KUALA LUMPUR (June 23): Malayan Banking Bhd (Maybank) has rolled out its first batch of Alipay-enabled merchant terminals in Malaysia to facilitate contactless payments for the estimated three million Chinese tourists in Malaysia this year.

In a statement today, Maybank said the Alipay-enabled terminals were available at retail outlets including Royal Selangor, Poh Kong Jewellers, Harrison Signature, Made In Malaysia, Mystical Borneo, King of Fruits and Sunway Resort Hotel.

"The new service follows the recent signing of a strategic partnership between Maybank and Ant Financial Services Group (Ant Financial) of China to provide Alipay users travelling in Malaysia with contactless payment convenience in various outlets, ranging from high-end department stores and duty free shops to hotels popular with the visitors," Maybank said.

Maybank group chief strategy officer Michael Foong said in the statement the new Alipay-enabled terminals would not only provide a payment service that was swift, seamless and secure for visitors from China but also help enhance their travel experience in Malaysia, thereby helping to boost tourist spend.

"Tourists from China form a growing portion of foreign visitors to Malaysia, and are estimated to spend some RM9 billion in our country this year," he said.