Two million merchants in Europe accept UnionPay cards

(Source: Internet)

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, which satisfies tourists’ payments needs in Europe. UnionPay acceptance footprint also expands from duty free shops and department stores to more restaurants and entertainment establishments.

Now, UnionPay has presence in 38 countries and regions in Europe. It is convenient to withdraw cash with UnionPay cards there, which saves consumers the trouble of carrying large amount of cash. Almost all the ATMs in Switzerland, Austria, and Iceland, 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, and some ATMs in Paris provide interface in Chinese. Cardholders can also withdraw cash with UnionPay cards in Ireland, Finland, Sweden.

This year, countries in Northeastern and Southern Europe become competitive rivals to the traditional tourist destinations like France and Germany, due to preferable exchange rate and security situation. 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 acceptance coverage reach 60% and 70% respectively. By cooperating with global acquirers like WorldPay, UnionPay-accepting merchants in the UK are increasing rapidly. UnionPay cards are also accepted at about 90% of merchants in Denmark and 60% of merchants in the Netherlands.

With more tourists choose to travel independently, merchants accepting UnionPay have become diversified. Besides the majority of department stores, duty free shops and brand stores, more restaurants and entertainment establishments have accepted UnionPay cards, including Michelin Starred 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, various European merchants provide exclusive offers for UnionPay cards, covering the upcoming Mid-autumn Festival and National Day Holiday. These merchants include airport duty free stores, 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 food city in Madrid, Amsterdam Madame Tussaud’s, Van Gogh Museum, Loire Valley Selles sur Cher Castle and Netherland Koninklijke Porceleyne Fles.

After shopping in Europe, cardholders can claim for tax refund in two ways: First, 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. Second, after shopping at appointed merchants of Premier Tax Free, Innova Tax Free, Tax Refund Service Srl and Tax Free Worldwide, cardholders can have the Tax Refund Form stamped by the Customs and claim for tax refund via UnionPay cards at the outlets of United Money or at the official website of UnionPay International and United Money. Besides, Printemps in France also provides self-service tax refund machines with which tourists can choose UnionPay cards for tax refund and get tax refund receipts automatically.