Technology

UnionPay International Enhances Cross-border Payment Experience for Chinese Tourists traveling to South Africa

Published

5 hours ago

October 11, 2024

PRETORIA, South Africa, Oct. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — 2024 marks the 26th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and South Africa, celebrating a successful partnership and looking ahead to future opportunities. UnionPay International plays a crucial role in strengthening China-South African relations by enhancing payment experiences for Chinese tourists.

From September 9 to 13, 2024, the South African Tourism Board was hosting a series of industry roadshows in Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen. These events featured 45 South African tourism establishments engaging directly with nearly 400 tour operators in the three cities. As the payment partner, UnionPay International has showcased the advantages of UnionPay cards for international transactions.

Over the past 26 years, the tourism and economic collaboration between China and South Africa has flourished. South Africa’s distinctive landscapes and rich biodiversity have increasingly attracted Chinese tourists. In 2023, the number of Chinese tourists surged by 215.7% year-on-year, making it one of the fastest-growing markets. From January to March 2024, international arrivals in South Africa reached 2.4 million, a 15.4% increase from the previous year, with Chinese visitor numbers growing by 82%. Major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen have seen significant increases in outbound tourism to South Africa.

“South African Tourism is set to unveil ‘Discover South Africa’s New Charms’ in 2024, targeting the Chinese market with a focus on sustainable tourism and unique experiences. The campaign aims to introduce lesser-known destinations and activities, highlighting South Africa’s diverse ecosystems and cultural richness,” said Mr. Gcobani Mancotywa, SA Tourism Regional General Manager: Asia-Pacific and Middle East, he emphasised strengthening industry partnerships and a comprehensive content strategy to promote tourism recovery.

The South African Tourism Board aims to attract over 50,000 Chinese tourists in the 2024-2025 fiscal year, with hopes of returning to 2019 tourism levels by 2026. UnionPay cards are integral for Chinese tourists traveling to South Africa. With a global acceptance network spanning 183 countries and regions, UnionPay cards offer versatile payment options, including cash withdrawals, card payments, QR code payments, and mobile payments. In South Africa, 90% of merchant POS terminals accept UnionPay cards, allowing tourists to use their cards conveniently without needing to exchange currency beforehand.

To make overseas spending more attractive, UnionPay International has partnered with major Chinese banks to offer cash-back and discount promotions. UnionPay cardholders from Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Agricultural Bank of China, Bank of China, China Construction Bank, Bank of Communications, and China Merchants Bank can receive up to 12% cash-back benefits, enhancing the cost-effectiveness and convenience of using UnionPay cards abroad.

As a leading African destination for Chinese tourists, South Africa is committed to providing a secure, convenient, and rewarding payment experience through UnionPay card usage. Whether in vibrant cities or scenic areas, UnionPay cards enhance travel comfort and convenience.

The South African Tourism Board believes that the Chinese market will be pivotal in reviving South Africa’s tourism industry and achieving its goal of welcoming 21 million international tourists by 2030. UnionPay International is enthusiastic about this ongoing collaboration, driving growth in tourism and economic relations between China and South Africa, and offering an improved travel experience for tourists around the world.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/unionpay-international-enhances-cross-border-payment-experience-for-chinese-tourists-traveling-to-south-africa-302274055.html

Technology

Artificial Intelligence Could be the Key to Predictive Aviation Safety

Published

57 mins ago

October 11, 2024

Find out more at IASS 2024 in Rio de Janeiro

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Oct. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The goal for aviation is a proactive safety regime that will enable airlines, regulators, air navigation service providers, and other industry stakeholders to identify, understand, and mitigate emerging risks well before they result in an accident or incident. Artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced computing are seen as keys to achieving that goal, but how does the industry harness that potential and make proactive safety a reality?

At Flight Safety Foundation’s 77th annual International Aviation Safety Summit (IASS) next month in Rio de Janeiro, a panel of experts from some of the world’s most advanced safety information collection, analysis, and sharing programs will discuss how their programs are pushing the boundaries of safety through advanced data sharing, collaborative analysis, and cross-regional cooperation. Leaders from the Brazilian Commercial Aviation Safety Team, the U.S. Aviation Safety Team, and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency’s Data4Safety program will explore how integrating diverse safety data and methodologies can potentially transform aviation safety and foster a global network committed to innovation and excellence in risk management.

Commercial aviation in all its forms runs on and produces vast amounts of data, and it has long been understood that unlocking that data is essential for continuous safety improvement. In a separate session, a panel of technology experts will dive into how AI and advanced computing are being used to improve aviation safety processes and to better understand new data streams and the relationships between hazards, as well as other factors that could affect the safety of flight.

IASS 2024 is scheduled for Nov. 5–7 at the Grand Hyatt Rio de Janeiro. For more information and to register, please visit the IASS 2024 page on the Foundation’s website.

About Flight Safety Foundation

Flight Safety Foundation is an independent, nonprofit, international organization engaged in research, education, advocacy, and communications to improve aviation safety. The Foundation’s mission is to connect, influence, and lead global aviation safety.

