Traveling with your MasterCard Card this

Traveling with your MasterCard Card this
MasterCard Worldwide recently launched the MasterCard Travel Season in the UAE. MasterCard payment cards offer convenience for travelers this summer, through worldwide acceptance, security and additional benefits such as emergency services.
According to the recent MasterCard Worldwide Consumer Lifestyles Survey, 78% of consumers in the UAE plan to travel for pleasure and spend more when abroad.
The majority of UAE travelers own some sort of payment card whether it is a credit card (71%), a debit card (78%) or a prepaid card (48%).  Consumers offer a variety of reasons for carrying a payment card when they travel. Debit cards are more secure than cash (76% vs. 49% in the last survey) and allow consumers to spend what is in the bank account (70% vs. 53% in the last survey). Consumers also state that debit cards offer more control (71% vs. 44%) and are widely accepted (65% vs. 38%) and convenient (67% vs. 33%).
The most popular reason for using a credit card is that it is more secure than cash (74% vs. 75%). Other results from the latest survey show that across ME&L, 63% thought credit cards were widely accepted (against 52% in the last survey), 62% said a credit card gave them better control over their spending (against 38% in the last survey) and 60% thought a credit card is more convenient (as opposed to 46% in the last survey). This indicates that confidence in payment cards and the value they add to the traveler is increasing.
Travelers can use their MasterCard payment card to pay for purchases ranging from hotels, to shopping from local souvenirs, art, jewelry, branded and luxury items and everything in between. MasterCard recognizes that when people travel to their favorite destination they are most likely to use their payment card to purchase accommodation. Department stores are also high on the list of preferred payment locations.
Spokesperson, Denzil Lawson, General Manager, Middle East and Levant, MasterCard Worldwide, said: “As the travel season begins, MasterCard cardholders are offered the utmost convenience and security with a payment card accepted at more than 26 million acceptance locations. The MasterCard Travel Season, offering cardholders payment card benefits and tips to make their holiday one to remember, was developed to ensure MasterCard cardholders will be able to enjoy priceless experiences while traveling to new countries or visiting family and friends at home this summer.”
Every MasterCard credit, debit cardholder in the UAE stands to enjoy a suite of benefits designed for maximum peace of mind and convenience. Some of these benefits are:
• Worldwide Acceptance – MasterCard cards carry the assurance of being accepted at more than 26 million locations around the world.
MasterCard Global Service™ - MasterCard provides emergency customer service anytime, anywhere and in any language. Emergency services such as Lost or Stolen Card Reporting, Emergency Card Replacement and Emergency Cash Advance as well as ATM location information are available to learn more and to obtain the appropriate emergency contact number visit www.mastercard.com.