To celebrate the “World Tourism Day” today (September 27), Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) organized an exciting tray race and World Tourism Day banquet to mark this special day. The traditional tray race was held in the afternoon, where waiters and waitresses run down the stoned-path from the Ruins of St Paul to the Senado Square carrying a tray with a bottle beer on it. Over 50 participants came from 20 hotels and restaurants in Macau took part and the race has attracted crowds of visitors and local people who cheered for the participants. The winner of the men’s division is Chen Shang Xuan from Ritz Hotel and the winner of the women’s division is Zhang Bing Mei from Beverly Plaza Hotel. The Best Costume Awards go to Michael Rotillies of Mandarin Oriental and Yang Zhi Hong of StarEast Café & Entertainment Ltd. Director of MGTO, João Costa Antunes presented souvenirs to three first time visitors from Australia, Ms Ginetta Teresa Vacca, Ms Jacky Dawn Bliss and Mr Michael John Neary at Macau’s landmark, the Ruins of St Paul. Souvenirs were also distributed to the visitors at the information counters of MGTO. MGTO held a dinner banquet, attended by the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Dr Chui Sai On, to celebrate the “World Tourism Day”. Speaking at the dinner, Mr Antunes encouraged the participants to be a good host and provide quality service to the visitors so as to build a hospitality image for Macau. World Tourism Organization (WTO) called up their third session in Spain (September 1979), and the General Assembly has decided to commemorate September 27 as “World Tourism Day” each year. It was then commenced on 1980 and this is the 25th year. The main purpose of “World Tourism Day” is to foster awareness among the international community of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic values. Each year, World Tourism Organization selects a different theme for the “World Tourism Day”.
The theme of the 2004 “World Tourism Day” is “Sport and Tourism – two living forces for mutual understanding, culture and development of societies.” The host country for this year is Malaysia, and official celebrations were held on 2004 September 27, the “World Tourism Day”. Many other countries and regions also carried out activities to celebrate the day.
