Weixin Pay experienced a significant increase in cross-border transactions during China’s National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday period, with a 21% rise year-on-year. The surge was driven by Chinese tourists travelling abroad, particularly to visa-free Southeast Asian countries like Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand. These countries saw a notable boost in spending, with Singapore’s transactions up by 32% and Malaysia’s PayNet transactions tripling.
The Greater Bay Area, including Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR, remained popular destinations, leading in cross-border Weixin Pay transaction volumes. Ride-hailing services in Hong Kong, such as DiDi and Uber, saw a fivefold increase in bookings by mainland tourists. Meanwhile, Japan also benefited from a 25% rise in Weixin Pay transactions, aided by integration with local e-wallets.
Weixin Mini Programmes, which now operate in 92 countries, also saw growth. Transactions in the tourism and catering sectors increased by 50% and 30% year-on-year, respectively. New Mini Programmes for airport express services in Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, and Heathrow enhanced travel convenience.
Inbound tourism to China also saw a boost, with a 60% increase in international tourists using Mini Programmes. Hong Kong residents travelling to the mainland during the holiday increased their spending by over 120% year-on-year, with entertainment and sports events being particularly popular.
The data underscores the growing global reach of Weixin Pay and its Mini Programmes, facilitating seamless travel and spending for Chinese tourists worldwide.
