alipay+, Ant International’s global wallet gateway, revealed that mobile-first habits are reshaping how international travellers spend in Malaysia. Ranked among the world’s top five most popular destinations and number one in Southeast Asia based on transactions, Malaysia is seeing a surge in mobile wallet usage not only in Kuala Lumpur, but also across secondary cities such as Semporna, Kuantan and Tawau.
With Malaysia preparing to welcome 47 million visitors under the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign, Alipay+ is helping local merchants, and the tourism industry meet growing traveller demand by expanding its payments and digital services ecosystem, including:
- Payments: Growing cross-border payment acceptance for Alipay+ to more than 100 markets, and expanding its partner ecosystem to 40, representing 1.8 billion users. In Malaysia, expanded acceptance and joint campaigns with local partners led to transactions increasing 45% year-on-year.
- Partners: Supporting [new] Bluecode (Europe), PayPay (Japan) and KBank (Thailand) users to pay with their banking and wallet apps when traveling abroad
- Services: New services include (i) Alipay+ Voyager, a built-in AI travel agent, integrating partners like Trip.com, Agoda and Grab, (ii) Alipay+ GenAI Cockpit, an AI-as-a-Service solution for digital wallets to build AI-native solutions, and (iii) Expanded Global Blue in-app tax refunds for more partners, creating an end-to-end digital experience
“Travel has a significant impact on 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.”
This growth has also been further strengthened through Alipay+’s collaboration with Payments Network Malaysia Sdn Bhd (PayNet) to expand payment acceptance and engage travellers, paving the way for three key trends set to define Malaysia’s tourism economy in 2025 and beyond.
“The rise in mobile wallet usage reflects how digital payments are now integral to Malaysia’s tourism experience,” said Farhan Ahmad, PayNet’s Group Chief Executive Officer. “Through PayNet’s collaboration with Alipay+, we’re enabling travellers to spend seamlessly in Malaysia with their home wallets through DuitNow QR. This partnership makes travel easier, while strengthening Malaysia’s position as a regional leader in interoperable, inclusive digital payments. As we gear up for Visit Malaysia 2026, we’re also ensuring local businesses, whether in city centres or small towns, benefit directly from tourist spending.”
Mobile payments become the norm, driving inclusive growth for global merchants
Globally, travellers are embracing the use of their trusted home payment app, with more than 6.5 million digital wallet users using Alipay+ cross-border payments for the first time while abroad in the first half of 2025. Malaysia continues to stand out as a top destination, particularly for travellers from China, Hong Kong SAR, Kazakhstan and Thailand. For Chinese travellers, Malaysia is the top growth market, compared to other global travel hotspots.
Cross-border payment acceptance for Alipay+ in Malaysia is accelerating, with transactions via PayNet’s DuitNow interoperable QR increasing more than 80% year-on-year the first half of 2025. Tourism spending via Alipay+ at DuitNow QR merchants increased more than 150% during the same period, bringing revenue to local SMEs. This growth reflects Malaysia’s position as one of the world’s fastest-rising destinations in terms of total payment volume, where visitors are not only spending more overall but also contributing directly to local SMEs and neighbourhood businesses.
Short-haul, value-conscious travel on the rise, opening up more opportunities for local businesses
Travellers are seeking greater value when they travel by going to places closer to home, looking for deals, and spending at local merchants.
Asia is leading global travel growth in 2025, with intra-Asia travel a big contributor. China, Japan, South Korea, and particularly Southeast Asia are amongst the most popular travel destinations globally, with intra-Asia transactions by Alipay+ partners increasing 32% year-on-year.
Travellers want to save when they can, without compromising on experiencing local destinations. Redemptions via A+ Rewards, an in-app marketing platform where travellers can browse local promotions and coupons, increased 57%. Travellers are also spending more at local businesses, with transactions under USD10 increasing 37%.
While hotspots within Europe like France, Italy, Germany and the United Kingdom remain popular, destinations like Hungary, Greece and Norway saw the biggest growth in transactions, as travellers aim to explore new places while maximising their budgets.
Experiences and niche services in higher demand as travellers seek more conscious travel
Travellers are spending across more diverse travel scenarios beyond retail. While transactions for attractions and F&B continue to see significant growth, spending on local services including beauty, medical and education have become one of the key aspects of travel. For example, transactions for K-beauty services in South Korea increased 115% year-on-year.
In Malaysia, digital payments are opening doors for tourists to explore more authentic, homegrown experiences across the country, whether it’s enjoying street food at a hawker stall or visiting historic heritage sites. This growing digital acceptance is benefitting businesses of all sizes, from neighbourhood hawkers to major retail chains.
Travellers are also going around more independently, with transactions on ride-hailing platforms doubling, and those on public transport increasing close to 50%. The expansion of Alipay+ acceptance across merchants and different modes of transportation has made it easier for travellers to visit smaller towns including Semporna in Malaysia, Shikokuchūō in Japan, Jeollabuk-do in South Korea and Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province in Thailand.
*All Alipay+ data included are year-to-year comparison between H1 2025 and H1 2024
