Tourism Malaysia to strengthen China payment tool Weixin Pay

Tourism Malaysia and Weixin Pay have formalized a strategic collaboration with the signing of a Memorandum of Collaboration (MoC), marking a significant milestone in strengthening Malaysia’s tourism promotion efforts and enhancing the overall travel experience for Chinese visitors.

The partnership reflects the shared commitment of both parties to leverage their respective strengths, resources, and expertise to position Malaysia as a preferred destination for Chinese travelers, while supporting the sustainable growth and digital transformation of the country’s tourism industry.

Tourism Malaysia Director General Mohd Amirul Rizal said China remains one of Malaysia’s most important tourism source markets. He noted that today’s Chinese travelers expect seamless digital integration throughout their journey, from trip planning to payment solutions. He added that the strategic collaboration with Weixin Pay represents an important step in strengthening Malaysia’s presence in the Chinese market, enhancing engagement with potential visitors, and building strong momentum for the Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) campaign.

Weixin Pay Managing Director for Southeast Asia and North America Ben Yang said the company is committed to expanding its presence in Malaysia and across the region by working closely with local partners to deliver smooth cross-border payment experiences. He said the collaboration will allow Weixin Pay users to fully explore Malaysia’s unique attractions and vibrant culture while enjoying an experience that feels both exciting and familiar.

Under the MoC, Tourism Malaysia and Weixin Pay will collaborate on joint digital marketing initiatives, technology adoption, and integrated promotional efforts to boost Malaysia’s visibility and engagement in the Chinese market. The partnership will also support Malaysian merchants in leveraging Weixin Pay’s digital tools, enabling more seamless, convenient, and cashless experiences for Chinese visitors throughout their travels in Malaysia.

Weixin Pay has seen rapid adoption across Malaysia’s transportation, dining, and retail sectors, including major touchpoints such as the KLIA Ekspres airport rail link and Pavilion Kuala Lumpur.

Collaboration between Weixin Pay and Payments Network Malaysia (PayNet) continues to deepen, with a growing number of Malaysian small and medium-sized enterprises now accepting Weixin Pay through DuitNow QR. This enables Chinese visitors to make payments easily using their preferred method.

The impact of this digital integration is reflected in transaction data from the first half of 2025, during which both transaction value and volume for Weixin Pay in Malaysia recorded several-fold year-on-year growth. During China’s National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holidays in October, transactions processed through PayNet increased by more than three times in both volume and value compared with the same period in 2024.

Malaysia’s tourism industry continues to show strong growth momentum, with international visitor arrivals reaching 38.3 million from January to November 2025, representing a 12% increase compared with the same period last year. Growth from key source markets has been particularly robust, led by China, which recorded 4.3 million visitor arrivals, a 25.9% year-on-year increase. This underscores China’s continued importance to Malaysia’s tourism recovery and expansion strategy.

With the mutual visa-free policy between Malaysia and China taking effect in July 2025, cross-border travel between the two countries has entered a new phase of sustained growth. The collaboration is expected to deepen tourism exchanges, strengthen bilateral cooperation, and deliver tangible benefits for both nations.

The signing of the MoC reinforces the country’s readiness to welcome the world for Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026).