In the news: New initiatives from Singapore Tourism Board and Alipay to boost visitor arrivals; Etihad Airways using messaging app to connect with guests
Destinations: STB, Alipay broaden partnership to draw more Chinese travellers to the city-state
New initiatives to attract more Chinese travellers to Singapore. (Image credit: pat138241/iStock-Getty Images)
Another partnership is yet strengthened to boost arrivals to a destination – this time between the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Alipay to launch joint marketing initiatives to market the Lion City and drive tourist spending among Chinese visitors.
The two parties inked a memorandum of understanding in September last year to enhance Chinese tourists’ overall experience in Singapore. They then agreed, among other things, to explore co-investing in joint-marketing initiatives to encourage Chinese tourists to spend using mobile/online payment platform while holidaying on the island.
According to a joint STB/Alipay statement, since the signing the MOU the payment platform has seen double-digit growth in user spending. Singapore has benefitted too, as China was its top market for 2017 with 3.2 million visitor arrivals who contributed S$4.2 billion (US$3.1 billion) in tourism receipts.
The marketing activities under the enhanced partnership are designed to incentivise Alipay users, through rewards and discounts, to spend across different types of tourism businesses such as retail, F&B and attractions, further boosting their spending in Singapore.
The collaboration will also see Alipay and STB creating tailored itineraries aligned with STB’s new unified brand for Singapore, “Passion Made Possible”, rolled out last August. Both parties hope these itineraries will encourage Alipay them pursue their passions by exploring and discovering new attractions, dining and shopping experiences. It will also give the Chinese travellers more reasons to visit and spend more in Singapore
Additionally, the partnership could help STB understand of Chinese visitors’ consumer behaviour and spending patterns by leveraging Alipay’s insights.
“We hope to continue to broaden over time our partnership with Alipay to explore more innovative marketing initiatives in the areas of content, digital and technology to further enhance the Chinese visitor experience,” said Jacqueline Ng, STB director, marketing partnerships & planning.
Singapore is a favourite destination for Chinese travellers, commented Cherry Huang, Alipay general manager, cross-border business for South and Southeast Asia. “According to research released by Nielsen last year it is one of Chinese tourists’ top 10 preferred travel destinations in the world.”
Alipay would continue to connect more merchants in Singapore with Chinese tourists and be discovered by them through the app, she added.
According to the Outbound Chinese Tourism and Consumption Trends: 2017 Survey by Nielsen and Alipay, 65% of Chinese tourists used mobile payment platforms during their overseas travels. Over 90% would consider using mobile payments when traveling overseas if more overseas merchants accepted them.
Airlines: Now you can communicate with Etihad via WhatsApp
Using WhatsApp to communicate with Etihad (Image credit: Etihad Airways)
Airlines are using various ways, via technology, to improve the travel experience for their customers with chatbots, Facebook and the likes. Etihad Airways is utilising another medium to do that – the popular messaging platform, WhatsApp.
The airline said this was part of an ongoing digital strategy to provide an enhanced offering to their premium guests to instantly connect with it. Currently the service is available to travellers flying with the airline at Abu Dhabi International Airport, allowing them to chat with the airline’s agents about their flights in a fast, personal and efficient way.
During the initial trial phase passengers can see the WhatsApp number displayed at the premium check-in at the airport.
The carrier plans to expand the service to enable guests to receive important messages like flight reminders by opting into WhatsApp communications on the Etihad Airways booking confirmation page.
“The new WhatsApp Business solution will provide Etihad Airways’ premium guests with immediate contact with the airline, using the very latest technology,” said Robin Kamark, Etihad Airways chief commercial officer.
“Air travellers around the world use WhatsApp in their daily lives and so it is an ideal channel for them to communicate with the airline and receive the latest information about their travel journey.”
Etihad Airways is already offering several real-time channels for guests to contact the airline,including the @EtihadHelp and @EtihadPremium accounts on Twitter, and the airline’s Facebook page.
• Featured image (The Old Hill Street Police-Station, Singapore): Arndale/iStock-Getty Images
