GHL and Alipay+ Partner to Facilitate Cross-Border Digital Payments in the Philippines

“This partnership signifies a significant leap forward in our mission to enhance the digital payment landscape in the Philippines. Besides enabling local businesses to tap into a broader customer base, we are also reinforcing our commitment to provide innovative solutions that cater to the evolving needs of both merchants and consumers. We are excited about the possibilities this partnership brings and the positive impact it will have on facilitating seamless cross-border transactions in the country.” ~Jay Tirona, GHL Philippines’ CEO

GHL Systems Philippines Inc. (GHL Philippines), a wholly owned subsidiary of GHL Systems Berhad, has enabled Alipay+ for local businesses in the Philippines to accept cross-border digital face-to-face and e-commerce payments from leading Asian mobile wallet providers. This integration enables merchants to accept cross-border digital payments from popular Asian mobile wallets such as AlipayHK (Hong Kong SAR), Kakao Pay (South Korea), Touch 'n Go eWallet (Malaysia), and Alipay (Chinese mainland), which account for the majority of inbound travelers to the Philippines. Travelers from these regions can now use their local mobile wallets to make payments in the Philippines at even more merchants, providing a wider range of payment options than cash or foreign-issued credit or debit cards.   

Travelers to the Philippines can now use their home e-wallets at GHL-powered retail outlets thanks to a partnership with Alipay+, Ant International's cross-border mobile payment and digitalization technology solutions. This collaboration aims to improve travelers' payment experiences while also benefiting a diverse range of local businesses in retail, food and beverage, hospitality, and attractions across the country.   

Tourist arrivals in the Philippines are expected to reach 8.21 million this year, surpassing both 5.4 million in 2023 and 7.1 million in 2019, the latter being the last full year before the pandemic. This increase highlights the significant rebound in tourism, as well as a growing demand for efficient and accessible payment options.

“We are excited about our partnership with GHL Philippines and the opportunities it presents to transform cross-border payments in the Philippines. This collaboration underscores our commitment to providing innovative and seamless payment solutions to users worldwide. As tourists return to explore the beauty of the Philippines, we aim to empower more local merchants to benefit from the growth in tourism and engage with global users more easily.” ~Michael Hao, Ant International Country Manager for the Philippines

Alipay+, launched by Ant International in 2020, now connects over 88 million merchants in 57 countries and regions to users of over 25 e-wallets and bank apps, allowing consumers to travel and pay with ease around the world and merchants to expand cross-border consumer engagement and digital marketing. Aside from the Philippines, Alipay+ is widely accepted in popular travel destinations such as Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, South Korea, Europe, and the Middle East.