Global Payments Asia-Pacific, a joint venture between the US-based Global Payments and HSBC, has launched China UnionPay (CUP) card acceptance service in Brunei, Maldives, Philippines, Singapore and Sri Lanka.

The service allows Chinese tourists to pay for goods and services in these markets to use their CUP cards at merchants served by Global Payments.

Merchants can add the CUP card acceptance functionality to their Global Payments’ point-of-sale terminals through a free programming of their terminals.

Ian Courtnage, president of Global Payments Asia Pacific, said: “CUP acquiring adds to our broad range of card types that we already support and this new service enhances Global Payments’ one-stop-shop card processing strategy for merchants.”

Cai Jianbo, executive vice president of CUP, said: “We are delighted to expand the acceptance of CUP cards to more Asian markets through Global Payments’ extensive distribution network across Asia Pacific. This further expands our strategic relationship with Global Payments and the new service will offer added payment convenience for the growing number of Mainland Chinese travelers.”