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Yahoo
2 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Mastercard extends payment collaboration with Uber
Mastercard has extended its partnership with Uber, focusing on improving payment solutions for drivers, couriers, and Mastercard users on the Uber platform. As part of this collaboration, Uber will utilise a variety of Mastercard products and services, including Mastercard Move for real-time disbursements, Mastercard One Credential to streamline the payment experience, and Mastercard Gateway capabilities for collections, to bolster its business operations. The Uber Pro Card, which Mastercard currently supports in the US and Canada, has been renewed in those markets and will see an expansion into new regions, including the UK. This card enables Uber drivers and couriers to receive instant payments at no cost after each trip or delivery, along with benefits such as leading cash-back rewards on fuel purchases, according to Mastercard. Mastercard co-president of Global Partnerships Sherri Haymond said: 'This partnership connects over 3.5 billion cards and more than 150 million merchants that accept Mastercard globally together with Uber's community of over 8.5 million earners and 170 million users worldwide. 'By leveraging Mastercard's end-to-end payment solutions, this deepened work will provide integrated, trusted and seamless payment experiences for Uber's workers, small business owners, and consumers while also supporting Uber's growth.' In conjunction with this expansion, the Uber Pro Card will also enhance payment experiences by incorporating Mastercard One Credential, a single digitally connected credential that provides greater payment options. Additionally, Uber's global customer base will gain access to Mastercard's consumer payment products and services, including its Offers Platform, which will introduce unique benefits and added value for Mastercard cardholders purchasing delivery and mobility services on Uber's platform. Mastercard Gateway, the company's global processing and fraud prevention solution, will also be employed to enable Uber to accept a diverse range of digital transactions swiftly and securely. Uber vice president of Global Commerce Karl Hebert said: 'We could not be more excited to be deepening our relationship with a similarly forward-thinking and innovative business like Mastercard. 'At the heart of this partnership is a desire to grow benefits for all our mutual customers, be it the businesses that rely on Uber to earn each day, or those using the platform to Go Anywhere and Get Anything.' "Mastercard extends payment collaboration with Uber" was originally created and published by Electronic Payments International, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
30 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Taking a trip on the SS Badger? Here's our list of things to do in Manitowoc and Ludington
MANITOWOC – Taking the S.S. Badger car and passenger ferry from Manitowoc to Ludington, Michigan, or from Ludington to Manitowoc, and looking for a few things to do while on shore? Look no further! Here's our list of activities to do once you exit the ferry. Passengers can bring cars onto the ferry, which, of course, will give them many more options of where and what to do in each city. We'll keep our list to things folks can do on foot, after taking the four-hour cruise across Lake Michigan. This is not an inclusive list, but should be a good start! The S.S. Badger's season runs through Oct. 12, and its overnight cruises run through Sept. 1. Learn more or make a reservation at Dine outdoors: These are our picks for great outdoor dining in Manitowoc and Two Rivers Things to do in Ludington, Michigan Here are some things to do in Ludington, Michigan, a city with a population of 7,597 that's a nearly four-hour drive from Detroit: Check out Waterfront Park — Nestled between two marinas and the car ferry dock, this family-friendly park has a playground and picnic tables near the small Pere Marquette Lake. Take a walk along the pathways to see nine bronzed sculptures and come back at night for summer concerts. Walk to a variety of restaurants — These include Blu Moon Bistro, Brenda's Harbor Café, Jamesport Brewing Company, Ludington Bay Brewing Company or the Q Smokehouse on South James Street. Relax on the 2,500-foot sandy beach at Sterns Park — Swim, build a sandcastle, swim and enjoy the view of the North Breakwater Light. The park also has a mini-golf course. Visit the North Breakwater Light — The North Breakwater Light is open for tours this season through Sept. 28. You can walk up the 53 steps in the light's building to the top for great lake views. Step back in time at the Port of Ludington Maritime Museum — Learn about the area's rich history with Lake Michigan. Located in the former U.S. Coast Guard station, visitors can 'pilot' the famed ferry Pere Marquette 22, meet holograms of captains Nels Palmer and Wallace Van Dyke, and experience other interactive exhibits. Walk a few blocks to Ludington's downtown — Shop, dine and enjoy summertime events in the city's downtown. You can find gift shops, jewelry shops, and consignment and vintage shops, art and photo galleries, and more. Most Treasured View: Mariners Trail in Manitowoc County is the region's Most Treasured View, reader poll finds Things to do in Manitowoc Here are some things to do in Manitowoc, a city with a population of 34,568 that's an approximately hour-and-a-half drive from Milwaukee: Visit the Wisconsin Maritime Museum — Learn about the maritime history of Wisconsin and the Great Lakes region. Learn about sailors, shipbuilders and submariners who made history. And take a tour through the World War II submarine the USS Cobia. Check out the Rahr-West Museum — About half mile away from the Badger dock, located inside a beautiful 19th-century Victorian mansion that extends into a 20th-century exhibition wing, works in the museum include a Picasso, a Georgia O'Keeffe, Andy Warhol and Mary Cassatt. Visitors can see a replica of a Sputnik fragment, which mysteriously fell to Earth and landed in Manitowoc just outside the museum. Exhibits rotate about eight times per year. Visit one of the restaurants in downtown Manitowoc — These include Bricks Downtown Bar and Grill, Pizza Garden, Courthouse Pub and the Fat Seagull. Listen to live music at The Wharf — The waterfront bar and restaurant has a large patio and bands playing throughout the summer. Browse the downtown shops — These include Beerntsen's Confectionary, Basil's Sustainable Goods, graced, Heart & Homestead, Phenomenal Love and The Wild Iris Gifts & Botanicals. Join a Manitowoc Shore Segway Tour — Open for two to nine guests and reservations are required ahead of time. On your glide you'll enjoy scenic views of the long coastline and explore the historic downtown district. Find more details at Contact reporter Patti Zarling at pzarling@ or call 920-606-2575. Follow her on X @PGPattiZarling, on Instagram @PGPatti and on Bluesky @PGPatti. This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: Taking the SS Badger? Here's what you can do in Manitowoc & Ludington. Solve the daily Crossword
