UnionPay Expands Acceptance Across Europe: Over 90% Coverage Achieved
UnionPay International (UPI) has recently announced a remarkable development in enhancing the payment infrastructure across Europe. With its services now accessible in over 90% of European countries and regions, UPI is providing both local residents and international travelers with safe and convenient payment options. This extensive reach covers crucial payment scenarios at more than 80% of merchants who accept UnionPay cards at POS terminals. Furthermore, over six million merchants support UnionPay QuickPass contactless payments, which include essential services such as public transport, dining, hotels, supermarkets, and ticket sales at popular tourist attractions.
Since the start of 2025, transactions through QuickPass in various European markets have more than doubled, indicating a growing acceptance among both users and merchants. The surge in use is a testament to how well UPI has integrated its services with major players in the retail and hospitality sectors. Notable European duty-free shops at airports, prestigious retailers like Galeries Lafayette in France, Harrods in the UK, and El Corte Inglés in Spain now accept UnionPay cards. Most of these establishments also accept UnionPay mobile payments, making transactions even more convenient.
Dining establishments have embraced the UnionPay brand, from upscale restaurants to fast-food chains and cafes. Global hotel groups such as Four Seasons, Shangri-La, and Park Hyatt are also offering UnionPay payment options at key European locations. Through a partnership with Dojo, UnionPay cardholders can now make payments at over 110,000 merchants in the UK, primarily within the hospitality sector.
In travel and tourism, UnionPay has established a recognizable presence, incorporating its services into urban and intercity transport systems, as well as car rental agencies in Germany, Spain, and Italy. Popular attractions such as the London Eye, Disneyland Paris, and the iconic Sagrada Família in Barcelona allow visitors to buy tickets online using UnionPay cards. Approximately 40,000 Selecta vending machines scattered across Europe also support UnionPay transactions.
The local issuance of UnionPay cards in Europe strengthens its presence even further. Over a million cards have been issued across 13 countries, including Serbia, Italy, and Spain. Residents of Spain, France, Germany, and other EEA markets can apply for UnionPay's PecunPay cards through the "Yi An" app. This app facilitates transactions within the entire European UnionPay network and across 183 countries and regions worldwide. It is compatible with Weixin Pay (internationally known as WeChat Pay) and Alipay for QR code transactions, thereby simplifying payments for European travelers to China.
As China becomes an increasingly popular destination for European tourists—thanks to more visa-free agreements and direct flights—UPI's "Excellence Project" aims to facilitate incoming payments. The wide acceptance of UnionPay in China and the availability of tax refund services directly on UnionPay cards in cities like Beijing, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and Nanjing ensure smooth and practical payment experiences for European visitors.
This robust infrastructure provides mutual benefits by fulfilling the everyday and travel-related needs of European residents while attracting UnionPay cardholders from all over the globe, including the rapidly growing number of Chinese tourists. To further boost consumer spending, UnionPay continues to offer exclusive deals for local merchants and Chinese card issuers.
Outside Europe, hundreds of millions of UnionPay cards have been issued in 83 countries and regions, supporting cross-border travel and trade worldwide.
Since the start of 2025, transactions through QuickPass in various European markets have more than doubled, indicating a growing acceptance among both users and merchants. The surge in use is a testament to how well UPI has integrated its services with major players in the retail and hospitality sectors. Notable European duty-free shops at airports, prestigious retailers like Galeries Lafayette in France, Harrods in the UK, and El Corte Inglés in Spain now accept UnionPay cards. Most of these establishments also accept UnionPay mobile payments, making transactions even more convenient.
Dining establishments have embraced the UnionPay brand, from upscale restaurants to fast-food chains and cafes. Global hotel groups such as Four Seasons, Shangri-La, and Park Hyatt are also offering UnionPay payment options at key European locations. Through a partnership with Dojo, UnionPay cardholders can now make payments at over 110,000 merchants in the UK, primarily within the hospitality sector.
In travel and tourism, UnionPay has established a recognizable presence, incorporating its services into urban and intercity transport systems, as well as car rental agencies in Germany, Spain, and Italy. Popular attractions such as the London Eye, Disneyland Paris, and the iconic Sagrada Família in Barcelona allow visitors to buy tickets online using UnionPay cards. Approximately 40,000 Selecta vending machines scattered across Europe also support UnionPay transactions.
The local issuance of UnionPay cards in Europe strengthens its presence even further. Over a million cards have been issued across 13 countries, including Serbia, Italy, and Spain. Residents of Spain, France, Germany, and other EEA markets can apply for UnionPay's PecunPay cards through the "Yi An" app. This app facilitates transactions within the entire European UnionPay network and across 183 countries and regions worldwide. It is compatible with Weixin Pay (internationally known as WeChat Pay) and Alipay for QR code transactions, thereby simplifying payments for European travelers to China.
As China becomes an increasingly popular destination for European tourists—thanks to more visa-free agreements and direct flights—UPI's "Excellence Project" aims to facilitate incoming payments. The wide acceptance of UnionPay in China and the availability of tax refund services directly on UnionPay cards in cities like Beijing, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and Nanjing ensure smooth and practical payment experiences for European visitors.
This robust infrastructure provides mutual benefits by fulfilling the everyday and travel-related needs of European residents while attracting UnionPay cardholders from all over the globe, including the rapidly growing number of Chinese tourists. To further boost consumer spending, UnionPay continues to offer exclusive deals for local merchants and Chinese card issuers.
Outside Europe, hundreds of millions of UnionPay cards have been issued in 83 countries and regions, supporting cross-border travel and trade worldwide.
Topics Financial Services & Investing）
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