Centuries of migration and colonial influences have shaped the island of Mauritius to make it one of the fascinating countries on earth.
It's so tough to pay cash in China that the government had to fine a KFC for not accepting banknotes
21.05.2024 - 06:45 / insider.com
China's central bank fined seven businesses last week — including a KFC and branches of state-owned corporations — for rejecting cash payments, all as Beijing pushes to make spending more accessible for foreign tourists.
The People's Bank of China has meted out such punishments for years. But the employees caught this time worked for some of the country's largest and most established businesses, showing how cashless payments have grown so ubiquitous there.
The bank said it fined a KFC in Wuxi, Jiangsu, about $4,140 for refusing to take cash from a customer who ordered breakfast.
The employee responsible was fined about $410. According to the latest government data, the average wage in Wuxi is about $18,000 annually.
Other fined businesses include branches for state-run conglomerates such as an Inner Mongolia branch of China Post, an office in Gansu for New China Life Insurance, and a Jiangsu office for insurance firm PICC Property and Casualty.
China has mandated that local businesses leave the door open for cash payments as it tries to attract foreign investment and tourism after the pandemic.
People in the country already relied heavily on cashless and QR code payments before the pandemic, and the practice accelerated in popularity during the country's lockdown years. By the end of 2023, 86% of all payments in China were made through mobile phones, per state media.
Related stories
That's become an issue for outsiders arriving in a newly reopened China, where they struggled to find vendors who would accept cash or even credit cards.
Hungry for foreign business, China has rushed to bridge the gap. Major payment platforms Alipay and WePay started allowing visitors to link their international bank cards to their Chinese accounts. Single-transaction limits for foreigners were also raised from $1,000 to $5,000.
This year, Beijing has been telling businesses such as three-star hotels and cab companies to start accepting international credit cards.
The wider transition has so far been slow — a taxi company in Shanghai, for example, announced in April that it would arrange for 50 taxis to accept foreign credit cards. Travel companies say there are over 50,000 licensed taxis in the city.
Tourism is a major source of revenue for China, with state-affiliated researchers predicting the sector will bring in about $800 billion in 2024.
But international arrivals have been lagging. Only about 35 million foreign visitors traveled to China in 2023, or around 30% of pre-pandemic levels.
China's cashless wave has also prompted concerns for the elderly, with a central bank survey finding that 75% of the country's seniors still use banknotes.
It's illegal in China to reject cash for purchases, and the central
The website maxtravelz.com is an aggregator of news from open sources. The source is indicated at the beginning and at the end of the announcement. You can send a complaint on the news if you find it unreliable.
Top Autors
Popular Topics
insider.com
08.06.2024 / 11:23
No more bus tours for China's rich millennials — they're seeing the world on their own
Rich millennials in China are experiencing world travel in a very different way from their parents.
insider.com
06.06.2024 / 14:59
A beloved 1,000-foot waterfall in China is actually fed by water pipes, officials admit
A spectacular Chinese waterfall visited by millions of tourists every year has been getting an extra boost via some subtly located water pipes, officials appeared to admit on Tuesday.
breakingtravelnews.com
04.06.2024 / 08:17
Thailand Celebrates and Empowers Equality and Gender Diversity for Pride Month 2024”
Central Pattana proudly launches ‘Pride for All,’ a nationwide campaign celebrating Pride Month at Central shopping centers. Aligning with recent government policies advocating for diversity and equality, this initiative aims to position Thailand as a top LGBTQ+ friendly destination, potentially hosting World Pride 2030.
skift.com
04.06.2024 / 03:31
Top Hotel CEOs Bet on Group Bookings, AI, and India for Growth
The world’s top hotel executives are betting big on AI, groups, and India amid a post-pandemic travel resurgence that’s bolstering the bottom line despite economic headwinds and labor challenges.
forbes.com
30.05.2024 / 14:43
45 Finalists Chosen For World Drone Photography Awards 2024
The shortlist for this year’s world’s best aerial photography has been chosen, featuring five nominees in each of the nine categories. The winners of the Drone Photo Awards will be announced at a ceremony in Siena, Italy on 28 September 2024. The annual competition is open to professional and amateur photographers and is judged by a jury of five international professional photographers, filmmakers and curators.
skift.com
30.05.2024 / 05:29
China’s Golden Week Travel Signals a Revival. Plus, Why U.S. Travel Is Still Lagging
In a rebound of international travel, over 1.5 million Chinese citizens embarked on outbound trips during the recent Golden Week holiday, marketing technology firm China Trading Desk told Skift.
euronews.com
29.05.2024 / 14:09
China extends visa-free entry for 11 European countries until the end of 2025
China has extended visa-free travel for 11 European countries and Malaysia until the end of 2025.
skift.com
25.05.2024 / 12:09
Regenerative Tourism: What Is It? What Are the Challenges?
Regenerative tourism has been the subject of much excitement over the past few years, but also plenty of skepticism – understandable given the travel industry’s history with greenwashing.
cntraveler.com
23.05.2024 / 21:19
The Best Lipstick Shades to Wear in NYC, Paris, Tokyo, & More
I often recall the deep cherry lip tint I wore on my first night in Paris. My dear Parisian friend complimented me, borrowed it, and planted a kiss on my cheek. Plenty of smiles came my way on the Métro, thanks to her lipstick stain on my face. On a cloudy day in Berlin, I applied a tinted suede shade of pink, kissed a cozy café’s free postcard, and sent it to my friend back home in NYC. In Manhattan's West Village, one friendly (and perhaps tipsy) stranger asked if she could borrow my NARS Hot Kiss lipstick to use as her blush. She was visiting from Italy—it was her first night, and tragically, she had forgotten to pack her entire makeup bag.
forbes.com
22.05.2024 / 13:31
6 Dubai Bars For Marvelous Mocktails
The popularity of zero-alcohol cocktails has significantly increased in recent years in Dubai, even as the city’s dining and nightlife scene shows no signs of slowing down. Whether it’s a result of most of the local population’s culture or shifting lifestyle preferences, there’s never been a better time to browse the non-alcoholic drinks sections of menus around town.
traveldailynews.com
22.05.2024 / 12:01
Wellness real estate market reached $438bn. in 2023 and is forecast to more than double to $913bn. by 2028
New Global Wellness Institute report reveals a sector that has seen uninterrupted momentum before, during and after the pandemic—with a powerful 18% annual growth rate since 2019.