More rigorous patrols at the approach of the 1st May Labor Day holiday
To strengthen industry management continuously and make pertinent deployment for the 1st May Labor Day holiday of Mainland China, Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) joins hands with the Public Security Police Force (PSP) and the Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL) to conduct joint inspections targeting different spots before and during the holiday, besides sending undercover inspectors on patrol, to enhance the level of supervision at ports of entry and tourist attractions. The above measures are taken to combat the operation of allegedly-unlicensed tour guides, shoulder the responsibility for industry management and ensure orderly operation in the tourism industry, thus safeguarding visitor rights and the destination image of Macao.
A greater number of Mainland visitors including tour group visitors come to Macao for travel and consumption during Mainland holidays and Golden Weeks, while the density of visitor flows would surge at various ports of entry and popular tourist attractions. In view of this, MGTO has enhanced the deployment of inspectors, sending undercover inspectors on patrol at various major ports of entry and tourist attractions at different time periods during the 1st May Labor Day holiday, while carrying out joint inspections targeting certain spots with PSP and DSAL.
Since the inauguration of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge on 24 October 2018, MGTO has received complaints about operation of allegedly-unlicensed tour guides at the Border Gate, and the Monitoring Committee on Public Administration Affairs under the tutelage of the Legislative Assembly has voiced opinions on the issue. MGTO has been highly concerned with the issue and conducted 618 inspections targeting the spot where allegedly-unlicensed tour guides were reported, including 23 joint inspections with PSP and DSAL. It is worth indicating that all administrative sanctions are grounded upon stringent collection of evidence. Upon discovery that a party conducts any activity which does not comply with the conditions required for his or her stay in Macao, the authorities will take immediate action to report and wage sanction against the irregularity.
Last year, visitor arrivals by tour group exceeded 8.7 million, a 10.5% year-on-year increase. Among them, some 6.83 million tour group visitors came from the Mainland, an increase of 8.6%. In the first two months of 2019, the volume of tour group visitors rose by 8.2%, while the total of tour group visitors from the Mainland increased by 5.8%.
To date, there are around 1,940 holders of tour guide license in Macao.
As in the past, during the Labor Day holiday, MGTO inspectors stand by round-the-clock to assist with requests through tourism hotline service for prompt handling of contingencies, besides taking concerted action with PSP to combat illegal accommodation.
