Credit Card Companies Boost Local Payment Perks as Overseas Travel Demand Rebounds

Picture this: It’s a humid August afternoon in Miami’s Little Havana, and Maria Rodriguez is scrolling through her phone at Versailles Cuban Restaurant, debating whether to splurge on that extra cortadito. She’s just returned from a family trip to Taiwan, where she used her Hana UnionPay card to snag 10% off at a bustling night market in Taipei. Now, as she eyes the $50 tab in front of her, she wonders—could this same kind of discount be reshaping how Miamians like her plan their next international getaway? The answer, it turns out, is more complicated than a simple yes or no. And it’s not just about savings; it’s about who gets to participate, how local businesses adapt, and what this means for a city where nearly 60% of residents are foreign-born.

This week, South Korea’s Hana Card—a subsidiary of Hana Financial Group—announced a partnership with UnionPay International (UPI) to offer a 10% instant discount for cardholders making purchases in four key Asian markets: China, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Japan. The promotion, running through August 31, 2026, targets travelers spending at least $50 per transaction, with a cap of $10 off per purchase and a maximum of three redemptions per customer. For a city like Miami—where direct flights to Tokyo, Shanghai, and Taipei are as common as palm trees—this isn’t just another credit card perk. It’s a signal of how financial incentives are quietly rewiring the economics of travel, remittances, and even modest business operations across South Florida.

The Mechanics: How the Discount Works (And Who It Leaves Out)

The Hana Card-UPI promotion isn’t a blanket discount. To qualify, cardholders must first register their Hana UnionPay credit or debit card through the Hana Pay app, then link it to local payment platforms in each country. In China, for example, users must add their card to Alipay or WeChat Pay to receive the 10% discount plus a waiver of the usual 3% transaction fee. In Taiwan, the deal sweetens further: customers get the 10% off at major retailers like Carrefour and Eslite Bookstore, plus a flat $100 New Taiwan Dollar (about $3 USD) discount on each ride with Taoyuan Metro when using contactless payments.

For Miami’s large Taiwanese and Chinese communities—concentrated in neighborhoods like Doral and Kendall—this could mean real savings. A family of four spending $200 on groceries at a Taiwanese supermarket like 99 Ranch Market (which has a location in North Miami Beach) would save $20 per transaction, up to three times. But there’s a catch: the promotion is only available to Hana Card customers, which means it excludes the roughly 20% of Miami-Dade County residents who are unbanked or underbanked, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). It also sidesteps the millions of Miamians who rely on remittance services like Western Union or MoneyGram to send cash to family in Vietnam or China—transactions that don’t typically qualify for card-based discounts.

“This is a classic example of financial inclusion being a privilege, not a right,” says Dr. Maria Ilcheva, a senior researcher at Florida International University’s (FIU) Metropolitan Center, who studies economic disparities in immigrant communities. “The people who necessitate these discounts the most—low-income families sending money home—are often the ones who can’t access them because they don’t have a credit card, or because they’re using cash-based systems.”

The Ripple Effect: How Miami’s Businesses Are Adapting (Or Not)

For Miami’s small businesses, the Hana Card-UPI promotion is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it could drive more foot traffic from Asian tourists and expats. On the other, it forces local retailers to navigate a patchwork of payment systems that vary by country. A bubble tea shop in Hialeah or a Vietnamese pho restaurant in Westchester might see an uptick in customers flashing their Hana cards, but only if they’ve invested in the right payment terminals. UnionPay, for instance, requires a specific QR code-based system in China, whereas Taiwan’s contactless payments rely on EasyCard or iPass integrations.

“We’ve had customers ask if we accept UnionPay, and honestly, we’re not set up for it yet,” says Lan Nguyen, owner of Saigon Sandwich in Miami’s Little Havana, a popular spot for Vietnamese banh mi. “The fees to add another payment processor are high, and most of our customers pay in cash or with Venmo. But if this promotion brings in more tourists, we might have to reconsider.”

The challenge isn’t unique to Miami. Across the U.S., small businesses are grappling with the fragmentation of global payment systems. A 2025 report from the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) found that 42% of small retailers cited “complexity in accepting international payments” as a barrier to serving foreign customers. For Miami—a city where 40% of businesses are minority-owned, per the U.S. Census Bureau—this could widen the gap between large chains (like Publix or Walmart, which already accept UnionPay) and mom-and-pop shops.