Media Contact:

Frank Jackman
Director, Communications and Research
+1 703.739.6700, ext. 116
jackman@flightsafety.org

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SOURCE Flight Safety Foundation

Technology

Comtrend Showcases OpenPON and Latest Broadband Solutions at WISPAPALOOZA 2024

Published

57 mins ago

October 11, 2024

Featuring a Live Demonstration and Expert Insights on Flexible, Low-Cost Fiber Deployments for WISPs

IRVINE, Calif., Oct. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Comtrend, a leader in broadband networking solutions, is set to showcase its latest innovations at WISPAPALOOZA, taking place from October 14-17 at the Paris and Horseshoe Hotels in Las Vegas, Nevada. A central focus will be on OpenPON, a groundbreaking open-architecture approach to fiber delivery that is revitalizing fiber deployments. Comtrend has been actively promoting OpenPON across the nation, highlighting the advantages of vendor flexibility and competitive pricing enabled by this open market model. Designed to offer scalability, flexibility, and cost-effective alternatives to proprietary systems, OpenPON is particularly well-suited for the WISP market. In addition to OpenPON, Comtrend will unveil its expanded ONT lineup, which includes the GRG-4283, GRG-4286, GRG-4361, and the soon-to-be-released XGSF-4606 SFP ONT. In collaboration with Fonex, a leading provider of disaggregated networking solutions, attendees will also witness a live demonstration of OpenPON that features an XGS-PON Micro OLT and Comtrend’s ONTs.

Comtrend, a leader in broadband networking solutions, is set to showcase its latest innovations at WISPAPALOOZA, taking place from October 14-17 at the Paris and Horseshoe Hotels in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Additionally, Comtrend will participate in a panel discussion exploring how its new coax-based DPU can bring gigabit speeds throughout MDUs by leveraging combined technologies to optimize efficiency and reduce costs.

Key Highlights at WISPAPALOOZA 2024:

OpenPON Demonstration: Deploying Flexible, Low-Cost Last-Mile Fiber Networks
(Booth #302)
In partnership with Fonex, Comtrend will showcase how service providers can deploy scalable, cost-effective broadband services using a combination of an XGS-PON Micro OLT, ONT, and Ethernet gateway. This demonstration highlights the benefits of OpenPON architecture in creating adaptable and future-ready networks.

Speaking Session: Fiber Networks: Leveraging Hybrid Solutions
(Wednesday, October 16, 2024, 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM | Champagne 4)

Join Comtrend’s Senior Director of Product Strategy, Bradley H. Joe, for an insightful discussion on innovative approaches to delivering gigabit speeds to MDUs that do not have fiber infrastructures. The session will explore how hybrid solutions—combining various technologies—can optimize efficiency and reduce costs. Learn how integrating alternative tools can accelerate deployment timelines, increase scalability, and generate faster revenue capture.

For more information about Comtrend’s participation at WISPAPALOOZA or to schedule a meeting, please contact Sarah.Tomasi@Comtrend.com.

About Comtrend:
Comtrend is a leading provider of broadband networking solutions, specializing in last-mile access networking. With over three decades of industry experience, we have a deep understanding of Service Providers. That’s why we are dedicated to offering open solutions and supporting industry standards, ensuring flexibility, future-proofing, and scalability. Our commitment to innovation is evident through our support of the OpenPON initiative—a groundbreaking open approach to fiber delivery. Comtrend’s hardware and software solutions include ONTs, gateways, home networking, and management software, all designed to meet the evolving needs of Service Providers. We continually collaborate with a wide network of partners to bring best-in-breed solutions to Service Providers.

Media Contact

Sarah Tomasi, Comtrend, (949) 753-9640, sarah.tomasi@comtrend.com, us.comtrend.com

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SOURCE Comtrend

Technology

HealthCentral Wins Top Honors at MM&M Awards for Consumer, Professional Brands

Published

57 mins ago

October 11, 2024

NEW YORK, Oct. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — HealthCentral, a leading digital health platform serving patients living with chronic and serious illness, has taken top honors at the 2024 Medical Marketing and Media (MM+M) Awards, winning the Gold Award for Healthcare Consumer Media Brand for an unprecedented third consecutive year and a Silver Award for Healthcare Professional Media Brand for Oncology News Central, an essential hub for oncology information and insights.

Announced October 10 in New York City, the MM+M Awards recognize the most creative and effective healthcare marketing and communications platforms and campaigns in the industry.

“We are honored to receive awards this year for both our consumer and professional brands, including being the only brand to receive MM&M’s consumer award three years in a row,” said Steve Zatz, M.D., CEO of HealthCentral Corp. “These achievements speak to our commitment to deliver premier content that informs, educates, and builds community for both people living with chronic illness and the professionals who care for them.”

In honoring HealthCentral, the MM+M Awards highlighted the platform’s ability to inform and inspire with science-driven editorial, video, and social content that is both compassionate and clear-eyed. Actionable self-care guides, relatable news and features, and realistic first-person perspectives on the challenges of living with chronic illness encourage confidence and build community, while courageous explorations into controversies, such as medical gaslighting and the financial burdens of chronic disease, uncover overlooked issues that can make the lives of people with serious illnesses more difficult.

MM&M’s recognition for Oncology News Central noted the platform’s expert and efficient curation of breaking clinical news, and its focus on delivering information in context, providing practical insights on how physicians can best incorporate new findings into clinical practice through peer-to-peer discussions, video roundtables, and podcasts.

“Receiving the MM&M awards is a testament to the excellence and hard work of our teams and of our commitment to understanding the needs of our audiences,” said Chief Content Officer Jo-Ann Strangis. “Together, our platforms reflect our mission to encourage people to live their best possible lives and to ensure their physicians are equipped with the knowledge and expertise needed to deliver optimal patient care.”

About HealthCentral

HealthCentral Corporation operates leading digital platforms that serve patients living with chronic illness, their care partners and health professionals who care for them. HealthCentral Corporation’s award-winning destinations include HealthCentral, MedCentral, Patient Power, Oncology News Central, TheBody, and TheBodyPro.

Media Contact:

Patricia Garrison
908-591-3452
PR@healthcentral.com

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SOURCE HealthCentral Corp.