UnionPay has entered into a cooperation agreement with the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) to bolster the usage of its cards across the country.
Under the agreement, the two parties intend to encourage Canadian travel merchants to accept UnionPay cards.
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The partners will also offer UnionPay products and services to TIAC member merchants via local acquirers, and jointly market UnionPay cards to enhance service ability of local merchants to Chinese tourists.
China UnionPay chairman Ge Huayon said: “Deepening cooperation with TIAC will make it possible to provide safer and more convenient payment services for Chinese tourists visiting Canada and promote exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in economy and tourism.
“In the future, UnionPay will continue to deepen cross-border cooperation with government tourism departments, tourism organisations and travel agencies, accelerate the improvement of tourism payment environment, and enhance travel and purchasing experience of tourists.”
UnionPay previously collaborated with TIAC in 2016 to increase card acceptance among local merchants and tourism bureaus. In 2014, UnionPay also joined forces with Canadian Tourism Commission to promote card payments among Canadian travel merchants and agencies.
Minister of federal ministry of small business and tourism of Canada Bardish Chagger said: “This partnership will enable our countries to strengthen our connections and further recognise the importance of the Chinese market to the Canadian tourism industry as we work toward our goal of doubling two-way trade by 2025.”
