INTERNATIONAL. Cross-border mobile payment company* CITCON is partnering with DFS Group to launch WeChat Pay at DFS, San Francisco International Airport and T Galleria by DFS, Hawaii.
DFS said it is taking travel retail “one step further” by integrating WeChat Pay, China’s most popular mobile payment platform. It is used by one billion Chinese consumers, CITCON said. Chinese travellers will be able to shop in the DFS stores as they do at home by simply scanning a QR code to make a payment. The cross-border payment solutions allow Chinese consumers to purchase products via their WeChat mobile wallet with Chinese currency.
“Travel retail is a major growth engine driving the luxury retail sector today, and partnering with CITCON to accept WeChat Pay in multiple payment scenarios allows us to provide an integral and seamless payment experience that Chinese consumers are familiar and comfortable with,” said DFS Group Region President Americas, Pacific Islands, Japan Mike Osorio.
China has been the world’s number one outbound tourism country for four consecutive years, accounting for over 13% of total tourism revenue globally, CITCON said. The USA is one of the most popular Chinese destinations and by 2020, five million Chinese travellers are expected to spend U$80 billion in the country, the company added.
“Travel retail is worth about 15% of the broader personal luxury goods market, and the global value of travel retail itself is set to reach US$85 billion by 2020,” CITCON said. “Chinese consumers will remain one of the biggest drivers of growth in the global luxury market in the foreseeable future.”
CITCON Founder & CEO Chuck Hang said: “The tourism market is evolving. Consumers are moving rapidly from their first overseas trips and first luxury purchases to become extremely sophisticated travellers and discerning consumers,”
“Providing a good customer service with Chinese-tailored solutions is especially important and payment plays a key role in today’s new commerce environment. CITCON shares the common goal with DFS to bring the innovation of mobile payment to exceed customers’ expectations. In addition, the mobile payment solution provided by CITCON enables retailers such as DFS to develop a more interactive mobile marketing and commerce channel to engage with their customers.”
CITCON President and Chief Operating Officer Wei Jiang said: “We are thrilled to partner with DFS Group to pilot launch WeChat Pay at two of the most popular US destinations for Chinese travellers. This is in addition to the earlier launch on its WeChat Mini programme, which allows customers to easily pre-order and pay for their purchases using WeChat Pay and pick up at DFS stores.
DFS accepts WeChat Pay at DFS, San Francisco International Airport and T Galleria by DFS, Hawaii, and will roll out the platform to other regional locations, including Los Angeles International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport and Hawaii Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in coming months.
*Silicon Valley-based CITCON describes itself as the mobile payment solution leader for the international travel commerce and retail market. In North America, CITCON is the first and largest authorised merchant acquirer for WeChat Pay and Alipay, two of the most popular mobile wallet providers in the world with over 1 billion active consumers.