There’s also the question of whether these discounts actually change travel behavior—or just reward people who were already planning trips. Expedia’s 2026 Travel Trends Report found that 68% of U.S. Travelers say discounts influence their destination choices, but only 12% would switch plans for a 10% savings. For Miami’s frequent flyers—many of whom travel to Asia for business or family visits—the Hana Card deal might experience like a nice bonus, not a game-changer.

The Bigger Picture: Why This Matters for Miami’s Economy

Miami’s relationship with Asia isn’t just about tourism; it’s about trade, education, and real estate. The city is home to the Miami International Airport (MIA), which saw 1.2 million passengers traveling to Asia in 2025—up 18% from 2023, according to the Miami-Dade Aviation Department. It’s also a hub for cargo flights, with direct routes carrying everything from avocados to electronics between Miami and cities like Shanghai and Ho Chi Minh City.

The Hana Card-UPI promotion could accelerate this trend by making it cheaper for Miamians to spend money abroad—and, in turn, encouraging more Asian tourists and investors to visit. Sung Won Sohn, an economist at Loyola Marymount University, notes that “discounts like these are a form of soft power. They make a city more attractive to international visitors, which can have long-term benefits for local businesses and real estate.”

But there’s a darker side to this soft power. As more financial incentives target affluent travelers, they risk deepening inequalities in cities like Miami, where median household income ($57,000) lags behind the national average ($75,000), per the U.S. Census. A family struggling to afford a $500 flight to Vietnam isn’t suddenly going to book a trip because of a $10 discount. Meanwhile, a wealthy investor from Shanghai might use the savings to buy a second condo in Brickell—further driving up housing costs for locals.

“This isn’t just about travel; it’s about who gets to participate in the global economy,” says Dr. Ilcheva. “Miami is a city of immigrants, but not all immigrants have equal access to these kinds of financial tools. If we’re not careful, promotions like this could finish up benefiting the already-privileged while leaving others behind.”

What This Means for You: A Local Resource Guide

Given my background in economic journalism and urban policy, if this trend impacts you in Miami, here are the three types of local professionals you might need to navigate the changing landscape of global payments and travel incentives:

1. Cross-Border Payment Specialists

These are the financial advisors and fintech consultants who help small businesses and individuals set up international payment systems. If you’re a restaurant owner in Little Havana or a retailer in Doral, you’ll desire someone who can:

• Explain the fees and setup costs for accepting UnionPay, Alipay, or WeChat Pay.
• Compare the pros and cons of different payment processors (e.g., Stripe vs. Adyen vs. Local banks).
• Help you apply for grants or low-interest loans to offset the cost of new payment terminals (e.g., through the Miami-Dade County Small Business Development Program).

What to look for: Look for specialists with experience in Asian markets and a track record of working with minority-owned businesses. Ask for case studies of similar clients in Miami.

2. Travel Finance Planners

These are the experts who help individuals and families maximize travel discounts, credit card rewards, and remittance strategies. If you’re planning a trip to Taiwan or Vietnam or sending money to family abroad, you’ll want someone who can:

• Compare the Hana Card-UPI promotion with other travel credit cards (e.g., Chase Sapphire, Capital One Venture).
• Explain how to avoid foreign transaction fees and dynamic currency conversion scams.
• Help you set up a multi-currency account (e.g., through Wise or Revolut) to save on exchange rates.

What to look for: Seek out planners who are certified by the Financial Planning Association (FPA) or have experience with immigrant communities. Avoid anyone who pushes a single credit card or payment method without explaining alternatives.

3. International Business Attorneys

These are the lawyers who help businesses and investors navigate the legal complexities of cross-border transactions. If you’re a real estate developer in Brickell or a tech startup in Wynwood looking to expand into Asia, you’ll want someone who can:

• Draft contracts that comply with U.S. And foreign payment regulations (e.g., China’s Anti-Money Laundering laws).
• Advise on tax implications for businesses accepting foreign payments (e.g., IRS Form 8938 for foreign financial assets).
• Help you structure deals to minimize currency exchange risks (e.g., using forward contracts or options).

What to look for: Prioritize attorneys with dual U.S.-Asia expertise and membership in organizations like the American Bar Association’s International Law Section. Ask for references from clients who’ve done business in the specific country you’re targeting.

Ready to find trusted professionals? Browse our complete directory of top-rated cross-border payment specialists in the Miami area today.