The Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) has entered into a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China's Weixin Pay (WeChat) to offer a familiar and convenient payment experience for Chinese tourists.

This strategic partnership underscores the importance of China as a key market for Maldivian tourism, with 98,908 Chinese tourists arrival as of May27, 2024.

The agreement was formalized during a ceremony at ITB China 2024, where MMPRC's Deputy Managing Director, Zihuny Rasheed, and Weixin Pay’s Regional Director for Southeast Asia, Etienne Ng, signed the MoU.

WeChat Pay is already in use at the duty-free store in Velana International Airport (VIA), alongside popular restaurants and various resorts that have adopted this payment method.

MMPRC reports that the initiative aims to further expand the integration of WeChat Pay, with plans to include 8,000 merchants across the nation.

As of May 14, WeChat Pay has been established as a payment option on the Bank of Maldives (BML)'s point-of-sale (POS) terminal network, starting with duty-free shopping at Velana International Airport.

This service enables businesses at the duty-free to accept QR payments, which were previously only available through the BML gateway.

WeChat Pay, along with Alipay, dominates China's mobile payments market, accounting for over 90 percent of transactions.

This collaboration is expected to significantly enhance the payment experience for Chinese tourists, making their visits to the Maldives more convenient and enjoyable.

This initiative reflects MMPRC's ongoing commitment to improving the overall tourist experience and supporting the nation's thriving tourism industry by leveraging popular and trusted payment platforms.