UnionPay International Initiates "40 Selected Tourist Destinations Worldwide" Preferential Program

          SHANGHAI, China--26 Nov--Xinhua-AsiaNet/InfoQuest

          UnionPay International announces on November 25 that it now initiates "40 Selected Tourist Destinations Worldwide" Preferential Program. From now to Feb. 29, 2016, global UnionPay cardholders (card number starting with 62) can enjoy various privileges with discount up to 15% at over 300 merchants worldwide. This program offers special offers not only at traditional merchants like shopping malls and restaurants, but also for airline tickets and hotel room booking, public transportation, and featured entertainment, thus it can comprehensively improve cardholders' payment experience during travels.

          According to a report issued by UnionPay International, China Tourism Academy expects that the consumer spending of Chinese outbound tourists in 2015 will reach 1.1 trillion yuan and will continue to increase stably in the future. Tourists' consumption overseas becomes more reasonable and diversified. Shopping still accounts for the largest part of Chinese tourists' spending abroad, followed by accommodation and transportation. The proportions took by entertainment, catering and attractions tickets spending are increasing year by year. Daily necessities are gradually taking the place of luxury goods to be the goods most purchased by Chinese tourists, while spending in the local leisure and entertainment programs keeps increasing.

          The report also introduces other new trends in global tourists' traveling: larger scale, higher frequency, and more diversified destinations. Additionally, in markets where UnionPay cards are issued in large scale, such as Hong Kong, South Korea, and Japan, the local people also use UnionPay cards frequently in their travels to enjoy exclusive offers and privileges.

          This program has two distinct features. First, it covers more tourist destinations. Besides traditional destinations, destinations newly favored by tourists such as Angkor, Boracay Island, Bintan Island, Sri Lanka, and Seychelles are also included in this program, meeting cardholders' diversified traveling demands. Second, the participating merchants are more diversified. Apart from stores, hotels and restaurants, featured merchants such as Spas, chateaus, diving programs, golf courses, teahouses, museums and theme parks are also included.

          Currently, UnionPay overseas acceptance network has expanded to over 150 countries and regions, covering the tourist destinations frequently visited by tourists. In addition to unremittingly enlarging the scope of card-usage, UnionPay International is also dedicated to enriching its global system of card-using offers and privileges. Each year, UnionPay International launches a series of preferential programs covering airport duty-free shops, major business areas, and tourist destinations, offering rich and optimized card-using experiences to its global cardholders.

          For more information: http://www.unionpayintl.com/

          Source: UnionPay International