Insight ReportInternational Travel in China: New Competition as WeChat Pay and Alipay Accept Foreign Payment Cards? Echo Gong, Senior Analyst Sector Lead: Anand Kumar, Associate Director of Retail Research August 16, 2023 Reasons to ReadFollowing Alipay’s and WeChat Pay’s announcements that they will allow international (non-Chinese) payment cards to be linked to their payment systems for the first time, we assess how these new payment systems announced by WeChat Pay and Alipay will unlock international tourists’ spending, affecting both Chinese and international retailers. Data in this research report are: International and domestic flight volumes in China, current vs pre-pandemic Pre-pandemic international travelers’ reasons for visiting China Main attractions for pre-pandemic international travelers Other relevant research: Read our China Consumer Tracker reports for weekly insights into consumer behavior Key Festivals and Holidays for Promotional Campaigns in China in 2023: Calendar Retail 2023: 10 Trends in China E-Commerce Already a subscriber? Log in You are currently viewing a preview of this report. Please select an access option to view the full report. Hide Options - Show Options + Get unlimited access to all our research with one of our subscription plans. View Subscription Plans or Contact us to purchase this report. Contact us ✕ This document was generated for Other research you may be interested in: Shoptalk Spring 2026: Day 1—Agentic Commerce and AI-Driven Personalization; Retail Media Innovation and Omnichannel Data; Emotional Connection and Loyalty in the AI EraMarket Outlook: US Convenience Store Retailing—Charting New Paths Through Structural HeadwindsCES 2026: Pre-Conference Insights—Tech Markets, Key Technologies and Innovative New Products4Q24 Earnings Season Wrap-Up: Widespread Positive Sales Growth Recorded This Quarter
