Sri Lankans catch the travel bug

Sri Lankans may have caught the travel bug in recent months, with travel becoming more affordable and gaining momentum as a lifestyle aspect. This has resulted in an increase in the usage of HSBC credit cards overseas, for convenience and other beneficial factors, according to HSBC.

While Singapore, India, Thailand, Australia and Malaysia, remained the key destinations for frequent travel by HSBC credit cardholders, the UAE, UK, US, Hong Kong and the Maldives were the next best travel choices, according to HSBC’s Head of Retail Banking and Wealth Management, Nilantha Bastian.     

He added: “HSBC credit cards have become the preferred choice among travellers simply because they offer safety, convenience, global recognition and acceptance along with unsurpassed travel privileges. Furthermore, our home&away global privilege program welcomes cardholders to unforgettable travel experiences with local and global offers that extend to over 29 million merchant outlets in over 40 countries around the world.”   

Through this global program, cardholders have access to the same shopping, dining, leisure and entertainment discounts and benefits that local HSBC credit cardholders enjoy wherever they travel to, in the world. So whether it is shopping in Hong Kong, dining in Singapore, relaxing in Brazil, having beauty treatments in Thailand or even buying jewellery in India, HSBC credit cards offer the best brand names and great discounts/deals to choose from.

HSBC credit cards also provide travellers a safety net to ensure cardholders and their family enjoy a peaceful travel experience. HSBC has partnered with Global Insurer Allianz Insurance Lanka Ltd., to provide cardholders a travel protection cover for a range of contingencies including: Emergency accident and medical expenses, evacuation and repatriation; accident, death and dismemberment; baggage loss; baggage delay; loss of passport; personal liability; legal fees; hijacking; trip delay/interruption (per person); trip cancellation; 24 hour medical assistance services; and more.

These are offered at no additional cost to HSBC Premier, HSBC Advance, Visa Signature and Platinum credit cardholders who purchase their return trip tickets from Sri Lanka, using their respective HSBC credit card, to any travel destination in the world.

As safety is a key aspect, HSBC was the first to create a new paradigm in the credit card market by embedding a microchip to store confidential information. This offers greater security than magnetic stripe cards, which is reassuring for customers who are keen to enjoy a safe travel experience with a ‘safe card’ in hand.

They are also more effective in preventing cards from being copied to produce counterfeit credit cards and further safeguards against fraud and theft when transacting online. As a further safety measure, cardholders are advised to contact HSBC prior to their departure out of the country, to advise their travel plans.   

In addition, cardholders can enjoy savings at a number of duty free shops at several airports. Signature cardholders can enjoy VIP access at over 600 airport lounges for a very special fee. Locally, HSBC credit cardholders can enjoy discounts on shopping at the Flamingo Duty Free shop at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) up to 30 April 2013 and a number of retail stores around the country.

All HSBC credit cardholders can enjoy complimentary airline tickets on a number of partner airlines by converting their HSBC Rewards points into mileage rewards points, upon registering for this program. Moreover, VISA Signature cardholders can enjoy complimentary companion tickets, luxury international indulgences around the world as well as special savings on dining, lodging, supermarket, home electronics and furniture, travel and leisure, shopping and retail.

In order to realise your travel dreams, HSBC offers unmatched flexibility to plan and pay for overseas travel in a way that suits each cardholder. The flexible payment options enable customers to choose a travel plan that best suits their financial circumstances. Hence, once a cardholder decides on the travel package, they could call up the HSBC hotline on 4 4722 00 and request to switch the payment to a flexible payment plan for up to 12 months.     

For more details cardholder can log onto www.hsbc.lk.