TURKEY. Travel retailer Unifree Duty Free now accepts contactless WeChat Pay transactions in its stores at Istanbul Airport. The mobile payment method has been enabled in all of its cash registers, thanks a new partnership between the popular Chinese app, ICBC bank, Unifree Duty Free and airport company IGA.
The collaboration with Unifree Duty Free (a Gebr Heinemann joint venture) for the WeChat Pay QR code-based payment system is the first of its kind in Turkey.
WeChat is a multi-purpose messaging, social media and mobile payment app owned and developed by Chinese company Tencent. It is widely used by Chinese travellers and has more than 800 million active monthly users.
The new payment service was officially opened for use with an online signing ceremony. Culture and Tourism Minister of Turkey Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, People’s Republic of China Istanbul Consul General Cui Wei, ICBC Turkey Chairman of Board of Directors Gao Xiangyang, Unifree CEO Ali Şenher and Istanbul Airport CEO Kadri Samsunlu attended the launch event.
Speaking about the new WeChat Pay service, Ali Şenher said: “We are very happy to take this step with ICBC Turkey, as they are the first bank to stand by us from the very beginning of this project by stating their support.
“Here, at the biggest airport in the world, which is the pride of Turkey, we have successfully implemented this project by working with our esteemed IGA family, working shoulder to shoulder and with great care.
“Today, we are happy to add another ring to our common achievements. WeChat Pay application offers a great convenience for our guests; we will be pleased to welcome our Chinese friends at our airport and stores where they can travel with peace of mind.”
Unifree noted that 65% of its customers are Turkish, contributing 25% of sales in departures and 60% in arrivals, but Chinese travellers spend twice as much as locals on a per head basis.
Representing ICBC, Gao Xiangyang said: “Istanbul Airport, which has an important role for international aviation, is the first host to give contactless WeChat Pay payment opportunities to Chinese visitors to satisfy their expectations. The importance that Istanbul Airport attaches to technology and passenger service is in line with our bank’s priorities.”
