Sands China launches initiative to attract South Korean tourists

September 26, 2023 Macau Casino & Hotel Events & Announcements

Sands China Ltd, a Macau casino operator, has partnered with Kakao Pay, a popular South Korean mobile payment and digital wallet service, and Macau Pass SA, a contactless payment provider, to facilitate cross-border mobile payments for South Korean travelers visiting their properties. This initiative, which runs until September 30, coincides with Korea’s Chuseok festival, a popular time for Koreans to travel.

Kakao Pay, which was introduced in 2014, is extensively utilized in South Korea and is available in nearly 50 countries, facilitating mobile payments. The Sands China hopes that this partnership will increase the number of South Korean visitors, which is in line with the Macau government’s objective of diversifying its consumer base beyond China.

In addition to the Sands Macao casino hotel, Sands China operates multiple Cotai resorts, including the Venetian Macao, Parisian Macao, and Londoner Macao. Dean Zhao, their senior vice president for e-commerce, stated that Korean travelers have favored their properties, emphasizing the company’s dedication to enhancing the customer experience with familiar Korean technology.

Shin Won-geun, the chief executive officer of Kakao Pay, believes that this partnership will help them maintain their competitive advantage by providing users with the convenience of Kakao Pay and numerous benefits when traveling to Macau.

Macau Pass will facilitate the Macau infrastructure. Sun Ho, the company’s chairman and chief executive officer, stated that this partnership establishes an international digital payment ecosystem for Macau, resolving cross-border payment issues for international travelers and introducing new marketing development opportunities for businesses.