UnionPay International, a subsidiary of China UnionPay focused on the growth and support of UnionPay’s global business, and Amadeus sign an agreement to integrate UnionPay debit and credit cards into the Amadeus Payment Platform (APP). Amadeus travel providers, including airlines and online travel agencies worldwide can now offer China’s preferred card as an online payment option directly via the APP across over 140 countries where UnionPay is accepted. With this agreement, Chinese travellers will now find it easier to travel overseas as they pay with their preferred payment card, allowing travel providers to gain a strong foothold into Chinese outbound and domestic tourism.
UnionPay is the largest card scheme worldwide with over 4.3 billion cards in circulation, supporting every major Chinese consumer bank. Last year, the payment made by outbound Chinese tourists via UnionPay’s network accounted for 80 per cent of the total.
Larry Wang, Chief Business Development Officer of UnionPay International, said “We are very pleased to have signed this agreement with Amadeus as we count on their travel IT expertise and global reach to cater to Chinese travellers, giving them the convenience of using their preferred payment card. I am confident that this initiative will further boost Chinese tourists’ outbound trips as they look to discover new destinations.”
Celia Pereiro, Head of Amadeus Travel Payments, said “The partnership with UnionPay cements our commitment to the booming Chinese tourism market and beyond. Not only will our travel providers have a quick and easy link to the immense base of UnionPay cardholders in China, but they can also rely on the APP’s robustness, speed and simplicity to process their payments. The combination of our global reach with UnionPay’s considerable share of the e-commerce market will offer the perfect solution to our customers as they look to expand their business in China.”
