Alipay partners Global Tax Free to roll out tax refund service in Singapore

Singapore – Alipay, an online payment platform operated by Ant Financial Services Group, along with Global Tax Free announced that Chinese travelers visiting Singapore can now have tax refunds deposited directly into their Alipay accounts after completing all procedures at the airport. Singapore is the first country in Southeast Asia to offer this service to Chinese tourists.

The move follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Alipay and Global Tax Free (GTF) last September.

Through Alipay, Chinese visitors to Singapore can now receive their refunds in Chinese Yuan with shorter waiting time over credit card refund. This service covers all 2000 brands and merchants in Singapore under the Electronic Tourists Refund Scheme (eTRS).

“The new tax refund service is a natural extension of our offering as a smart lifestyle platform for consumers and Chinese travelers. Alipay’s ecosystem of merchants covers shopping, dining, attraction, transportation and entertainment. By including tax refunds, we are able to offer greater convenience and better shopping experience to Chinese travelers,” said Cherry Huang, General Manager, Cross-border Business for South and Southeast Asia, Alipay.

“By working closely with Alipay to provide Chinese travelers more convenience and refund options, we will be able to better address the needs of these users and retailers. Shoppers are encouraged to choose Singapore as their preferred travel destination for shopping while retailers can attract and retain new and loyal shoppers through this new system, we are very happy to make Alipay tax refund available for the convenience of tourists in the environment of great and advanced eTRS system of Singapore,” said Kelvin Poh, Country Commercial Head, Global Tax Free.    

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