如何在南亚付款：商务旅客指南

November2024 Paying in South Asia Introduction The prospects are encouraging for international travel to countries in South Asia. Having averaged 6.0% in the fiveyears before the COVID-19 pandemic,Tourism Economicsbelieves growth in international arrivals across South India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan in particular, can expect to see stronger annual growth in foreign visitors through2029, according to latest forecasts (Fig. 1). While a significant slowdown in growth is expected for Bangladesh, thiscompares to a particularly strong performance in the pre-pandemic period, when arrivals had been increasing byalmost one-fifth per year. At 7.4%, the annual growth predicted for Bangladesh is not far below the 8% forecasted So, where is all this growth coming from? Arrivals from elsewhere in Asia Pacific (Northeast and Southeast Asia plusSouthwest Pacific), Europe and North America should all grow more quickly than in the past and above the 8.4% Above average growth in arrivals from outside South Asia may mean more people traveling for the first time to acountry, with which they have little or no familiarity. You may be one of those people about to take a business tripto Bangladesh, India, Pakistan or Sri Lanka for the first time. While we can’t guide you through every eventuality, we In this new report, we explore how you can expect to pay for things when taking a business trip to Bangladesh,India, Pakistan or Sri Lanka. If you’re a travel manager with staff traveling to South Asia,share this report with your How to pay in Bangladesh What to know before you go Thelocal currencyis known as the taka and one U.S. dollar will buy you around120takas, one euro130 andone U.K. pound155. Card or cash?If visiting Bangladesh, you’ll need both.Take a cardbecause you can use it in international hotels and upmarket restaurants and shops in the capital cityDhaka and in other large cities like Chittagong. It’ll save you having to carry bundles of cash, particularly since you’ll onlybe allowed to take US$500-worth of takas with you Take plenty of U.S. dollarson your trip, as you won’t be allowed to bring takas into Bangladesh. You can only buy them after arrival, and only with dollars. Cards: Yes, to plastic, no to mobile High-end hotels, restaurants and upscale shopping malls all accept walking (plastic) cards and it’s generally safe for you to usethem in these locations. Paying with a phone or another mobile device (via mobile wallets like Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay) has not yet becomewidespread in Bangladesh. All three major Western card schemes–Visa, Mastercard and American Express–are usually accepted. Most card payments are authenticated using Chip + PIN (personal identification number). Contactless payment is available, butit’snot widely used because of fears that these cards could be stolen and misused very easily. Where contactless payment is available,the transaction limit has been set at 4,000 takas (US$36). Beware of card fraud Card crime is a significant risk in Bangladesh, with thieves either copying card details (skimming) or simply stealing the cards. There are precautions you can take to keep your card safe: •Use Chip + PIN instead of contactless payment. •Pay by cash in smaller shops and eating places. •Watch out for ATMs that have been tampered with or might be watched by hidden cameras. •Keep your card safe at all times. BANGLADESH Cash: Don’t forget to bring U.S dollars While on a business trip in Bangladesh, you’ll find it almost impossible to pay your way entirely without using the local currency–the taka. Butgetting hold of takas is not easy. You won’t be able to buy them at home. Visitors can only buy takas after they have enteredBangladesh, and onlyin exchange for U.S. dollars. Bring any other foreign currency into the country and it could be seized by the Bangladeshi authorities. Beware of the limits of how many dollars you can bring in and take out again. While you’ll need plenty of dollars to change into taka, you canonly bring up to US$10,000 into Bangladesh without making a customs declaration. And when it’s time to leave Bangladesh, you’llonly be able to When it’s time to top up on your takas,don’t rely on ATMs for cash. While there are plenty in Dhaka, you’ll find far fewer ATMs elsewhere. Buteven in the capital, try not to rely on them for withdrawing takas: Not all ATMs will accept all foreign cards; and even if theydo, the machines areoften out of order. It makes more sense to exchange some of your dollars for takas on arrival at the airport, and later at yourhotel or through If you plan on heading out beyond the country’s two biggest cities–Dhaka and Chittagong–change some dollars before you go, stocking upwith plenty of takas to keep you going. Outside of the two big metro areas, you’ll find few money-changing facilities, and wherethey are available, Ground transportation: Book and pay ahead for a driver Public transportation is very crowded and not recom