Besök Maldiverna Stödjer Weixin Pay Acceptans på Maldiverna för att välkomna fler kinesiska turister

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 Välj Hudhuran Fushi, Adaaran Club Rannalhi, Adaaran Prestige Vadoo, Adaaran Prestige Water Villas, Velaa privata ö, Cheval Blanc Randheli privata ö, Dhawa Ihuru Maldives, Ayada Maldiverna, Marriott Bonvoy, Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru, Conrad Maldiverna Rangali Island och Angsana Velavaru i Maldiverna med starkt stöd från Bank of Maldives och lokala handlare. Med jämna framsteg förväntas initiativet ha 8 000 handlare över hela landet som integrerar betalningsalternativet.

“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.
I februari 2023 trädde ett avtal om ömsesidigt undantag från viseringskrav undertecknat mellan Maldiverna och Kina i kraft när Kina utökar sin visumfria policy för att gynna fler länder. Följaktligen har Maldiverna konsekvent rankats bland de bästa utomeuropeiska destinationerna för kinesiska turister under populära reseperioder som första maj och nationaldagen.

Enligt uppgifter från Visit Maldives välkomnade landet över 1,8 miljoner turister 2023, ett nytt nationellt rekord. Den kinesiska marknaden har varit en viktig källmarknad för Maldiverna. Från och med den 11 maj 2024 är det den främsta källmarknaden med 91 073 turistankomster.