Sands China, a resort developer and operator, launched the mainland payment service Alipay Tap at Sands Resorts Macao in collaboration with Macau Pass and Alipay.
Sands China, Alipay and Macau Pass jointly introduced the innovative contactless payment service Alipay Tap across 300 merchants in Sands China integrated resorts, including The Venetian Macao, The Parisian Macao, The Londoner Macao, and Sands Macao.
Alipay Tap was designed to simplify in-store contactless payment processes, maintaining the high-quality user experience and security of the regular Alipay services. It improves and speeds up the checkout routine, enabling customers to complete payments without opening the Alipay app or scanning a QR code. All the buyers need is to bring their NFC-enabled phone close to the terminal. If Alipay’s small-amount password-free payment feature is enabled, the payment will be finalised without further actions. If not, the user will additionally enter a password to complete the transaction.
The feature has been available in mainland China since July 2024. It is now present in over 100 Chinese cities and more than 1,000 shopping malls and commercial districts. As the popularity of the service keeps growing, Alipay has also created a few adjacent solutions such as “Tap to Order” or “Tap to Open Self-service Vending Machine” in collaboration with several retail partners.
As the Alipay Tap solution gradually rolls out among Macao resorts, merchants can utilise a single terminal to accommodate payment requirements for both tourists and local residents via popular e-wallets. Besides, the new payment platform supports various customer needs, such as hotel stays, dining, shopping, and ticket purchases.
To boost the adoption, the companies behind the new service introduced a few promotions for Mainland Chinese tourists using Alipay Tap at Sands Resorts Macao. These include an exclusive coupon for their first transaction with the service in the city, as well as other lucrative cross-border travel deals.
Along with facilitating checkout processes for merchants and tourists, Alipay Tap has a larger mission in Macao, aiming to contribute to its smart city development and boost connectivity within the Greater Bay Area. As a special administrative region of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), Macao has unique economic opportunities. The city has been actively pursuing smart city initiatives to modernise its infrastructure, improve governance, and enhance the quality of life for both residents and almost 35 million tourists who visit the location each year. Most of all, Macao is focused on building advanced telecommunications infrastructure, integration of digital payment platforms, e-government and digital identity systems, intelligent traffic management, and AI-powered tourist platforms.
“Macao has unique geographic advantages, providing an ideal environment for the introduction of innovative technologies. Alipay and Alipay+’s cross-border services have already covered nearly 90% of merchants in Macao. The successful introduction of Alipay Tap! in Macao will further enhance the convenience of payments for Chinese mainland visitors, accelerate the digital transformation of businesses, unlock more commercial potential, and promote the digital connectivity of digital everyday services within the Greater Bay Area.”
Jiajia Li, Vice President of Alipay, Ant Group
Gavin Zhao, Chief Technical Officer of Macau Pass, added that, in the future, the firm plans to integrate one-stop terminals, benefits, and membership capabilities with the Alipay tap technology within the local payment ecosystem, assisting merchants in digital transformation and fostering the growth of Macao’s digital economy.
