Mobile payments gaining popularity with outbound tourists

The latest data on Chinese using mobile payment overseas point to the growing sophistication of Chinese travelers as they embark on outbound trips.

Portugal, the Philippines and the Maldives are shaping up to be the emerging hot spots as tourists begin to take long-haul trips, mobile wallet giant Alipay said in a report tracking overseas payment during the weeklong National holiday that ended on Oct 7.

This is reflected by the exponential growth in mobile payment in the three economies, at 63 times, 25 times and 15 times respectively in the number of transactions from the same time last year, Alipay said.