Forum and Workshop of the 34th National Congress of The Portuguese Association of Travel Agencies (APAVT) held today (Dec 1) at the Macau Tower Convention and Entertainment Center. The Forum of the Congress, under the theme “Tourism: New Markets, New Opportunities”, has invited President of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), Jean-Claude Baumgarten as keynote speaker and former CNN presenter Lorraine Hahn as moderator. Other speakers included Peter Villax , Managing Director of Hovione, Yao Yuecan, Chairman of the Board of CITS Limited, Head Office and Pansy Ho, Managing Director of Shun Tak Holdings Limited and MGM Grand Paradise Limited. The panel of the Forum discussed new market opportunities, and Baumgarten referred the potential of the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China) and added that the Gulf is another potential region to watch. He also highlighted the need for a close partnership between public and private sector. Both Yao Yuecan and Pansy Ho pointed out that Macau can be a platform to help showcase Portugal to attract more Chinese visitors to Portugal. Pansy Ho also suggested the Portuguese travel industry to create a presence in Macau. Yao put forward the idea of multi-destination itineraries associating Portugal with other European countries, as well as the need to build a destination brand for Portugal among Chinese consumers. Peter Villax offered some insights as to how to work with the Chinese market, highlighting that the effort has to be sustained to achieve results in the medium term. He also added that a well thought out strategy is necessary before entering a new market. The Workshop for tourism presentations of Mainland China, Portugal and Macau was also held this afternoon. Chairman of the Board of CITS Limited, Yao Yuecan, General Director, Tourism Promotion Division of Turismo de Portugal, António Padeira and Director of Macau Government Tourist Office, João Manuel Costa Antunes introduced the tourism situation and products of each destination respectively. The workshop was followed by a travel mart between Portuguese tour operators and their Macau and Mainland China counterparts. About 100 travel trade from over 70 toursim related entities took part in the travel mart. The hosting of the APAVT Congress in Macau reinforces MGTO’s promotional strategy to show the new Macau to Portuguese tour operators, and attract more visitors from Portugal to Macau, especially for the celebrations next year of the tenth anniversary of the establisment of the Macau SAR. Macau has also been invited to be the “International Guest Destination” at the Lisbon Travel Market 2009 to be held next January to promote Macau. The National Congress of APAVT is a main highlight in the annual agenda of the Portuguese tourism industry. APAVT is the most representative association of Portuguese tourism, and since its foundation in 1950, has played a fundamental role in the development of tourism in Portugal. This is the fourth time that APAVT has chosen Macau to host its annual national congress, after 1982, 1990 and 1996, and the first after the establishment of the Macau Special Administrative Region.
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