As China continues to facilitate cross-border travel, the increasing number of Chinese tourists going abroad will contribute to the recovery of the global tourism sector with their strong spending power, observers said, amid more measures launched by individual countries to draw in Chinese tourists.
The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) and WeChat Pay have launched a consumer voucher campaign to provide more convenient and discounted services for Chinese tourists visiting South Korea, news website china.org.cn reported on Monday.
That's just one example of Chinese digital travel innovation, which allows both Chinese outbound travelers and overseas tourists to travel and pay hassle-free globally, and merchants to expand cross-border consumer engagement and digital marketing.
According to the KTO, South Korea received nearly 1.42 million international visitor trips in June this year, close to the same period in 2019. The Chinese mainland accounted for the largest number of visitors at 397,000.
In May, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) became the first national tourism promotion agency to launch the Alipay+ D-hub, an in-app digital platform designed to customize travel experiences based on user preferences, providing essential travel and cultural information and exclusive promotions for tourists visiting Thailand.
The collaboration plays a crucial role in reviving the number of Chinese tourists to Thailand and supporting the rapid growth of digital payment services. With growing Alipay+ acceptance, it brings economic stimulation, particularly to secondary Thai cities and small and medium-sized enterprises, the Xinhua News Agency reported, citing Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya, TAT deputy governor.
