Ride-Hailing Feature by Alibaba’s Amap Revolutionizes Transport for Foreign Visitors in China

Alibaba’s Amap Enhances Transport with Ride-Hailing Feature in Macau

Amap, the mapping service of Alibaba Group, launches a new ride-hailing feature targeting foreign visitors. This initiative coincides with the Labour Day ‘golden week’ holiday, facilitating travel for guests from 43 countries visiting mainland China.

Details of the Ride-Hailing Feature

• This feature allows access to various transport options across more than 360 cities in China.
• Payments can be made using Ant Group’s Alipay and Tencent Holdings’ WeChat Pay, accepting international bank cards.
• The feature is accessible via a button on Amap’s English homepage, launched earlier this year.

Impact on Foreign Visitors

According to the National Immigration Administration, approximately 380,000 foreign visitors entered the mainland visa-free during the Labour Day holiday, marking a 73% increase from the previous year.

Comparison to Competitors

Didi Chuxing, China's ride-hailing giant, introduced its English service back in 2017 and expanded to various cities including Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. Didi also operates in numerous overseas markets, whereas Amap partners with multiple third-party platforms, enhancing its mapping capabilities globally.

Regulatory Landscape for Ride-Hailing in Hong Kong

While Amap continues to advance, the ride-hailing sector in Hong Kong remains unregulated. The introduction of regulatory frameworks is anticipated soon, impacting companies like Didi and Uber.