China has instructed hotels with three stars and above to accept payments with cards issued by foreign banks. The aim is to improve convenience for tourists and boost the sluggish economy.
Government agencies such as the People’s Bank of China (central bank) and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism released a joint statement on the 9th. He said major tourist destinations were also instructed to accept foreign bank card payments, support cash payments and increase currency exchange services.
In China, local payment systems are deeply rooted, and foreign tourists often struggle to make payments. Food stalls rarely even accept cash payments, instead using the locally popular WeChat Pay and Alipay.
China has been focusing on attracting tourists after lifting strict “no coronavirus” restrictions to prevent the virus from spreading. As part of this, the government is expanding the list of countries eligible for visa-free entry.
news-rsf-original-reference paywall">Original title: China Tells Mid to High End Hotels to Accept Foreign Bank Cards (excerpt)
#China #instructs #midrange #hotels #tourist #destinations #accept #foreign #bank #card #payments #Bloomberg
