KUALA LUMPUR: Maybank has rolled out Alipay-enabled merchant terminals in Malaysia targeted at the growing number of Chinese tourists coming to the country who spend an estimated RM9 billion a year.
The bank said in a media statement that the Alipay-enabled terminals are available at retail outlets like Royal Selangor, Poh Kong Jewellers, Harrison Signature, Made In Malaysia, Mystical Borneo, King of Fruits, Sunway Resort Hotel, Sunway Clio Hotel, Sunway Pyramid Hotel, DFZ Duty Free, Eraman and also merchants in Kota Kinabalu (i.e. Imperial Seafood Restaurant, Ming Garden Hotel & Residence, and Fish Market Restaurant).
It said more merchants are scheduled to join the list in the coming months.
"The new service follows the recent signing of a strategic partnership between Maybank and Ant Financial Services Group of China to provide Alipay users travelling in Malaysia with contactless payment convenience in various outlets, ranging from high-end department stores and duty free shops to hotels popular with the visitors," the bank said in the statement.
Maybank Group Community Financial Services Head, Datuk Lim Hong Tat said that 80 per cent of travellers from China carry the Alipay digital wallets on their mobile devices.
"They are comfortable with contactless payments and our new terminals will facilitate their purchases in a convenient manner, and also help boost sales amongst our merchants," Lim said.