KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 13 (Bernama) -- Tourism Malaysia and Alipay+, the unified wallet gateway of Ant International, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance digital tourism services, cross-border commerce and merchant engagement ahead of Visit Malaysia 2026-2027 (VM2026-2027).
In a statement today, Tourism Malaysia said the collaboration combines its destination marketing capabilities with Alipay+'s global digital wallet network and artificial intelligence (AI) technology to connect international visitors with local tourism operators and small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
The initiative also aims to encourage visitors to explore destinations beyond major tourism hubs, spreading economic benefits to businesses nationwide.
Tourism Malaysia director-general Mohd Amirul Rizal Abdul Rahim said the collaboration would make it easier for travellers to discover the country through a seamless digital experience while strengthening Malaysia's competitiveness as a smart tourism destination.
“Digital technologies continue to reshape the way people plan and experience travel, and Tourism Malaysia remains committed to embracing innovative solutions that enhance visitor convenience and engagement.
“By leveraging digital platforms with extensive international reach, we can engage travellers more effectively while showcasing Malaysia's diverse tourism experiences to a wider global audience,” he said.
According to the statement, more than 600,000 Malaysian merchants, primarily SMEs, received payments through Alipay+ partner digital wallets and banking applications in the first half of 2026, an increase of more than 70 per cent year-on-year.
Traveller spending through DuitNow also rose by more than 60 per cent during the period, with Alipay+ accounting for the largest share of inbound QR transactions nationwide. Alipay+ also currently connects more than two billion user accounts with 150 million merchants across 210 destinations.
Meanwhile, Ant International's Alipay+ general manager for Southeast Asia, South Asia, Australia and New Zealand (ANZ), Michael Guo, said the collaboration would help local businesses move beyond accepting international payments to engaging global customers more actively.
“Cross-border commerce is evolving beyond the moment of payment. AI can now connect a traveller's intent with the right destination, business and offer.
“Through our collaboration with Tourism Malaysia, we are helping local businesses move from simply accepting international payments to actively engaging global customers, creating more opportunities for Malaysian businesses, particularly SMEs, to participate in the growth of cross-border travel and commerce,” he said.
A core component of the collaboration is Alipay+ Voyager, an AI-powered travel agent embedded in digital wallets that recommends Tourism Malaysia-verified cultural, culinary and experiential offerings based on travellers' interests, creating a new digital channel to reach international customers at the moment of discovery.
According to the statement, the collaboration will also give Malaysian merchants greater access to international travellers through global e-wallet platforms, personalised tourism offers and a campaign offering 20 per cent savings via PayNet’s DuitNow to encourage spending at local businesses.
--BERNAMA