UnionPay, with a massive 7.5 billion cards in circulation globally, now accepted in Tunisia, thanks to the strategic partnership with local payment switch, Monétique Tunisie (SMT) and recent developments with major Tunisian banks, significantly expands UnionPay’s presence across Tunisia, that ensures convenient local services to a growing number of global UnionPay cardholders.
This partnership has realised an enablement of SMT’s entire POS and ATM base, to accept UnionPay cards. This development officially increases ATM acceptance of UnionPay cards in Africa, The UnionPay cardholders can now use their cards to pay for purchases, hotel stays and restaurants. They can also withdraw money in local currency “Tunisian Dinar”.
As the main Payments switch in Tunisia, SMT has an extensive network in Tunisia and neighbouring countries. UnionPay on the other hands provides payment services to the world’s largest cardholder base thereby leveraging advantages in networks, products and branding.
Tunisia, a popular tourist destination worldwide, boasts a history of more than 3,000 years and borders the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea.
Tunisia began to offer visa-free entry to Chinese tourists in 2017. That year saw the number of Chinese tourists rocket to 150% increase as compared to 2016.
According to Tunisian government, the country has become increasingly popular destination for Chinese tourists, with 27,900 Chinese arrivals in Tunisia in 2018.
According to the Tunisian Ministry of Tourism and Handicrafts, Tunisia endeavours to draw more Chinese tourists by upgrading payment methods, setting up Chinese logos, launching direct flights, and operating more Chinese restaurants to make Chinese visitors’ trips in Tunisia more convenient and enjoyable.
As traveling to Africa becomes more and more popular among the Chinese people, UnionPay International is rapidly expanding its presence and acceptance network across the continent.
The next phase in Tunisia is to issue UnionPay cards, as well as to allow cardholders to transact online.
In partnership with more than 2,000 institutions worldwide, UnionPay has enabled card acceptance in 174 countries and regions, and realised card issuance in 55 countries and regions. UnionPay provides high quality, cost effective and secure cross-border payment services to the world’s largest cardholder base and ensures convenient local services to a growing number of global UnionPay cardholders and millions of merchants.
