Chinese visitors get bank card service
Chinese tourists visiting Switzerland can now use their credit cards to pay for goods and services thanks to a deal announced on Wednesday.
SIX Multipay, Switzerland’s biggest provider of systems for card-based payments, said it had concluded an agreement with China’s only bank card organisation, China UnionPay.
According to a statement issued by SIX Multipay, there are currently about 2.1 billion China UnionPay cards in circulation.
“Merchants that decide to accept UnionPay cards gain access to considerable sales potential: the number of overnight stays by Chinese guests in Switzerland – according to the Federal Statistical Office – has more than doubled since 2005. This year, Switzerland will see more visitors from China than Japan for the first time,” the statement said.
Chinese visitors have been able to withdraw money from cash machines in Switzerland since August 2006, but have had to use cash in shops, hotels and restaurants.
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