Skift
34 minutes ago
- Skift
Sri Lanka Bets on Visa Fee Waiver for 40 Nations to Hit 3 Million Tourists
First things first: Sri Lanka isn't going visa‑free, it's just scrapping the fee. Free visas could help close the gap for Sri Lanka, but the country needs a consistent campaign and a story that goes beyond price. Sri Lanka is finally moving closer to extend free visas for visitors from 40 countries, including the seven that already enjoy visa fee waiver and 33 newly-added markets. Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath said Friday that tourists from countries including the U.S., UK, Canada, Germany, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Australia will soon be able to enter the island without paying visa fees. The move, he said, aims to attract more tourists, cut red tape, and send a message that Sri Lanka is open for business. Herath acknowledged the waiver could cost the government about $66 million in visa fees but said the broader economic gains from higher tourist arrivals would more than make up for it. But before the plan can go live, it needs clearance from the Attorney General's office. Industry stakeholders told Skift they expect that approval to be quick and straightforward. Skift has also reached out to Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority for comment. The Visa Fee Waiver The visa fee waiver expands on a smaller program rolled out in March 2023 that offered free 30-day visas on arrival for seven countries, including India, China, and Russia, provided travelers applied for electronic travel authorization in advance. Until now, most tourists outside South Asia have paid $50-$60 for a short stay visa. It's not yet clear whether travelers from the 33 newly-included countries will need an electronic travel authorization. Sri Lanka ha set an ambitious goal of attracting 3 million visitors and earning $5 billion in tourism revenue in 2025. That's a sharp rise from 2.05 million tourists and roughly $3 billion in 2024. 'The initiative is a strong step forward in making Sri Lanka more accessible and competitive as a destination,' said Amrit Rajarathnam, Managing Director of hospitality company Island Life, Sri Lanka. 'While it may not fully close the gap to the 3 million visitor target for 2025, it's expected to generate a meaningful boost in arrivals. Globally, the current trend in tourism-driven countries is to adapt the visa-free format.' What More Is Needed to Boost Arrivals? While industry leaders support the visa fee waiver, they warn it cannot stand alone. 'For most visitors, what truly matters is an efficient online visa process, which Sri Lanka already offers,' said Malik J. Fernando, chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourism Alliance. 'The visa initiative should not serve as a smokescreen for the ongoing absence of a coherent international marketing campaign. Despite repeated proclamations, no meaningful effort has materialized, even though funds have long been available.' Fernando said cutting visa costs is not enough to solve deeper problems in the sector. The failure to properly position Sri Lanka is doing 'real harm' he said. 'It contributes to depressed room rates across all categories of accommodation and deters foreign direct investment, which remains significantly below that of regional competitors due to weak margins. Ask any hotelier.' He also dismissed comparisons to high-volume tourist destinations. 'If a traveler chooses Sri Lanka primarily because of a waived visa fee, that reflects a deeper failure: we haven't communicated why the destination is truly special. The decision to visit should be inspired by the country's extraordinary offerings, not driven by a minor cost saving.' A Full Visitor Experience In March, the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) launched a new promotional campaign: Sri Lanka, A Story for Every Season. The campaign aimed to address seasonality and position the country as a year-round destination. The government hosted 12 travel influencers from India, the U.K., Hong Kong, Australia, and Portugal in Colombo. SLTPB Chairman Buddhika Hewawasam acknowledged the uphill task ahead, emphasizing the need for international collaboration and long-term strategy. He also pointed to the potential of digital influencers to shape global perception of Sri Lanka. The campaign aims to generate $110,000 worth of media exposure and engage a wide variety of travel segments. But for industry insiders, that's not enough. While the visa fee waiver removes an important barrier, lasting growth will depend on how well Sri Lanka invests in the full visitor experience, Island Life's Rajarathnam said. 'We need to improve both how we promote Sri Lanka and how travellers experience it. That means focused marketing in key markets, better transport between regions, consistent, high-quality service across the country and support for experience-driven hospitality. It's about making sure people don't just visit – but want to come back.' Tourism Numbers So Far… So far, the tourism arrival in the country has been uneven. As of July 23, Sri Lanka recorded 1.3 million tourist arrivals for the year, a 4% increase compared to the same period in 2024. But July's numbers, which were expected to be strong due to the Kandy Esala Perahera festival, fell short as only 145,188 arrivals were logged in the first 23 days of the month. This was far below the expected 277,195. 'The decline in arrivals during June and July is unsurprising,' said Fernando. 'These months have traditionally been seen as off-season. Without a consistent marketing campaign that establishes Sri Lanka as a year-round destination, such dips in visitation are inevitable.' To reach the annual target, Sri Lanka now needs to attract nearly 1.7 million additional tourists before the end of the year. That would require more than 281,000 monthly arrivals—well above the current average. Since January's peak of 252,761 visitors, monthly arrivals have steadily declined, with June posting just 138,241. India continues to lead as the top source market with 269,780 visitors so far this year, followed by U.K. and Russia. As Fernando put it, 'Sri Lanka remains an extraordinary destination… but it continues to undersell itself due to weak, fragmented communication. This must change if we are to realise the country's full potential.'
