GGCT advises Macau residents not to travel to Fukushima or Sendai

As a consequence of another explosion that occurred Today (15March) at the nuclear power plant at Fukushima, Japan. The Tourism Crisis Management Office (GGCT) would like to once again to advise Macao residents to avoid travelling to Fukushima and Sendai. Regarding those whit issues related to travel arrangements to Japan after the catastrophe, the Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) continues to follow the developments through contacts and coordination with the tourism sector and airlines. GGCT continues to monitor the situation and the effects of the severe earthquake that occurred in northeast Japan, while maintaining contact with the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of PRC in Macao, the travel industry ,the Health Bureau (SS), the Macao Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau (SMG), the Macao Government's Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau (IACM), the Macao Social Welfare Bureau (IAS) and the representatives of the Macao Government Tourist Office (MGTO) in Japan. GGCT would like to appeal to those who are currently in that country to be aware of indications given out by Japanese authorities and take precautions regarding their personal safety as well as remind that Macao residents and tourists in Japan, may contact in case of need the appropriate entities through the tourism hotline: 28333000. The Office reminds that Japan is currently facing a catastrophic situation after last Friday's earthquake followed by multiple replicas. As such, the situation's standpoint is still unclear despite the attempts of society to continue with everyday routine. Meanwhile, GGCT and MGTO will maintain coordination and contacts with the tourism sector and airlines in order to answer inquiries received. According to information from the Macao Travel Industry Council (TICM), all group tours organized by travel agencies under TICM to Japan until the 20th of March via Macao are cancelled. The tour participants that have paid for their reservations may reschedule their tour dates for the period of the next six months or negotiate with their travel agencies in order to exchange for different tourism travel destinations. Air Macau has also informed their passengers holding tickets to Tokyo and Osaka until the 18th and return tickets until the 19th, that they may reschedule or cancel their reservations in this case refund. For additional information the interested parties may access the airline's webpage: www.airmacau.com.mo. The Tourism Crisis Management Office will keep in contact with different parties, coordinating according to the situation's developments in order to direct its efforts to further reduce the impact the earthquake caused to tourists from Macao travelling to Japan. In addition, the office calls for residents and tourists from Macao to assess the country's crisis, and when arriving in Japan to take into account the information and safety guidelines handed out by Japanese authorities. According to information from the Tourism sector the 20 people belonging to a tour from Macau in Osaka will return tomorrow according to plan. Up till today (14 March) 12:00, GGCT received an accumulated total of 173 calls for inquiries and continues to follow-up the requests and give out necessary support. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of PRC issued emergency announcements for all Chinese tourists to reconsider travelling to Japan and avoid the cities which were most affected by the catastrophe, Fukushima and Sendai.
Meanwhile, due to last Friday's earthquake, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has established a 24 hours contact service for Chinese citizens that are currently in Japan: 03-3403-3388, extensions 8881, 8882, 8712. For further information related to the situation in Japan, interest parties may also gather further information from the following web-portals: SMG: http://www.smg.gov.mo
SS: http://www.ssm.gov.mo
IAS: http://www.ias.gov.mo