Expo enthusiasm or posturing promotion
- Source: Global Times
- [10:49 April 12 2010]
- Comments
By Tang Zhao
China UnionPay (CUP) Shanghai Tour card holders will be able to enjoy 50 percent off of their admission fees at most famous attractions in Shanghai during the World Expo, a move some consider to be a publicity stunt, cashing in on the Expo hype.
Admission tickets for eight attractions, including the Shanghai World Financial Center Observatory, Madame Tussauds and Changfeng Ocean World, will be half their original price for those holding the special card.
The card was issued by the Shanghai Tourism Bureau and the CUP, under the supervision of the People's Bank of China.
The People's Bank of China Shanghai Head Office and the Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administration inked a memorandum on April 8 in an effort to promote this tour card worldwide.
A customer service representative with CUP said that the bank cards are issued by banks worldwide. "Banks in China will only issue Shanghai Tour credit cards, but overseas banks will issue prepaid and debit cards with such a theme as well."
"CUP wants to take advantage of the Expo to promote its own credit card business in China," credit card risk-control officer at the Bank of Communications, surnamed Xu, told the Global Times.
China Everbright Bank, said on its official website that credit card applicants should have a "proper job" with a "stable salary", which are usually not required when applying for a debit card.
The limitations to the application process may be a disappointment to potential do-mestic visitors who are looking forward to seeing those tourist hot spots.
But some are not interested in the card, viewing it as a publicity stunt to hype up the already over-hyped Expo. "Why should I take the trouble to apply for this privileged card that only provides six months of special offers," Du Yaling, an employee with a state-owned company, told the Global Times.
