Standard Bank and South African Tourism in Beijing are working with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), on a loyalty programme, ‘I Go South Africa’, for Chinese cardholders travelling to South Africa. It is set to go live on November 1.
ICBC and Standard Bank are working closely with SAT to promote tourism back towards SA, and this is one initiative that will benefit all three parties, says Elsabé Pretorius, Standard Bank’s Senior Manager Group Card for China.
The purpose of the programme is to drive card use among Chinese cardholders travelling overseas. As part of this initiative, ICBC is offering its cardholders numerous benefits, including 21% cash back on certain transactions, free WiFi for 16 days, and various insurance benefits, among others.
ICBC is the largest bank in the world, with approximately 120 million credit card holders and 520 million debit card holders.
Tourism from China has increased drastically over the last few years, and SA is expected to receive 137 000 Chinese tourists next year, with an average transaction value of R18 454 ($1 423), according to Pretorius.
She says, for merchants, there is potentially more business and exposure, as participatory merchants will be marketing various ICBC websites in China, social media platforms, SAT’s website and various other websites, as well as ICBC clients being made aware which merchants are involved, and where they can retrieve their discounts.
In addition, she says they request some form of discount from merchants for ICBC cardholders who purchase from them.
Bradley Brouwer, President of Asia Pacific for SAT said: “With the buying power of the Chinese, the more we can sign up the better.”
The loyalty programme comes at a time when SA and China are aiming to strengthen co-operation and encourage bilateral relations.
The two countries have recently committed to deepen co-operation, while supporting peace and development in Africa, says the South African Government News Agency.
This follows a meeting between President Jacob Zuma and Chinese President Xi Jinping on September 1.
President Xi Jinping said the relationship between China and SA was “at its best in history”. He also noted the strong development momentum in the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries in recent years.
He said China was ready to strengthen co-ordination with SA and expand the partnership with more achievements in co-operation to pursue common development.
