MGTO joins Intourmarket in Moscow to explore the Russian market“Year of China” in Russia a golden opportunity to promote Macau tourism

Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) Director João Manuel Costa Antunes led a delegation to take part in the Intourmarket (ITM) – 2007 held in Moscow as an initiative to explore the Russian market. During the visit to Russia, MGTO is invited by China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) to join the “China Tourism Night”, a prologue to the “Year of China” in Russia. Headed by MGTO Director João Manuel Costa Antunes, the delegation, comprising of chiefs of MGTO’s Promotion and Marketing Department and Research and Planning Department, representatives of 3 travel agents and 1 convention/exhibition and shipping company in Macau, aims to promote Macau’s tourism products and build relationship with the travel trade in Russia. “Russia is an important potential market for us to explore. As ITM this time coincides with the “Year of China” in Russia, we are very pleased to be invited by CNTA to join the “China Tourism Night”. We truly believe that Russia is a forthcoming market and the tourist attractions of Macau and the Mainland, when combined together, will be a very attractive tourism product,” Director Antunes said. MGTO has set up a booth showcasing the slogan of “Experience Macau” at ITM 2007, the International Trade Fair for Travel and Tourism held from March 18 to 21 at IEC “Crocus Expo” in Moscow, to introduce the tourism industry of Macau and its latest development. Representatives of the local travel trade actively explore business opportunities through this travel fair in Russia to raise the awareness of Macau and lay the foundation to develop the source market in Russia. Representatives of Macau’s travel trade met in the fair with over 100 counterparts, who showed great interest in Macau’s tourism products. To be in line with a series of activities for the “Year of China” in Russia, Chairman of CNTA, Shao Qiwei led a large scale delegation to host a promotional activity, “China Tourism Night” in Moscow and St Petersburg on March 20 and 22, where the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG), Shanghai 2010 World Exposition National Organizing Committee, MGTO and Hainan Provincial Tourism Bureau were invited to do presentations. MGTO took this opportunity to introduce the latest tourism development and tourism products of Macau to over 400 guests. Guests participated in the “China Tourism Night” included officials from CNTA, Chinese envoy in Russia, Le Yucheng and officials from tourism departments of Russia. China and Russia enjoy close relationship in a wide range of aspects. According to the statistics of CNTA, China received over 2.4 million visitors from Russia in 2006. This press release is available at: http://www.macautourism.gov.mo