Genting launches Alipay to target Chinese tourists

Genting has collaborated with CIMB Bank to launch cashless payment with the introduction of Alipay at Resorts World Genting, targeting primarily at Chinese visitors. The partnership, which was announced recently, marks the resort as the first hospitality merchant to introduce Alipay in Malaysia.“We have enjoyed a meaningful working relationship with CIMB Bank over the years, and now we are only too happy to be working with them to make Alipay a reality at the resort,” said Paul Baker (pictured left), deputy chief operating officer of Resorts World Genting.With this, travellers are able to use their Alipay mobile wallet at various F&B outlets at Resorts World Genting, Awana Skyway station, SkyAvenue station and indoor Theme Park (SnowWorld, Bowling centre and Vision City).It is also accepted at its five hotels, namely Genting Grand, Maxims & Crockfords, Resort Hotel, First World Hotel and Awana Hotel, M Spa & Fitness at Genting Grand and Genting Rewards Gallery stores. This is the first phase of Alipay introduction at the resort that covers all its properties.  The resort will subsequently be working with about 160 third party tenants to introduce this service in stages. In addition, once the world’s first Twentieth Century Fox World Theme Park opens, there would a complete Alipay service for the entire resort.“We are delighted to witness our first merchant, Genting Malaysia going live with Alipay mobile wallet. Leveraging on our vast suite of cash management products, we are confident that our leading edge expertise in transaction banking will continue to bring great value to this and future collaborations, marking the start of many great things ahead,” Hendra Lembong, CEO of transaction banking at CIMB Group, said.On why it wants to target the Chinese tourists, Genting revealed nearly one-third of the two million tourists from China who visited Malaysia in 2016, came to Resorts World Genting. It added that this year, Malaysia's Ministry of  Tourism and Culture has projected three million Chinese visitors who would the country and out of this figure, one million is expected to visit Resorts World Genting.“The China market has always been an important one for us, and we are proud that the number of visitors from this country has grown tremendously in the last few years. It shows their satisfaction with our products and services. With Alipay we hope to enhance their holiday experience here and offer them the convenience as this is an important lifestyle product and one that they use extensively in their daily lives,” added Baker.