Zhongshan, Zhuhai and Macau intensify effort to promote international markets Zhuhai and Macau enhance in communication to complement each other Deepen/broaden the level of cooperation

Tourism authorities of Zhongshan, Zhuhai and Macau held a work meeting to set promotional and marketing objectives for this year. The three cities have agreed to join forces to organize promotional activities in Korea and the United States to enhance profile of tourist products in the region. Macau Government Tourist Office Director João Manuel Costa Antunes, Deputy Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes joined the Zhongshan, Zhuhai and Macau Tourism Work Meeting in Zhongshan on January 29. In the meeting, the tourism leaders of the three cities have set goals to strengthen joint marketing activities. The three tourism bureaus will jointly organize promotional activities in Korea and the United States to enhance the cities’ profile as a regional destination, with the aim to attract more overseas visitors. In addition, the bureaus will also intensify efforts to promote the Zhongshan, Zhuhai and Macau tourist products in the Mainland while continue to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in other tourism aspects including employing various promotional tools and improving industry management. The meeting was chaired by Zhongshan Municipal Tourism Bureau Deputy Director-General Liang Zhaoping and Director-General Che Hui concluded the work of the three parties in 2007, followed by reviews on the developments and cooperation achievements by Zhuhai Tourism Bureau Director-General Zhang Meisheng and MGTO Director João Manuel Costa Antunes respectively. In 2006, the three cities signed the “Zhongshan, Zhuhai and Macau Tourism Cooperation Memorandum” in which contents have been well implemented. Last year, a number of themed promotional materials on Zhongshan, Zhuhai and Macau, referred to as Greater Xiangshan, have been developed including tourist map, guide book and golf guide. MGTO Director João Manuel Costa Antunes led a delegation of marketing representatives to Zhongshan and Zhuhai last January, while the three bureaus jointly organized a themed tour mission to Xiangshan participated by representatives of over a hundred travel agencies from major cities across the nation last May. The three bureaus also joined together to hold a series of promotions in the Japanese cities of Osaka and Nagoya to promote the tourism brand of Greater Xiangshan. Officials participated at the work meeting were Zhongshan Municipal Tourism Bureau Director-General Che Hui, Zhuhai Tourism Bureau Director-General Zhang Meisheng, MGTO Director João Manuel Costa Antunes, Zhongshan Municipal Tourism Bureau Deputy Director-General Liang Zhaoping, Zhuhai Tourism Bureau Deputy Director-General Xun Fengchang, MGTO Deputy Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Mayor of Zhongshan Han Zesheng attended. On the other hand, MGTO Director Costa Antunes, Deputy Director Fernandes and MGTO representatives met with Zhuhai Tourism Bureau on January 31 and discussed on topics to enhance in communication and to complement each other, to explore on deepen/broaden the level of cooperation. Zhuhai Tourism Bureau Director-General Zhang Meisheng said Zhuhai and Macau has been working closely for many years. Since the implementation of the individual visit scheme, until December 31 of 2007, about 7.1 million Mainland travelers came to Macau on the means. If travelers to Macau would also visit Zhuhai, it will greatly boost their tourism industry development. He pointed out visitor arrivals for zhuhai exceeded 17 million in 2007, among which 2.5 million are visitors from foreign countries, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. Tourism revenue reached 900 million US dollars. “After the establishment of the Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai Alliance, the tourism route jointly organized by the 3 regions gained great success. Therefore, Zhuhai could explore on more cooperation levels with Macau”, Zhang added. “Themed activities such as car race, hot spring, golf, overseas Chinese cultures of Zhuhai could become regional tourism resources with Macau.” During the meeting, Deputy Mayor of Zhuhai Jin Zhanyang expressed that Zhuhai should further cooperate with Macau as its advanced hardware tourism facilities are worthy for Zhuhai to learn from. MGTO Director Costa Antunes responded that Macau should also gain knowledge from Zhuhai’s experience on creating theme parks, and to learn for more cooperation with Zhuhai on business tourism. At the same time, the two regions may also learn the promotional strategies from each other. For instance, car racing, should study on technology, information and training aspects. MGTO will be sending staffs of different fields for communication exchange with Zhuhai.