Travelers visiting China can now link their Mastercard and Visa cards to Chinese payment platforms Alipay and WeChat Pay, the most widely accepted payment methods in the country.

The move will allow to travellers to make digital payments via mobile devices at millions of locations across the country, where QR codes are the most popular form of payment, just like Chinese locals.

Mastercard data shows that the global travel sector is rebounding, with leisure travel bookings increasing by 31 per cent in March 2023 compared with the same period in 2019. The company said that popular travel destinations, including the Chinese Mainland, will “actively benefit from this trend”.

“We strive to enable more consumers and SMEs to enjoy the benefits brought by inclusive digital payment services,” said Venetia Lee, general manager of Ant Group Greater China International Business, which operates Alipay. “The new service offered by Alipay and Mastercard will not only enable a better experience for international travellers when visiting China but will also unlock more business opportunities for merchants on the Alipay open platform as global travel is set for rapid growth.”

Tencent, which owns WeChat Pay, also known as Weixin Pay in China, will allow users to link several payment cards to its digital wallet. These include Visa, Discover Global Network (including Diners Club), JCB, and Mastercard.

Tencent said that transaction fees are waived for purchases of less than or equal to 200 RMB. Users can use their passports and travel permits to set up their WeChat pay account and link their international payment cards.

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