Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) invited again this year tourism stakeholders from Asian countries to participate in the “Macau Race” program to enhance their knowledge on Macau’s tourism resources and characteristics. The objective is to involve the travel trade from Asian countries in promoting tours to Macau and to further diversify Macau’s source markets. MGTO Director João Manual Costa Antunes indicated that the Macau tourism industry has entered a new era, and Macau is diversifying its tourism products such as culture, convention & exhibition, leisure, entertainment, events, characteristic cuisine and retail. Southeast Asia and Chinese Taiwan are major source markets for Macau. At present, there are direct flights between Macau and Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Chinese Taiwan and with the assistance of our representatives around the world, MGTO will further strengthen promotions in Asian region and to further diversify the source markets. For the past three years, the number of international visitors increased 40%, of which performance of the Southeast Asian market was outstanding. The first six months of this year saw a growth of 68.92%, which shows Macau is rapidly expanding it’s source markets. The total visitor arrivals of January to June exceeded 12 million, up 21.28%. Last year, visitor arrivals from Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines grew significantly by over 100%, 66%, 46% and 46.61% respectively. 40 tourism stakeholders from travel agencies and airline companies in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and Chinese Taiwan arrived Macau on August 17 for a four-day visit. The delegation participated in the challenging “Macau Race” today (18). Divided into 20 teams, each team was given photos of 12 scenic spots, restaurants and shops in Macau, Taipa and Coloane, a guidebook and MOP$200. Each team has to design their own itinerary that consists of the 12 spots and complete missions at museums, souvenir shops, restaurants and Macau Tower within the allocated time. Through the “Macau Race”, participants would understand more on Macau’s tourism resources and characteristics. Participants would collect a piece of puzzle from each spot which completed will show the name of the final station. The first three teams completed the entire itinerary would win cash coupons worth MOP$5000, $4000 and $3000. MGTO would select the “Best Itinerary” out of the 20 newly created routes, and the winning itinerary will be promoted in the five countries/regions. MGTO organized a prize presentation dinner at the Macau Fisherman’s Wharf Convention and Exhibition Centre and the winners were awarded trophies and gifts.
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