Chinese messaging app WeChat has revealed plans to launch its mobile payment service WeChat Pay in Italy in next few weeks.

The launch will enable Chinese tourists travelling to Italy make online and in-store purchases through their smartphones.

To launch the service, WeChat has collaborated with Italy’s Digital Retex and Docomo Digital, the European arm of mobile network operator NTT Docomo.

To make transactions through WeChat Pay, customers need to link their WeChat account to their bank account and scan the barcode on the payment terminal hosted by retailers.

The service is targeted at all retailers across various sectors, including luxury, fashion, design, hospitality and entertainment sectors. Merchants require a dedicated POS to support WeChat Pay or need to add the payment feature to their till systems.