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October 2002 |
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MGTO Marketing Meeting highlights growth |
Macau SAR Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Dr. Chui Sai On, in a speech at the Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) Annual Marketing Meeting September 10, said that this year Macau was likely to top last year's breakthrough figures for visitor arrivals.
A 40 per cent growth in the number of Mainland visitors this year was remarkable, he said. This increase may be partly attributable to the visa facilitation policy introduced in the Mainland earlier this year.
MGTO is actively participating in Mainland tourism fairs and conferences through the Macau SAR Government Beijing Office tourism sector, he noted. He referred also to the importance of the South East Asian markets.
New developments
More products and facilities to entice people to stay longer are being developed. Dr. Chui listed Macau Tower, the Macau Stadium, Macau Dome, Fisherman's Wharf, A-Ma Cultural Village, East Asia Satellite TV City, Macau Science Center, Inner Harbor renovations and the new Border Gate Checkpoint among the new facilities.
Dr. Chui emphasized that the MSAR has clearly positioned itself as a tourism and gaming destination, and that this idea is being expanded to include the development of Macau as an international center for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE). The three newly selected gaming concessionaires are committed to investing in various facilities, which will make Macau an international tourism city.
Achievements and challenges
MGTO Director João Manuel Costa Antunes presented a summary of the tourism office's recent achievements and challenges for the year ahead.
After a record-breaking nine million visitors in 2000, the year 2001 established another record with more than 10.2 million visitors, and visitor spending increased by more than 16 per cent, totaling US$3.75 billion.
This positive trend has continued this year, Mr. Antunes said, with 6.5 million visitor arrivals already recorded in the first seven months,10.8 per cent over last year's figures.
He also noted significant developments in 2002, beginning with the operation of the tourism sector in the Office of Macau SAR Government in Beijing, which will "strengthen our penetration of the Mainland market," the MGTO Indian representative office, set up in April, and the appointment of the new Australia/New Zealand representative who was also present.
Macau will further develop its MICE facilities, he said, with a special Research and Information Center soon to be set up for this purpose. He mentioned the recent delegation headed by Secretary Chui Sai On to visit MICE facilities in Las Vegas and San Francisco, and a joint fam trip with Macau World Trade Center to MICE destinations in Europe in August. In addition, effective October 1,77 tour agencies from Macau will be able to cooperate with 528 designated Mainland operators in organizing "Macau Tours."
Mr. Antunes pointed out that the remarkable increase in tourist arrivals from the Mainland requires more tourist guides in Macau, and for this purpose the Institute for Tourism Studies is arranging more courses for training of qualified professionals. About 300 more tour guides are expected to be ready to join the force by 2003, he said. He concluded his speech by reiterating the importance of the group's opinions and contributions to MGTO's global strategy. |
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Note: All information is correct at the time of printing.
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