80th Work Meeting of the Tourism Marketing Organization of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao
Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), the Department of Culture and Tourism of Guangdong Province and Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) jointly convened the 80th Work Meeting of the Tourism Marketing Organization of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao in Hong Kong today (15 February) to exchange news and trends, deepen regional cooperation and discuss joint tourism promotional projects to roll out in 2019. Prior to the Meeting, MGTO hosted a spring luncheon for Hong Kong industry partners in token of appreciation for their support and shared about Macao’s latest tourism development during the luncheon.
Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao enhance tourism exchange and cooperation
MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes and Deputy Director Cheng Wai Tong, the Department of Culture and Tourism of Guangdong Province Director General Wang Yiyang and Director Huang Xizhong, HKTB Executive Director Anthony Lau and Deputy Executive Director Becky Ip joined the Meeting together with other attendees to conclude the progress of tourism collaborations in 2018 and discuss joint tourism promotional projects in 2019. The three entities reached a consensus to leverage the opportunities brought by the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to deepen tourism exchange and cooperation continuously, as well as put greater efforts in destination promotion. The three entities will continue to run joint booths in major travel fairs at home and abroad, organize tourism promotional campaigns about the Greater Bay Area, promote the destinations through strategic advertisements, and organize familiarization trips via high-speed rail routes and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, etc. HKTB assumes the Rotating Chairmanship of the Tourism Marketing Organization of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao this year.
The Department of Culture and Tourism of Guangdong Province (formerly named the Tourism Administration of Guangdong Province), HKTB and MGTO established the Tourism Marketing Organization of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao in 1993 to actively push forward their work plans and enhance communication and cooperation, sharing their strengths and resources and branding themselves as one regional destination. In 2008, the Organization put the system of chairmanship rotation into force.
MGTO hosts spring luncheon to thank Hong Kong travel trade
On the same day, MGTO hosted a spring luncheon for the travel trade in Hong Kong in token of appreciation for their contribution and support to Macao’s tourism industry. MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes and Deputy Director Cheng Wai Tong led MGTO delegates to greet over 100 industry operators in Hong Kong. Other guests include Director General of the Department of Culture and Tourism of Guangdong Province, Wang Yiyang, Deputy Commissioner for Tourism of Tourism Commission, Commerce and Economic Development Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Aaron Liu, HKTB Executive Director, Anthony Lau, Director of Asia Tourism Exchange Center, Cui Suxiang, and Chairman of Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong, Jason Wong, among others.
In 2018, Macao welcomed over 35 million visitors. Hong Kong stands as the second largest visitor source market for Macao, contributing a volume of over 6.3 million visitations to Macao last year.
MGTO representative in Hong Kong will forge ahead to enhance communication and cooperation with different stakeholders in line with the city’s latest policies on tourism development. Product presentations, thematic familiarization tours, joint promotions and other consumer promotions will unfold in 2019 to introduce a range of Macao’s new developments to Hong Kong citizens with regard to the Greater Bay Area, Creative City of Gastronomy, the Art Macao project and smart tourism, showcasing Macao as a travel destination with a diversity of experiences to offer.
