WeChat and Alipay may still dominate the market, but foreigners no longer need to worry if they only have foreign bank cards on them. Photo Credit: Adobe Stock/Tylan Elliott
Foreign bank cards are now A-OK in tourist hotels that are ranked
three stars and above in China, as the country seeks to open up to more
foreign tourism.
In a joint statement released by Chinese authorities including the
Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the People’s Bank of China, hotels
ranked three stars and up, national and provincial tourist resorts, and
major tourist attractions are instructed to achieve “full coverage” of
domestic and foreign bank card acceptance.
Foreign tourism has been struggling in the way of making payments,
with nearly all transactions made through local payment systems such as
WeChat Pay and Alipay. Even street stall vendors and local markets
rarely accept cash anymore.
The joint notice issued has instructed for “relevant operating
entities of key cultural and tourism venues” to “actively promote the
establishment of foreign currency exchange business outlets in cultural
and tourism venues with a large number of foreigners visiting China and
improve the level of foreign currency exchange services.”
Going forward, the statement announces, “the People's Bank of China,
the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the State Administration of Foreign
Exchange, and the State Administration of Cultural Heritage will work
closely with local governments to urge and guide all parties in the
financial industry and cultural tourism industry to work together to
optimise payment services for the elderly and foreigners coming to
China, better serve society and people's livelihood, optimise the
business environment, and promote high-level opening up to the outside
world.”