Chinese mainland tourists can use bank cards issued by China UnionPay Co. when they travel to Taiwan instead of cash payments from now on, as UnionPay started to provide services in Taiwan Monday, the company and Taiwan's National Cedit Card Center announced.

A total of 368 stores in Taiwan had been equipped with Point of Sale (POS) terminals that applies to UnionPay's network, including shops at Mount Ali, the Sun Moon Lake and Taipei 101 Mall, according to Taiwan's local financial authorities.

The move aims to provide convenience to mainland tourists and businessmen when they visit Taiwan and boost communications between the two sides, said Jeffery Koo, president of the credit card center.

Mainland tourists have made more than 350,000 trips to Taiwan so far after the travel ban was lifted last July, having spent an daily average of 295 U.S. dollars per person, according to the National Tourism Administration.

(Xinhua News Agency August 11, 2009)