Integrated resort operator Sands China said in a statement yesterday that it has partnered with Alipay and Macau Pass to introduce the payment service “Alipay Tap!” to its properties.
The statement noted that the payment service, first introduced in the mainland in July last year, can be used across 300 businesses at The Venetian Macao, The Parisian Macao, The Londoner Macao and Sands Macao in the first phase.
The service can be used in paying for hotel accommodation, dining, shopping, and ticketing, among others, and special offers are available to mainland visitors using the service during the promotional period, according to the statement.
Through “Alipay Tap!”, payments can be conducted without opening the Alipay app, with the statement adding that users only need to unlock their phones and tap the respective business’s payment device. The service is available in over 100 cities and more than 1,000 shopping malls and commercial districts in the mainland, the statement said.
Li Jiajia, vice-president of Alipay, Ant Group, was quoted by the statement as saying: “Macau has unique geographic advantages, providing an ideal environment for the introduction of innovative technologies. Alipay and Alipay+’s cross-border services have already covered nearly 90 percent of merchants in Macau”.
Li added: “The successful introduction of Alipay Tap! in Macau will further enhance the convenience of payments for mainland Chinese visitors, accelerate the digital transformation of businesses, unlock more commercial potential, and promote the digital connectivity of digital everyday services within the Greater Bay Area [GBA].”
Sands China Vice President of E-Commerce and Digital Marketing Allan Chung (鍾俊傑) was quoted as saying: “By deeply integrating it across various business operations within Sands Resorts Macao, we have significantly enhanced the payment experience, making it smoother and more convenient for both domestic and international visitors. This initiative also helps foster an environment for the digital economy and technological innovation in Macau”
Moreover, Macau Pass Chief Technical Officer Gavin Zhao (趙皓) said in the statement: “As a leader in digital solutions in Macau, Macau Pass will integrate its own digital capabilities with the Alipay Tap! technology, connecting with local ecosystem scenarios to create a new model of digital commerce with local characteristics.”
This undated handout photo provided by Sands China yesterday shows the Alipay Tap! payment service in use.
