Visit Maldives soutient l'acceptation de Weixin Pay aux Maldives pour accueillir davantage de touristes chinois

On May 27, Zihuny Rasheed, Deputy Managing Director of Maldives Marketing and PR Corporation (MMPRC/Visit Maldives), and Mr Etienne Ng, Weixin Pay’s Country Manager, Singapore and Regional Director, Southeast Asia, WeChat Pay, signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during ITB China 2024, pledging to support more Maldivian merchants to accept WeixinPay to provide Chinese tourists with a convenient payment experience. Visit Maldives is the Official Destination Partner for this year’s edition of ITB China.

“China is a key source of tourists for the Maldives, and we greatly value the experience of Chinese visitors,” said DMD Zihuny Rasheed. “We plan on promoting the acceptance of Weixin Pay throughout the country, offering Chinese tourists the payment option they are familiar with and prefer. I have used Weixin Pay during my visit to China via linking an international card, and I can attest to the convenience of the mobile payment option.”

Ibrahim Faisal, Minister of Tourism of the Maldives, expressed his support, “Excited that we’re introducing Weixin Pay for Chinese visitors, which is another step in establishing Maldives as their top destination. Now, it’s easier than ever for Chinese travellers to enjoy their stay, hassle-free. We look forward to further enhancing their experience,” he wrote.

According to Mr Etienne Ng, Weixin Pay is currently being piloted at the country’s airport duty-free store, as well as in popular restaurants like Sala Thai and City Garden. Additionally, a range of hotels and resorts are participating including, JEN Maldives Malé by Shangri-La, Adaaran Select Hudhuran Fushi, Club de loisirs de Rannalhi, Adaaran Prestige Vadoo, Villas sur Pilotis Adaaran Prestige, Île privée de Velaa, Île privée de Cheval Blanc Randheli, Dhawa Ihuru Maldives, Ayada Maldives, Marriott Bonvoy, Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru, Conrad Maldives Île Rangali et Angsana Velavaru aux Maldives, avec le soutien solide de la Banque des Maldives et des commerçants locaux. L'initiative progresse à grands pas et devrait compter 8 000 commerçants dans tout le pays qui intègrent cette option de paiement.

“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 have chosen to travel to the island country. Through our cooperation with Visit Maldives, we aim to provide Chinese users with the same convenient experience in the travel as they experience at home,” he said.
En février 2023, un accord d'exemption mutuelle des exigences de visa signé entre les Maldives et la Chine est entré en vigueur, la Chine étendant sa politique d'exemption de visa au bénéfice d'un plus grand nombre de pays. Par conséquent, les Maldives se classent régulièrement parmi les premières destinations étrangères pour les touristes chinois pendant les périodes de voyage populaires telles que les vacances du 1er mai et de la fête nationale.

Selon les données de Visit Maldives, le pays a accueilli plus de 1,8 million de touristes en 2023, un nouveau record national. Le marché chinois a été un marché source clé pour les Maldives. Au 11 mai 2024, il s'agissait du premier marché source avec 91 073 arrivées de touristes.