By Leandra Monteiro

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Weixin Pay entered into a strategic agreement in Shanghai.

The 3-year agreement pledges to bring smarter and more convenient traveling experiences to Chinese tourists. The two sides will also leverage the Weixin ecosystem to promote the digital transformation of various industries in the city-state.

“We look forward to the return of Chinese tourists, for whom Weixin Pay is a popular digital tool, and we hope this strategic partnership will enable tourists to enjoy even more lifestyle experiences in Singapore,” said Andrew Phua, Executive Director of Singapore Tourism Board for Greater China. He also added that Singapore merchants can leverage Weixin’s ecosystem to further upgrade their digital capabilities to better serve Chinese consumers.

“In the past, we have collaborated with the STB to promote the popularity and development of digital payment. We will work together further to provide digital solutions based on the Weixin ecosystem to create high-quality cross-border smart travel experiences for Chinese tourists,” said Freedom Li, President of Weixin Pay International Business.

Against this background, local merchants in Singapore are actively embracing the Weixin ecosystem to welcome the return of tourists from China. Grab, a Southeast Asian app, launched its Weixin Mini Program enabling Weixin users to directly access ride-hailing services across eight Southeast Asian countries, including Singapore. The Mandai Wildlife Group also made use of Weixin Pay such as Official Accounts, Channels and Mini Programs, to enhance customer experience.

Furthermore, drawing on the practices of supporting the digital transformation of SMEs in China, with the easy-to-use tools, Weixin Pay has helped nearly 10,000 Singapore hawkers go digital, enabling Chinese tourists to immerse themselves in authentic local culture.