How Asian travelers plan their shopping route
Designed by Freepik
For many Asian travelers, shopping is never just about “buying something.” It is a carefully researched and thoughtfully planned part of the journey.
From reading guides and searching in social media before departure, to mapping out shopping routes, selecting brands, and closely comparing prices, exchange rates, and service details—every step is intentional.
They value efficiency, but they value experience just as much:
A smooth payment process that requires no explanation or effort
Transparent pricing and no hidden costs
Localized experiences they can trust, and are therefore willing to spend more time and money on
Yet in Europe, these expectations are often disrupted.
Long lines at currency exchange counters, complicated checkout processes, high transaction fees, and language barriers can quickly turn what should be an enjoyable shopping moment into hesitation and fatigue.
What do Asian travelers truly care about?
For Asian travelers, payment is not an afterthought, it is a signal of whether they feel understood and respected.
When planning their trips, marking stores on maps, and organizing daily routes, they apply an unspoken filter: they are not simply asking “Can I pay here?” but “Will paying here feel familiar, smooth, and trustworthy?”
That is why, when planning their shopping routes, they consider far more than brands or distance:
Whether they can pay as easily as locals do, without extra explanations, repeated attempts, or awkward moments at the checkout counter
Whether prices are clear and exchange rates are fair, knowing exactly how much they are spending, without discovering unfavorable rates or hidden fees after the fact
Whether they are treated as valued customers. not just as tourists who can be served, but as shoppers whose habits and expectations are understood and respected
An inconvenient payment experience introduces friction, uncertainty, and wasted time.
A familiar and transparent one, on the other hand, makes shopping routes more efficient, and often encourages travelers to stay longer, explore more, and spend more.
These seemingly small details can directly shape purchasing decisions. And this is precisely the challenge Silkpay helps European merchants solve.
Silkpay: Helping European merchants connect with Asian customers
Silkpay is more than a payment tool. It is a complete cross-border payment and customer experience solution designed for Asian consumers.
One integration, access to Asia’s leading payment methods
With Silkpay’s PAX A920 Pro POS terminal, Android/iOS app or printed QR code, European merchants can accept Alipay+, WeChat Pay, UnionPay, and other major Asian payment methods.
No complex setup, no additional steps; customers simply scan and pay, just as they would at home.
No exchange rate worries, confident checkout
Payments are processed using real-time exchange rates by the customer’s e-wallet, eliminating a burden for the customer.
Customers know exactly what they are paying, and merchants benefit from faster, smoother transactions.
Greater visibility and trust through targeted exposure
Silkpay helps merchants reach Asian consumers who place a high value on trust and familiarity.
Through Silkpay, merchants can have a storefront set up and appear on the Alipay+ merchant discovery pages used by Asian travelers. Therefore, they can gain visibility and increase foot traffic driven by a platform customers already trust.
Autonomous refunds and after-sales support
Refunds and after-sales service are often the most overlooked part of cross-border payments.
Silkpay provides a clear, autonomous refund process that can be done by merchants themselves.
Transactions and refunds can be managed directly through the PAX A920 Pro POS terminal, Silkpay app, or the merchant dashboard, which reduces communication barriers and ensures every transaction is properly completed.
A real-life scenario: An Asian traveler’s shopping day in Paris
Ms. Chen, a traveler from Singapore, spent her day in Paris like this:
Morning: Shopping on the Champs-Élysées, paying seamlessly with her familiar Alipay+ wallet
Afternoon: Discovering independent designer stores in Le Marais, more willing to try new brands because Alipay+ was accepted
Evening: Reviewing her spending for the day and adding her favorite merchants to a list to share with friends later
Throughout the day: No cash, no concerns about overseas card fees or failed payments, just carrying a phone around and using it for everything
For her, the smoothness of payment made shopping a genuine pleasure rather than a source of stress.
Conclusion
Great cross-border payment experiences make customers forget they are shopping abroad.
Silkpay is helping more and more European merchants transform complex international payments into experiences that feel simple, familiar, and trustworthy.
When Asian travelers choose to stay a little longer, buy one more item, and come back again next time, payment is often the overlooked, but decisive detail behind that choice.
If your customers come from around the world, and you don’t want payment to be the final barrier to conversion, let Silkpay bring Asian consumers to your checkout counter.
About the author: Silkpay
Based in Paris, Silkpay provides omnichannel and secure payment solutions to help physical stores and e-commerce in Europe and the Americas accept more than 30 of the world's most popular payment methods: Visa, Mastercard, CB, UnionPay, Alipay+, WeChat Pay as well as Asia-Pacific’s major e-wallets.
Silkpay is a winner of the LVMH Innovation Award. The company was also selected as a finalist for the "Money 20/20" Best Startup and in the "MPE Berlin” Startup Awards. Silkpay also won the "Best Fintech" awards from Capgemini and BPCE.
Silkpay helps merchants deliver the smoothest payment experience to their customers. We are a talented and international team driven by a single goal: to improve the customer experience and make payments simple and secure.