Secretary Chui Sai On led a tourism delegation to attend the “Guangdong – Hong Kong – Macau” Tourism Cooperation Meeting in Guangzhou

Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Chui Sai On led a tourism delegation to attend the “Guangdong - Hong Kong – Macau” Tourism Cooperation Meeting in Guangzhou today(December 3) to establish work plans to strengthen tourism exchange of the three places. During his visit in Guangzhou, Secretary Chui Sai On hosted lunch for the delegations headed by Director of Guangdong Provincial Tourism Bureau Zheng Tong-yang and Chairman of Hong Kong Tourism Board James Tien. The three tourism authorities exchanged opinions on the current development of the tourism industry. The tourism authorities from the three places agreed in the meeting to set up a rotation of chairmanship system under the Guangdong - Hong Kong – Macau Tourism marketing cooperation framework, with the Guangdong Provincial Tourism Bureau assuming chairmanship in 2008, while Hong Kong Tourism Board and Macau Government Tourist Office will be the chairman for 2009 and 2010 respectively. In addition, the three places have reached consensus to strengthen promotion in overseas markets, in particular, to develop more multi-destination itineraries of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau for the East Asian and Southeast Asian markets. By complementing competitive advantages and sharing resources, the three places can capitalize on their tourism characteristics to attract more quality visitors to the region. Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau have long established a sound tourism cooperation foundation. In 1993, the tourism departments of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau have established a Tourism Marketing Organization with the objective to jointly promote the tourism brand of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau to the world through joint booths at major international travel fairs, joint promotions, publications promoting the tourism attractions of the three places as well as receiving overseas familiarization groups. Members of the Macau delegation participating in the meeting include: Director of MGTO, João Manuel Costa Antunes, Deputy Directors Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Manuel Gonçalves Pires Júnior, Advisor of the Office of the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Zhong Yi, Secretary-General of the Tourism Development Committee Nadia Leong, Head of Research and Planning Department Cheng Wai Tong, Head of Promotion and Marketing Department Cecilia Tse and Head of Marketing Division Betty Fok.