admin In a landmark move, payment service provider Citcon has solidified a strategic partnership with the cross-border mobile payment platform Alipay+. The collaboration, unveiled through an official statement on Thursday, December 7th 2023 is poised to revolutionise international e-wallet payments for U.S. retail merchants.
Empowering U.S. Merchants and International Shoppers
At the forefront of this partnership stands duty-free retail group International Shoppes, emerging as one of the pioneering merchants to leverage the capabilities of Alipay+ and its affiliated wallets across key countries such as China, Hong Kong, Singapore, and South Korea. By seamlessly integrating Alipay+ into their payment options, U.S. merchants, backed by Citcon’s payment processing expertise, are equipped to cater to the payment preferences of international visitors. This move is anticipated to provide a convenient and secure payment avenue for inbound travellers, particularly from major Asian destinations.
Riding the Wave of Inbound Travel from APAC
The collaboration strategically aligns with the surge in inbound travel from the Asia Pacific (APAC) region, a trend witnessed as pandemic-related travel restrictions have eased. According to Wei Jiang, Co-founder, President, and Chief Operating Officer of Citcon, the spending behaviour of international travellers has experienced triple-digit growth. Recognising this shift, Jiang emphasises the need for U.S. retailers to adapt to the evolving payment landscape and create an inclusive environment for visitors from the APAC region.
However, the challenge lies in the legacy payment infrastructure prevalent among U.S. merchants, designed to accommodate domestic payment methods. While larger retailers have successfully embraced innovative payment options such as QR codes, smaller merchants may encounter hurdles in making this transition. Casey Bullock, Citcon’s CEO, emphasises the inevitability of evolving user preferences and underscores the importance of providing consumers with diverse payment choices.
In essence, the Citcon and Alipay+ partnership emerges as a pivotal step in bridging the gap between international visitors’ e-wallet preferences and the payment infrastructure of U.S. merchants. As the global payments landscape continues to evolve, this collaboration promises a seamless and inclusive payment experience for a diverse range of consumers.
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