The move is part of a partnership between Chinese-based UnionPay International and La Banque Postale to enable the payments at some 37,000 merchants and 7,600 ATMs across France — currently the world’s largest tourist destination.
Tourists to France will soon be able to pay using UnionPay cards at more local tourist attractions, public transportation and post offices within the next year as the country continues to see strong tourism arrivals from China.
The move is part of a partnership between Chinese-based UnionPay International and La Banque Postale to enable the payments at some 37,000 merchants and 7,600 ATMs across France — currently the world’s largest tourist destination.
This will increase the number of local ATMs accepting UnionPay cards from 70% to 80%, as well as the number of merchants from the present 200,000, especially in areas such as Paris Champs-Élysées, Place Vendôme and Charles de Gaulle.
AccorHotels Group and Louvre Hotel Group are also accepting UnionPay in all their hotels.
The move will also enable payments at 8,500 post offices, Paris Airport shuttle buses, about 10,000 taxis in the Paris region, and many transport, cultural establishments and supermarkets.
Currently, more than three million merchants in 39 countries and regions in Europe accept UnionPay, accounting for over 60% of all bankcard-accepting merchants in the region.
This year, the company’s cards will reach 100% acceptance all throughout Spain. In Italy, users can make payments at more than 80% of ATMs and half of the merchants in Italy.
Airlines such as Air France, KLM, Lufthansa and Finnair accept UnionPay cards, and cardholders can also purchase Eurail Europasses online with UnionPay cards.