MasterCard Deal Promoting Discount Tours to China

MasterCard International has signed a marketing deal with the China National Tourist Administration.

As part of the arrangement, the Purchase, N.Y.-based association will become "the official payment card of Visit China '97," MasterCard said.

The deal is an extension of MasterCard Destinations, a program established in December to boost MasterCard's presence in the global travel and entertainment market.

Visit China '97 will promote tourism to more than 60 Chinese cities by offering MasterCard customers discount vacation packages.

"The Asia market has a tremendous potential for debit and credit transactions, and MasterCard is doing very well from a market share standpoint," said James L. Accomando, president of Accomando Consulting Inc., in Fairfield, Conn.

MasterCard said its total purchase volume for the Chinese market in 1996 was $78.1 billion.

To capitalize on its population's spending potential, China needs to improve its infrastructure, Mr. Accomando said, noting that most transactions are conducted in cash.

Visa International has also stepped up its presence in China, with a number of marketing plans through member banks.

Mexico was the first destination in MasterCard's global travel program, and the association intends to roll out others later this year.

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