UnionPay International unveils domestic travel benefits for Korean cardholders

By Edil Corneille

UnionPay International has launched new benefits for South Korean cardholders who plan to travel domestically this year, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to restrict overseas travel. The company began its business in South Korea since 2005 and has apprised that 43 million cards have been issued in the market so far. Among the cards issued, approximately 1.5 million are UnionPay Premium Cards, namely Platinum Cards and Diamond Cards.

With global travel being currently halted, the UnionPay International South Korea branch has partnered with over 30 luxury hotels to provide local customers with various benefits on rooms, F&B, and spa facilities.

“Our handpicked domestic holiday benefits allow Korean cardholders to get some much-deserved rest and relaxation in the country’s favorite tourism hotspots. Through this program, we hope to not only offer better experience to our cardholders, but also help local hotels to attract more customers and thus support the economy to recover. In the future, UnionPay International plans to launch a number of additional tailored benefits to meet the needs of our Korean cardholders,” said Miriam Park, General Manager of UnionPay International’s South Korea Branch.

According to the Korean Tourism Organization’s (KTO) official June statistics, inbound tourists have shrunk 97.5 percent year-on-year, while outbound tourists have dropped 98.1 percent. International border closures are expected to continue, leading many globetrotting South Koreans to refocus their desire to travel to local destinations, as stated by UnionPay in a press release. According to the KTO survey, over 70 percent of South Koreans say they are planning to holiday domestically at some point this year.

UnionPay International mentioned that its new promotions facilitate South Koreans to more easily book their domestic holidays online while bolstering the nation’s reeling tourism industry. Teaming up with agoda and Hyatt Hotels, the company will help credit and Premium cardholders plan and pay for local stays across the country.