A press conference is held for the 9th MITE
Supported by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China, organized by Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) and coordinated by Macau Travel Agency Association, the 9th Macao International Travel (Industry) Expo (referred to as the “Expo” or “MITE”) will be held at Halls A – B, Cotai Expo of the Venetian Macao from 9 to 11 July. The Expo will once again bring together cloud virtual and physical exhibitions radiant with five major highlights, to support members of the tourism and related industries to deepen cooperation and navigate business opportunities together.
MGTO and Macau Travel Agency Association co-held a press conference today (23 June) to unveil the Expo’s program this year. MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, MGTO Deputy Director Ricky Hoi, and President of Macau Travel Agency Association, Alex Lao, attended the press conference along with other personages.
In her address, Director Senna Fernandes expressed that the Expo once again features a confluence of cloud virtual and physical exhibitions to connect Macao’s travel trade and related sectors with their international counterparts. Set to radiate Macao’s unique advantages, the Expo incorporates new elements and enhances interactive exchange with five major highlights to spur tourism revival in the city. The Expo continues to strengthen concerted development between tourism and MICE, e-commerce, gastronomy, culture and creativity among other fields, with the dedication to unveil new possibilities for exchange and cooperation among the travel and related sectors, in line with the SAR Government’s endeavors to deepen cross-sector integration of “tourism +”.
Online and offline synergy to expand business opportunities
The exhibition floor covers approximately 23,000 square meters in total this year, accommodating about 710 booths. The 9th MITE features a confluence of online and offline exhibitions with five major highlights. As of 22 June, around 365 exhibitors have registered for participation including 99 local exhibitors, 243 Mainland exhibitors as well as 23 international exhibitors. There are 363 buyers including 205 hosted buyers from the Mainland and 158 online buyers from across the world.
1. Strengthen “Cloud Series” for integration of online and offline exhibitions
The Expo will optimize its pre-scheduled appointment system by extending the “Cloud B2B” period from 2 days to a stretch of 14 days, offering ample time for exhibitors and buyers to tap into cooperation opportunities. Exhibitors and buyers who reach a consensus or confirm their intention for cooperation can sign agreements via the “Cloud Contract-signing”, reinforcing MITE’s role as an effective trade and commerce platform. Furthermore, the Expo will virtually connect the global travel trade with the on-site exhibition via online introduction of destination tourism resources and live interaction with audience in the “Cloud Live Promotion” session, to be also live streamed on MITE’s official website. Exhibitors can also promote their products and brands through live sale on “Cloud Live Broadcast” with influential streamers from the Mainland and Macao on well-known e-commerce platforms, giving full play to e-marketing.
2. Expand the scale of “Macao Street” and boost local tourism economy
The number of exhibitors in “Macao Street” increases by over 10% compared with the previous edition. Exhibitors will promote and sell a variety of preferential tourism products including local tours and hotel staycation products under the “Stay, Dine and See Macao” project as well as Macao Highlight Tours on site. Furthermore, Macao’s hotel enterprises will debut the first mega special pavilion in the “Macao Street” to promote hotel products and services. Exhibitors which are tourism enterprises from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area has pre-matched with travel agencies in Macao for co-development of multi-destination travel products to attract buyers of “Macao +” Greater Bay Area travel products.
3. Promote inheritance, innovation and exchange of gastronomy via “City of Gastronomy” culinary demonstration
The 9th MITE invites famous chefs from Chengdu, Shunde, Macao and Yangzhou to demonstrate their culinary skills, share expertise and interact with spectators. The Expo will also feature the “Gastronomy Pavilion” again, where local catering businesses will offer a variety of signature local delicacies, showcasing Macao’s status as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy.
4. Promote cultural tourism development through integration of “tourism + culture and creativity”
The zone of “Cultural and Creative Shops” will showcase products in creative design by pertinent exhibitors from Macao. The “MAK MAK Pavilion” will make its comeback, where local cultural and creative enterprises will promote and sell their tourism products themed after Macao Tourism Mascot “MAK MAK”, towards the goal to deepen cross-sector integration of “tourism + culture and creativity”. The “MAK MAK, your Tour Guide in Macao” Lucky Draw will await spectators in the Pavilion.
5. Promote “Distinctive Shops” and enhance brand images
The Expo will once again present the “Distinctive Shops” Pavilion. Arranged by the Economic and Technological Development Bureau, around 20 “Distinctive Shops” such as eateries, confectionaries and bakeries, souvenir shops, retailers and handicraft businesses will offer spectators a window onto their products, services and stories of their inherited skills.
The 9th MITE will stage nearly 40 seminars and conferences as well as more than 10 tourism-themed promotional activities. The Expo will also feature smart tourism exhibit booths which will let visitors experience and know more about smart tourism projects and services through on-site display. The smart tourism exhibit booths include Gaode Map, FlyZoo Hotel and Alibaba Cloud, all of which belong to Alibaba Group, covering applications for visitors before, during and after their trip experiences.
A launch ceremony for MGTO’s Official Flagship Store on Ctrip App and a workshop about e-commerce platform skills offered by Trip. com will be held on site on 9 July, the Expo’s opening day. In addition, the “Incubation plan for Macao’s KOL in tourism” will open for applications starting from tomorrow (24 June). Organized by MGTO and co-organized by Macau Live Streaming Association, the Program aims to encourage Macao residents and trade to leverage social networks to promote Macao’s image as a destination with diverse travel experiences to offer. An activation ceremony for the Program will also be held at the Expo.
Preventive measures against the pandemic
Online appointment system for admission in staggered periods
The 9th MITE will be held at Halls A – B, Cotai Expo of the Venetian Macao from 9 – 11 July with free admission for the public. The Expo will once again adopt a series of preventive measures against the pandemic, including implementation of crowd management by setting up the only entrance and exit at Halls A and B respectively, as well as the requirement for visitors to present Macao Health Code and have their temperature checked upon admission, as well as to wear mask and maintain one-meter social distance. Venue disinfection, staggered admission hours and other measures related to public catering will be carried out as well. Once again, the Expo will offer the online appointment system to implement the requirement of “admission quota, advance appointment, staggered periods”. The public can now log into MITE’s official website (www.mitexpo.mo) to schedule an appointment for visit to the Expo, while public without appointment can line up at the venue for admission according to the on-site status. Pre-registered visitors will be given a “Checkpoint Map” and rewarded a souvenir upon completion of check-in at all specified spots in the exhibition halls.
During the Expo, free shuttle bus service along four routes will be provided between the venue and various points in Macao and Taipa. Free parking will be available to residents at Halls D and E, Cotai Expo of the Venetian Macao.
The 9th Macao International Travel (Industry) Expo is supported by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China, organized by Macao Government Tourism Office and coordinated by Macau Travel Agency Association. The co-organizers of the Expo include Cultural Affairs Bureau, Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute, Macao Chamber of Commerce, General Union of Neighbors Association of Macau, Macao Federation of Trade Unions, Women’s General Association of Macau, Association of Returned Overseas Chinese Macau, Association of Macao Tourist Agents, Travel Industry Council of Macau and Macau Hotel Association.
For more information about the 9th MITE, please visit MITE’s official website: www.mitexpo.mo, WeChat ID and Facebook page.
