As a way of bolstering innovation further, Thailand’s Central Retail Corporation Public Company Ltd (CRC) is set to join the numerous retailers who have joined Amazing Thailand, an exclusive tourist privilege program jointly established by Alipay+ and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) last month. 

Being part of Amazing Thailand enables Central Retail to connect with tourists directly in-app, increase the visibility of its stores, as well as offer additional promotions and more targeted engagements.

Initially available to Chinese travellers via Alipay, Amazing Thailand will eventually be rolled out to other Alipay+ partner apps.

Leading the way in retail innovation

Through such strategic partnerships, Central Retail continues to lead in the fields of retail and wholesale.

While Chinese tourist spending at Central Retail stores remains high, transactions through other Alipay+ partners throughout Asia doubled in the second quarter of this year. Tourists from Hong Kong, Malaysia, the Philippines, and South Korea were noted to have spent substantially through Alipay+ partner platforms like AlipayHK, Touch ‘n Go, GCash, and Kakao Pay.

Central Retail began accepting Alipay for Chinese tourists in 2015, later expanding its partnership with Alipay+ last year to cater to the new digital-first habits of today’s rravellers. As such, it currently accepts 13 international mobile payment apps, from eight destinations, across all its 3,000 stores in Thailand.

According to Central Retail head of corporate marketing Piyawan Leelasompop: “By accepting multiple leading international payment apps via Alipay+, it enables us to reach more tourists from top inbound destinations to Thailand and make every transaction seamless, quick and familiar.”