Retail giant Alipay has signed a deal with consumer insights platform Zapper to enable Chinese tourists visiting the UK to pay using the Alipay app in more than 1,000 locations.

Launching imminently, the new mobile-based QR code partnership will be identical for Alipay users when purchasing goods, as 85 per cent of mobile payments in China are currently made by scanning a QR code.

Rita Liu, head of Alipay EMEA, said: “With Zapper as a partner, Alipay can further enhance our user experience as they can conveniently shop outside of China and pay with Alipay. Meanwhile merchants, in addition to the Alipay payment solution, can better connect and understand hundreds of thousands Chinese tourists travelling in the UK.”

UK wholesale retailer P&H have also partnered with Zapper, allowing the retailer to offer its members a marketing platform to gain shopper insights and reward loyal consumers. By scanning a unique QR code, customer bills can be uploaded straight to the user’s phone for quick payment and voucher deduction.

Simon Harris, business development controller at P&H, said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Zapper, who will provide our 3,000 Plus Extra members with a fantastic loyalty and reward solutions for their consumers. We are consistently looking at ways of providing new and innovative ways of driving footfall into stores.”

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