Alipay, the world’s largest online and mobile payment platform operated by Ant Financial Services Group, is now available for Chinese tourists at all 242 Starbucks locations across Malaysia.
Chinese tourists can find the nearest Starbucks through the in-app Discovery platform and then pay for their drinks in RMB via Alipay.
In addition, the two companies are running a marketing campaign from Aug. 18 to Oct. 31, giving a Chinese tourist using Alipay in Starbucks 10 percent off with a cap at RMB 5 yuan and a free drink-size upgrade at the same time once every week. They will also receive a 10 percent-off e-voucher for future use after their first transaction.
“Starbucks is one of the most visited merchants by Chinese tourists in many countries. Through Alipay’s Discovery platform, we are leading our users to the nearest Starbucks wherever they are in Malaysia. Getting a cup of familiar coffee with a familiar payment method at a random street corner in Malaysia will make one’s journey as relaxed as at home,” said Dayong Zhang, general manager of Alipay Southeast Asia.
Merchants in Malaysia started to accept Alipay in April 2017, and it’s now available at more than 5,000 merchants, including more than 2,100 7-Eleven stores. Alipay processes 175 million transactions per day, and 60 percent of all Alipay transactions happen via mobile device.
“Now you can use Alipay to pay for your favorite Starbucks beverage at all Starbucks store around Malaysia, including 32 Drive-Thru concept stores and 15 stores in the airport. It is so convenient that customers just have to flash their mobile application at the counter without going through money exchanger to get a cup of coffee. We would like to invite all Alipay users to enjoy their favorite cup of Starbucks beverage during their stay in Malaysia,” said Sydney Quays, chief executive officer of Berjaya Food Berhad.
China is the third largest international visitor market for Malaysia. More than 2.12 million Chinese tourists visited Malaysia in 2016, a year-on-year increase of 8.3 percent from the first quarter of 2017.