AsiaNet 63184
 
SHANGHAI, China, Jan. 21, 2016 /Xinhua-AsiaNet/--
 
In 2015, the Chinese mainland is the world's No.1 in terms of the number of outbound tourists and the outbound tourism spending. This year, the outbound tourism market is still heating up.
  
According to UnionPay International, about 6 million Chinese tourists will celebrate the upcoming Spring Festival overseas. Free independent traveling and in-depth traveling are the new travel trend. And UnionPay card has become one of outbound travelers' best companions.
  
Spring Festival & New Year: outbound tourism overperforms domestic tourism
  
According to China's National Tourism Administration, 120 million tourists from the Chinese mainland travelled abroad in 2015, with a spending of RMB 11,625 per capita. Two thirds of them are free independent travelers.
  
The boom of outbound tourism is also reflected by the bookings with major travel agencies, and the largest source cities are Shanghai, Beijing, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Nanjing, and Guangzhou.
 
Meeting tourists' diversified demands, UnionPay card is Chinese tourists' favorite payment option. Its usage overseas has extended from luxury purchase to other fields like entertainments. Tourists' spending at overseas department stores, supermarkets, and hotels is growing, and the proportions of spending on entertainment, catering and tickets also keep increasing.
  
UnionPay card facilitates international tours
 
China's outbound tourism trend has drawn extensive attention of overseas markets. In 2015, the Chinese tourists visiting Australia exceeded 1 million. Many hotels and travel agencies in Australia now provide Chinese language services, Chinese-speaking guides and Chinese food to attract the Chinese.
 
The acceptance of UnionPay cards is deemed as a crucial means of attracting Chinese tourists by many overseas merchants. It has also become an important index to measure the degree of satisfaction of Chinese customers.
  
Currently, UnionPay cards are accepted at 27 million merchants and 1.9 million ATMs in over 150 countries and regions, covering traditional merchants as well as day-to-day spending places, many of which provide exclusive offers for UnionPay cards.
  
UnionPay also delivers multiple of value-added services. Cardholders can book railway tickets online, pay for taxies in Australia, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan, and rent cars in Taiwan and Thailand. Additionally, the covering scope of tax refund service and emergency cash assistance is expanding.
  
Right now, UnionPay International is launching a major marketing campaign. Over 400 merchants, including 12 renowned shopping groups and 12 major tourism brands, provide up to 15%-off discounts for UnionPay cards. Besides, 6 major hotel groups provide up to 30%-off discount for online booking with UnionPay cards.
 
For more information: http://www.unionpayintl.com/
 
SOURCE: UnionPay International 
 
--BERNAMA