Hunan ramps up efforts to optimize payment services

Since the beginning of this year, Hunan's government, banks and enterprises have made concerted efforts in removing choke points in payment services and bridging the digital divide, focusing on key scenarios and links. Higher-quality and more effective and more convenient payment services have been provided for senior citizens and foreign visitors. The information was announced at a press conference held by the Information Office of the Hunan Provincial People's Government. 

Bank card acceptance has been constantly expanded in Hunan. The acceptance rate of bank cards among key businesses around the province has exceeded 73 percent. Meanwhile, cash acceptance has been encouraging. More than 120,000 "change packets" were distributed to operating entities such as individual businesses and taxi drivers to facilitate their change making. The number of currency exchange counters has exceeded 1,700, and more than 11,000 ATMs have been upgraded to accept foreign cards for cash withdrawal. Mobile payment has been further streamlined. In the first quarter of this year, foreign visitors to Hunan Province have paid for more than 530,000 transactions through WeChat Pay and Alipay, with a total value of over 82 million CNY. 

According to an implementation plan of Hunan Province on optimizing payment services and enhancing the convenience of payment, Hunan will roll out ten main missions, including further improving payment services in culture and tourism industries, further improving payment service in public transportation sector, continuously optimize payment services, and boosting payment convenience. 

Targeted measures will be carried out around the province. For instance, Zhangjiajie, which is encountering a soaring recovery of inbound tourism, will take measures to ensure all inbound visitors can freely choose bank cards, payment codes, cash, among other payment methods.