MMPRC signs MoU with China's WeChat

Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) has signed a three-year MoU with China's Weixin Pay (WeChat) in order to provide a familiar and convenient payment experience for Chinese tourists.

MMPRC reports that China is a key source market for Maldives with 91,073 Chinese tourists visiting the country as of May 11.

The agreement was signed during a ceremony held in ITB China 2024, by Deputy Managing Director of MMPRC, Zihuny Rasheed and the Weixin Pay’s Regional Director for Southeast Asia, Etienne Ng.

WeChat pay is used at the duty-free store in Velana International Airport (VIA) alongside popular restaurants such as Sala Thai and City Garden. A host of resorts are also adopting this payment option including Velaa Private Island, Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru, Cheval Blanc Randheli Private Island and Conrad Maldives Rangali Island among others.

MMPRC says this initiative is expected to further expand with 8,000 merchants that integrate WeChat payment platform throughout the nation.

The popular Chinese payment platform, WeChat pay has been established as a payment method on Bank of Maldives (BML)'s point-of-sales (POS) terminal network. This service was launched earlier in May at duty-free shopping at the Velana International Airport (VIA). While this app allows businesses at the duty-free to accept QR payments, this service was previously only available through the BML gateway.

Zihuny said that they are making efforts to promote the payment platform nationwide and establish methods to ensure tourists visiting Maldives can easily settle payments.

“We plan on promoting the acceptance of Weixin Pay throughout the country, offering Chinese tourists the payment option they are familiar with and prefer," said Zihuny.

WeChat Pay and Alipay are China's two most popular payment methods, accounting for more than 90 percent of the mobile payments market in China.

BML widens payment options with WeChat Pay

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