UnionPay International has built 90 key acceptance business districts in major travel destinations outside mainland China. These business districts cover scenic spots, shopping centers and restaurants popular with tourists. Out of these 90 districts, UnionPay International selected 50 in 24 countries and regions and offered discounts of up to 30% to reward cardholders. Cardholders can enjoy more convenient and preferential payment experiences when traveling during the Lunar New Year holiday.
UnionPay International is endeavoring to optimize its acceptance environment outside mainland China, building key business districts in the US, Canada, Southeast Asia, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and South America. In these districts, more than 70% of merchants accept UnionPay and the UnionPay logo can be easily found. Orchard Road in Singapore and Inchon International Airport in South Korea also provide exclusive privileges such as VIP lounges and Chinese-speaking shopping guides. Customers can pay with UnionPay cards in these districts while enjoying substantial discounts and add-on services.
From today to Feb. 28, 2017, customers with UnionPay cards (card numbers starting with 62) were entitled to exclusive discounts at about 1,000 stores of about 300 merchants outside mainland China. This campaign had three highlights: First, the scope was wider; covering both popular tourist destinations such as Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea and Southeast Asia, and about 10 business districts in the US and Europe, meeting the payment demands of long-distance outbound tourists. Second, more types of merchants participated, including shopping centers, landmark department stores, discount villages, outlets, downtown duty-free stores and restaurants. Third, special privileges were offered for users of UnionPay mobile QuickPass. YITA and Eslite in Hong Kong, New Yaohan in Macau, food streets in six major department stores in Taiwan, as well as the Watsons, GS25, Gongcha stores in Seoul Myeongdong and Doota Shopping Center in South Korea provided exclusive privileges for mobile QuickPass users.
In addition, cardholders may continue to enjoy U Plan discounts at more than 300 well-known merchants in Hong Kong, Macau, Thailand, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand. Customers can get U Plan coupons via the apps of UnionPay International, Bank of China, CMBC, China Everbright Bank and dianping.com, or receive coupons at destinations when using the apps of Ctrip, Qunar.Com, CYTS and Spring Airlines to book air tickets and hotels. Customers who present coupons and pay with UnionPay cards can enjoy the highest discounts available at the participating merchants.
Currently, the UnionPay global acceptance network extends to 160 countries and regions, covering 19 million merchants and 1.3 million ATMs outside mainland China. While expanding its acceptance footprint, UnionPay International is also improving its global privilege system. Each year, it launches three major marketing campaigns featuring airport duty-free stores, selected business districts and selected tourist destinations, to deliver rich and colorful user experiences to cardholders.
