As global travel rebounds, Chinese tourists are returning to the UK—and they’re ready to shop, dine, and explore. Therefore, for British merchants, this is a golden opportunity. However, to truly capture their attention (and spending power), offering familiar and trusted payment methods is key.
📈 Why Chinese Tourists Matter in 2025
Chinese tourists UK payments: China remains one of the world’s top outbound travel markets. Key travel seasons such as Chinese New Year, May Day, summer holidays, and Golden Week in October drive millions of travellers abroad.
Moreover, when Chinese tourists visit the UK, they typically spend on:
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Accommodation and local tours
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Dining—especially Asian-friendly options
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Cosmetics, fashion, and local souvenirs
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Luxury goods and branded items
What they value most? Convenience, familiarity, and smooth payment experiences.
💳 Preferred by Chinese Tourists: Local Payment Methods-Chinese tourists UK payments
Chinese consumers are less likely to use credit cards or cash abroad. Instead, they rely on:
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Alipay+
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WeChat Pay
So if your store or online business doesn’t accept these, you might be missing out—even if the customer is already at your door.
🛠 How GlobePay Helps You Get Ready-Chinese tourists UK payments
GlobePay is a UK-based, FCA-regulated payment provider, trusted by over 2,000 British businesses. We specialise in Asian payment solutions tailored for cross-border retail, hospitality, tourism, and education sectors.
With GlobePay, you can:
- Accept Alipay+ and WeChat Pay
- Offer fixed QR codes, payment links, POS terminals, and e-commerce integrations
- Get GBP settlement with automatic FX conversion
- Serve tourists, students, and local Chinese customers with ease
In summary, all transactions are secure, compliant, and processed with speed and transparency.
📣 Stand Out with Language & Localised Service
In addition, Uk merchants should offering the right payment tools, providing a friendly shopping experience matters:
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Add Chinese signage or in-store labels for payment
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Train staff with basic Chinese greetings or service tips
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Promote on platforms like RED (Xiaohongshu) or WeChat Channels to increase visibility among Chinese tourists
📍Tourist Season Is Here — Are You Ready?
The return of Chinese tourists brings more than just foot traffic—it brings high-value spending. Therefore, With the right payment setup and culturally aware service, your business can turn one-time tourists into loyal customers.
Get in touch with us today and discover how we help UK merchants unlock Asia’s payment potential.
