【True Insight Hong Kong Market Trends】Sands China partnered with Alipay and Macau Pass to successfully launch the innovative digital payment solution 'Tap & Go' in Macau, enhancing the convenient payment experience for both domestic and international visitors to Macau.
On January 14, $SANDS CHINA LTD(01928.HK), Alipay, and Macau Pass joined hands to launch the "Tap & Pay" service at Sands Resorts Macao. This initiative will further enhance the payment experience for tourists visiting Macau, activating new digital business and marketing scenarios through innovative payment interaction technology, promoting the construction of Macau's smart city, and supporting the digital upgrade and interconnectivity of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
"Tap & Pay" is an innovative payment service launched by Alipay in July 2024 in mainland China. Users only need to unlock their phones without opening the Alipay app and tap the merchant's payment device to complete the transaction. This experience quickly won the favor of users and merchants. Currently, "Tap & Pay" has been deployed in over 100 cities and more than 1,000 shopping malls and commercial districts in mainland China. Beyond payments, Alipay's "Tap & Pay" has also collaborated with partners to create over 50 digital services, such as "Tap & Order" and "Tap & Open Self-Service Lockers."
In the first phase of the tripartite collaboration, "Tap & Pay" has been implemented in 300 stores across Sands China's integrated resorts, including The Venetian Macao, The Parisian Macao, The Londoner Macao, and Sands Macao, covering various consumption scenarios such as hotels, dining, shopping, and ticketing, providing customers with a convenient payment experience. Mainland tourists using "Tap & Pay" at Sands Resorts Macao can also enjoy multiple discounts during the promotional period, such as an exclusive "8 RMB off for first-time users" offer and Sands' exclusive discount of up to 888 RMB off, along with additional discounts for outbound travel transactions.
Today, a single payment device can meet the payment needs of both tourists and local residents using mainstream e-wallets. Merchants at Sands Resorts Macao shared, "Due to the high acceptance of the 'Tap & Pay' method among mainland tourists and the recent promotional activities, transaction orders using this payment method have significantly increased since its launch, effectively improving operational efficiency."
Li Jiajia, Vice President of Ant Group's Alipay, stated: "Macau's unique position as a convergence point for domestic and international circulation provides an excellent environment for innovative technologies. Alipay and Alipay+ cross-border services already cover nearly 90% of Macau's merchants. The successful launch of 'Tap & Pay' in Macau will further enhance payment convenience for tourists, accelerate merchants' digital transformation, unlock more business potential, and promote digital life interconnectivity within the Greater Bay Area."
The launch of "Tap & Pay" in Macau is not a simple replication of the payment model but the creation of a benchmark for digital business tailored to local characteristics. This tripartite collaboration deeply integrates Alipay's user experience and membership preferences, Sands China's unparalleled scenario services and facilities, and Macau Pass's regional coverage and operational expertise, jointly exploring a new digital business model.
Chung Chun Kit, Vice President of E-Commerce and Digital Marketing at Sands China, said: "Sands China is honored to be the first group in Macau to offer this innovative payment technology. By deeply integrating 'Tap & Pay' with various scenarios within our integrated resorts, we further enhance the seamless and convenient payment experience for domestic and international tourists, contributing to Macau's digital economy and technological innovation. In the future, Sands China will continue to leverage more innovation and technological collaborations to support the Macau SAR government's development, making convenient and digital services accessible and contributing to the high-quality growth of Macau's tourism industry."
Zhao Hao, Chief Product and Technology Officer of Macau Pass, said: "As a leader in Macau's local digital solutions, Macau Pass has deeply integrated its digital capabilities with 'Tap & Pay' technology, connecting local ecosystem scenarios to create a new digital business model with local characteristics. In the future, we will further integrate one-stop terminals, benefits, and membership capabilities to support merchants' digital upgrades, promote the high-quality development of Macau's digital economy, and provide strong support for the moderate diversification of the economy."
With the application of new technologies, the interaction between digital finance, innovative business models, and new productive forces will become even closer. The launch of "Tap & Pay" will not only further enhance the convenience of mobile payments in Macau but also drive the deep integration of the real economy and the digital economy, injecting momentum into smart tourism and smart city construction. At the same time, leveraging Macau's unique geographical advantages, it will promote the deep integration of Macau and the Greater Bay Area's digital economy development with superior tourist consumption experiences and innovative digital ecosystems, showcasing Macau's charm as an international city in the global market.
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