Macau Government Tourist Office held “Macau Carnival” in Malaysia to attract visitors

Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) held a promotional event, “Macau Carnival” in Kuala Lumpur. Deputy Director of MGTO, Ms Helena de Senna Fernandes, together with representatives of the Macau tourism industry, attended the activity. She also met with representatives of the tourism industry of Malaysia, strengthening mutual relationship for the promotion of Macau tourism. MGTO held “Macau Carnival” at One Utama shopping mall in Kuala Lumpur on 4-5 June. Deputy Director of MGTO, Ms Helena de Senna Fernandes and Chairman of the Malaysian Association of Tour & Travel Agents, Tunku Dato Seri Iskandar Tunku Abdullah hosted the opening ribbon cutting ceremony, which was accompanied by a lion dance performance. The promotional event, “Macau Carnival” included activities like Portuguese folk dance, street dance, games like stilt walkers, clowns with balloons, magicians, tattoo artists Chinese handicrafts demonstration, lucky draw and prize giving ceremony, and offers of free culinary delicacies from Macau. Besides, there is a trade discussion corner, sales promotion of Macau tours by travel agencies of Malaysia and an AirAsia booth selling air tickets of the Macau-Kuala Lumpur route. Approximately 5,000 persons visited the two days Macau Carnival. On 6 June, MGTO held a Travel Trade Luncheon for travel industry representatives of Malaysia and Macau. The two parities exchanged opinions, and agreed to enhance communications and relationships for future co-operation. In her welcome speech at the luncheon, MGTO Deputy Director, Ms Helena de Senna Fernandes expressed the significance of Southeast Asia as Macau’s source, market. Currently, several low-cost carriers have started services in Southeast Asian cities and she believed there will be more visitors from Southeast Asia, including Malaysia traveling to Macau. The year 2004 saw a record increase of Southeast Asian visitors to Macau. Visitor arrivals from Malaysia grew by 97%, ranking 8th among Macau’s major source markets, and was the source market with the highest rate of increase. AirAsia’s Macau-Kuala Lumpur route was officially launched at the end of 2004. It helps to actively promote tourism of the two places; while at the same time benefits the development and diversification of Macau’s tourist sources.