UnionPay is accepted at about 3 million more merchants outside Mainland China in 2019
UnionPay acceptance footprint expands to 178 countries and regions
2020-01-22
With the outbound travel peak approaching, UnionPay International (UPI), the subsidiary of China UnionPay focused on its international business, announced today that UnionPay global acceptance network has expanded to 178 countries and regions, covering 29 million merchants. In 2019, another 3 million merchants outside Mainland China start accepting UnionPay cards. It is especially smooth to use UnionPay cards in over 60 popular tourist destinations, where UnionPay acceptance coverage is over 90%.
Smoother payment experience for Chinese outbound travelers
UnionPay International has been constantly expanding its acceptance network to offer better services to Chinese people who travel overseas. In Asia Pacific, UnionPay’s acceptance coverage has reached 90%. In Americas and Africa, UnionPay is accepted at 70% of the local merchants. UnionPay acceptance footprint has covered 90% of the European countries and regions. It is particularly smooth to use UnionPay cards in Tokyo, Singapore, Moscow, New York, Rome, Madrid, Casablanca, and many more popular destinations across continents.
The expanding acceptance network of UnionPay is offering smoother and more flexible payment experience to Chinese travelers. For instance, Chinese travelers can enjoy UnionPay payment service in various sectors such as aviation, accommodation, catering and shopping. 70% of the hotels of the world’s top 10 hotel brands accept UnionPay cards; and Marriott and Four Seasons offer special privileges to UnionPay cardholders. Car rental companies across 20 countries and regions accept UnionPay cards, allowing self-driving travelers to pay with their preferred payment method. UnionPay cards are also accepted by over 80 international airlines for booking flight tickets online. UnionPay is also widely accepted by convenience stores and supermarket chains outside Mainland China, including 90% of convenience stores in Japan, all the stores of Woolworths in Australia, as well as large numbers of Carrefour and Wal-Mart in Asia Pacific, Europe and the US.
Besides accepting UnionPay cards, about one million more merchants outside Mainland China also start accepting UnionPay mobile payment services, to enhance service capacity for Chinese customers. Now, UnionPay mobile payment users can pay by scanning QR code via the “UnionPay” mobile application or by tapping QuickPass-enabled mobile phones at about 4,500,000 merchants in 57 countries and regions outside Mainland China.
Many brands offer a variety of special discounts for UnionPay cardholders
To further improve Chinese customers’ experiences, many brands and merchants are offering special discounts and privileges for UnionPay cardholders. DutyFree Philippines Corporation (DFPC), for instance, began offering instant discounts to UnionPay cardholders. Recently, more than 30,000 merchants in 80 major business areas in 34 countries and regions are providing UnionPay cardholders special discounts of up to 30%. At popular merchants like K11 in Hong Kong, Silla Duty Free in South Korea, King Power Duty Free in Thailand, customers can get “U Plan” e-coupons via the “UnionPay” mobile application to enjoy even more benefits. For example, presenting the “U Plan” e-coupon and paying with UnionPay cards, customers can enjoy 30% extra tax refund based on regular tax refund rate at selected stores of Takashimaya Department Store.
A large number of entertainment and cultural establishments are offering special privileges for UnionPay cardholders too. These include Crocus City Oceanarium in Russia, Aquaduck Tour in Australia, Lego Discovery Center in Japan, Disney Family Museum in the US, the Arseniev Museum in Russia, and many more.
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