China continues to loosen up its payments strictures in the hopes of attracting more foreign tourists. The latest decision reflects a government effort to encourage high-end hotels to accept payments from foreign bank cards.
Now, hotels rated three stars or higher, as well as top-rated tourist attractions, are required to accept all forms of card payments, including both domestic and foreign bank cards. The China National Tourism Association assigns official star ratings to hotels based on the amenities and services they provide.
Tourist attractions, like museums, have also been instructed to maintain staffed payment services and accomodate cash transactions for visitors who may not have access to digital payment options. This shift marks a significant change for the Chinese economy, where contactless payments have become the norm. Even street vendors rarely accept cash, instead insisting on digital payment platforms such as Ant’s Alipay and Tencent’s WeChat Pay.
