In a significant move for the Finnish tourism industry, LähiTaksi, one of the country’s leading taxi services, has announced an agreement to integrate Alipay, the world’s premier mobile and online payment platform, into its operations. This initiative follows a similar commitment from the Rovaniemi Taxi Service Company, marking a notable shift in how businesses in Finland are accommodating the increasing influx of Chinese travelers. By the time the 2018 Chinese Spring Festival holiday rolls around on February 14, Alipay will be accepted in all 1,250 LähiTaksi vehicles, essentially extending the reach of mobile payment options to major areas throughout Finland.
The context for this change is clear: outbound travel has become a common pursuit for many Chinese nationals. In 2017 alone, Chinese citizens embarked on 129 million overseas trips, prompting local merchants in popular tourist destinations, including Finland, to adapt their services to meet the needs of these visitors. Alipay, which boasts a user base of 520 million in China, is rapidly emerging as an essential tool for businesses aiming to attract this lucrative market.
Across Finland, businesses spanning catering, accommodation, entertainment, and retail sectors are increasingly embracing Alipay. In fact, in certain regions, Chinese tourists are finding they can navigate their travels without the need to handle euros.
Take a stroll through the streets of Helsinki, and you’ll likely notice the telltale blue Alipay signs adorning shopfronts. Ms. Li, who manages the Furuma Cuisine, expresses satisfaction in accommodating Chinese customers: “They are delighted to use Alipay for their meals here.”
Recognizing the swell of Chinese visitors heading to Santa Claus Village for the Spring Festival, Zhang Shaowei, manager of the Nova Skyland Hotel in Rovaniemi, promptly linked his establishment to the Alipay network. He recalls the moment a hotel staff member greeted a Chinese guest with “Zhifubao,” the Mandarin term for Alipay, and the guest’s delighted reaction was unmistakable.
Further enhancing the experience for Chinese tourists, the Holiday Inn, operated by IHG in the heart of Helsinki, has not only adopted Alipay but also introduced a program dubbed “China Ready,” tailored specifically for their Chinese clientele.
“Alipay is enhancing Finland’s tourism by simplifying payment processes,” noted Liu Hai, the manager of Xiang Long, a Chinese restaurant located in Rovaniemi. He points out that tourists are often able to discover his restaurant through Alipay long before they arrive. Notably, Xiang Long was one of the first to adopt this payment system, quickly followed by the local Finnish eatery, Nili.
At Stockmann, Northern Europe’s largest department store, Marika Aukeala, a sales assistant in women’s fashion, notes that the introduction of Alipay is likely to boost sales, particularly since it is the first digital payment method accepted at the Helsinki location. Data from 2017 indicates a 20% rise in Chinese visitors to the store, with sales from this demographic seeing an impressive increase of nearly 30%.
Paavo Virkkunen, executive vice president of Visit Finland, expressed optimism about the growing acceptance of Alipay among Finnish merchants. He highlights that Finland’s geographic advantages and seamless access make it an appealing travel destination, and the integration of mobile payment systems only enhances that appeal. As of last year, China ranked as Finland’s fifth-largest tourist source.
Risto Virkkala, CEO of ePassi, a local partner of Alipay, envisions a future where more Finnish businesses will adopt Alipay to attract and better serve Chinese tourists, a trend that is likely to reshape the business landscape in Finnish tourism as it continues to evolve.