On May 27, Jiffny Rasheed, Deputy Managing Director of Maldives Marketing & PR Corporation (MMPRC/Visit Maldives), and Etienne Ng, Weixin Pay Country Manager Singapore and WeChat Pay Regional Director for Southeast Asia, signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at ITB China 2024, committing to helping more Maldivian merchants accept WeixinPay and provide a convenient payment experience to Chinese tourists. Visit Maldives is the official destination partner of this year’s ITB China edition.
“China is an important source of tourism for the Maldives and we attach great importance to the Chinese tourist experience,” said DMD’s Jifney Rasheed. “We plan to promote the acceptance of Weixin Pay across the country, providing Chinese tourists with a payment option they are familiar with and prefer. I used Weixin Pay by linking my international card during my visit to China and can attest to the convenience of the mobile payment option.”
Maldives Tourism Minister Ibrahim Faisal expressed his support, writing, “We are pleased to launch Weixin Pay for Chinese travellers. This is another step towards establishing the Maldives as a top destination for Chinese tourists, making it easier and hassle-free for Chinese travellers to enjoy their stay. We look forward to further enhancing their experience.”
According to Etienne Ng, Weixin Pay is currently being piloted at Maldives airport duty-free shops and popular restaurants such as Salathai and City Garden. Additionally, various hotels and resorts across the country are participating, including JEN Maldives Male by Shangri-La, Adaaran Select Hudhuranfushi, Adaaran Club Rannalhi, Adaaran Prestige Vadoo, Adaaran Prestige Water Villas, Velaa Private Island, Cheval Blanc Randheli Private Island, Dawa Ihuru Maldives, Ayada Maldives, Marriott Bonvoy, Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru, Conrad Maldives Rangali Island and Angsana Velavaru, with strong support from Maldivian banks and local merchants. The initiative is progressing smoothly and the number of merchants across the country that will adopt the payment option is expected to reach 8,000.
“Weixin Pay is committed to providing users with safe and convenient payment services. Since the visa-exemption policy was implemented, more and more Weixin Pay users are choosing to travel to the island nation. Through our cooperation with Visit Maldives, we aim to provide Chinese users with the same convenient travel experience they experience in their home country,” he said.
In February 2023, the Agreement on Reciprocal Exemption of Visa Requirements signed between the Maldives and China came into effect as China expands its visa exemption policy to benefit more countries. As a result, the Maldives consistently ranks highly as an overseas destination for Chinese tourists during popular travel periods such as May Day and National Day.
According to data from Visit Maldives, in 2023 the Maldives welcomed over 1.8 million tourists, setting a new national record. The Chinese market is an important source market for the Maldives. As of May 11, 2024, China remains the largest source market with 91,073 tourists.
