Alipay recorded a significant increase in China’s outbound and inbound travel spending during the Lunar New Year holiday.

The number of Alipay transactions made by outbound Chinese travellers across the 90 million-strong Alipay+ global merchants network increased by 30% year-on-year, according to the e-wallet provider. Their top destinations, which showed the highest growth rates in total Alipay spending, were Singapore, Japan, Malaysia, Hong Kong SAR, and South Korea.

China inbound travel spending via Alipay, meanwhile, surged by 150% y-o-y in the first five days of the holiday. The number of inbound travellers using their home e-wallets supported by the Alipay+ solution nearly doubled y-o-y during the first four days of the Lunar New Year.

The surge in spending has been facilitated by the Alipay+ cross-border mobile payment and digitalization solutions, the e-wallet provider says. Chinese travellers, along with users of 34 other e-wallets in Asia and Europe, can use their own home payment app across 66 markets without the need to exchange currency or carry cash.

Also, global Alipay+ merchants have joined Alipay in an exclusive campaign to lure travelers during the country's longest national holiday. From January 28th to 30th, the number of transactions made by Alipay users in overseas destinations increased by 30% compared to the same period last year.

Friendlier visa policies in major destinations are also a major factor. In Singapore, total Alipay spending rose by 56% y-o-y, making the Southeast Asian city-state the most popular destination. Japan also emerged as a favourite spot, with a 40% increase in Alipay spending, driven by relaxed visa policies and a weakened yen. Malaysia, Hong Kong SAR, and South Korea also rank among the top five destinations.

Long-haul travel also rebounded. Alipay users made 30% more transactions in Europe than in the previous Lunar New Year holiday. In addition to traditionally popular destinations like the United Kingdom, France, and Italy, emerging destinations such as Switzerland, Austria, and Turkey also saw a notable rise in the number of transactions.

Meanwhile, thanks to the diverse global merchant network of Alipay+, Chinese tourists are showing increased appetite for more personalized and local experience, the mobile payment platform says. Beyond shopping and entertainment, Alipay spending in cosmetic surgery rose by 449% y-o-y. Food spending via Alipay also shows a varied pattern, with spending on meals, snacks, and desserts increasing by 33%, 36%, and 54%, respectively.

Greater interest in immersive local travel trends also drives local transportation usage. Total Alipay spending on overseas bus, subway and ride-hailing trips grew by 139% y-o-y.