Two Million Merchants in Europe Accept UnionPay Cards

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Sep 04, 2016, 10:39 ET

SHANGHAI, Sept. 4, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- UnionPay International announced on September 2 that, consumers can now pay with UnionPay cards (card number starting with 62) at about two million merchants in Europe. In particular, over 70% of the merchants in the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and Spain, the six major tourist destinations, accept UnionPay cards, and UnionPay's acceptance footprint expands from duty free shops and department stores to more catering and entertainment establishments.

Now, UnionPay has presence in 38 countries and regions in Europe. It is convenient to withdraw cash with UnionPay cards there. Almost all the ATMs in Switzerland, Austria, and Iceland, and over 80% of the local ATMs in Italy, Spain and Greece, accept UnionPay cards. In France, UnionPay cards are accepted at over 60% of ATMs. Cardholders can also withdraw cash with UnionPay cards in Ireland, Finland and Sweden.

This year, countries in Northeastern and Southern Europe become competitive rivals to traditional tourist destinations like France and Germany. UnionPay's acceptance footprint in these countries has witnessed remarkable improvement: there are 130,000 and 90,000 more merchants in Italy and Spain accepting UnionPay, making UnionPay's merchant coverage reach 60% and 70% respectively. More merchants in the UK are also accepting UnionPay. About 90% of merchants in Denmark and 60% of merchants in the Netherlands also accept UnionPay.

With more tourists travel independently, more types of merchants are accepting UnionPay: not only department stores, duty free shops and brand stores, but also catering and entertainment establishments, including Michelin Restaurants in Paris, Madame Tussaud's in Amsterdam, and bookstores and souvenir shops of Louvre, Versailles, Musee d'Orsay, Museu Picasso, Musee de l'Orangerie. This year in France, about 20% of the merchants that newly accepted UnionPay are restaurants and hotels.

Within this year, many European merchants provide exclusive offers for UnionPay cards. These merchants include airport duty free shops, department stores and discount villages in the UK, Italy, Finland, Germany and Spain, Guy Savoy Michelin Three-star Restaurant in Paris, HIX Restaurant of Brown Hotel in London, Platea in Madrid, Madame Tussaud's in Amsterdam, and Koninklijke Porceleyne Fles in the Netherlands.

After shopping at appointed merchants of Global Blue, Premier Tax Free and Tax Free Worldwide in 31 European countries, cardholders can put the Tax Refund Application Form into the mailbox of the tax-refund company at airport to claim for tax refund via UnionPay credit cards.

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