MGTO intensifies “Plan to Support Macau Tourism Industry”

The Macau SAR Government spares no effort to promote the development of the tourism industry. To support the travel trade in tackling the current adversity and to be in line with the celebrations of the 10th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Macau SAR, Macau Government Tourist Office has launched the “Plan to Support Macau Tourism Industry” on May 18, which has started to deliver results. After evaluation and listening to the views of the trade, MGTO is launching a revision committing more resources to boost the effect of the plan to stimulate leisure tourism, business tourism and the aviation industry so as to maintain the momentum and competitive edge Macau has been building as an international destination. Support to Leisure Tourism
The key projects under “Support to Leisure Tourism” are Celebrate Macau Tours and World Heritage “Historic Centre of Macau” Free Guiding Service. Preliminary results from the launch of the plan on May 18 till July 29 show that more than forty travel agents have organized 4,413 Celebrate Macau Tours (3,890 groups staying one night and 523 groups staying two nights or more) involving 103,043 visitors and a budget of MOP$3.44 million, while 9,289 visitors had enjoyed the Free Guiding Service. According to the revision in effect from August 1, MGTO will increase the amount of support to MOP$80 per guest for staying one night in hotel and MOP$200 per guest for staying two consecutive nights. To enable more flexibility on the travel agencies while launching the itinerary of the tour, Macau Museum and Handover Gifts Museum of Macau are new choices as must-visit spots for groups staying two nights or more. MGTO will also support the tour guides of the Celebrate Macau Tours with MOP$200 per guide per group that stays one night in Macau and MOP$400 per guide per group that stays two consecutive nights. The updated budget for Support to Leisure Tourism is MOP$32,000,000. Support to Business Tourism
The “Strategic MICE Market Stimulation Program” that MGTO introduced in May included three categories: Meetings and Conventions, Exhibitions and Incentives. From May 18 to July 29, the program has supported 12 meetings and conventions, 6 exhibitions and 5 incentive travel events, involving a budget of MOP5.91 million. Revisions of the program were made for basic supports, which are available for all categories, and additional supports by categories. Basic supports include a) promotional assistance, b) liaison with other relevant Macau SAR government authorities and c) bidding support. Additional supports by categories include expanding support scope, increasing amount of support and relaxing qualification for the Meetings and Conventions, Exhibitions and Incentives categories to enhance the program’s effectiveness to facilitate business tourism and allow more trade to benefit. Meetings and Conventions
1) Accommodation Support increased to 10%; 2) Food and Beverage or Meeting Package Support increased to MOP$400 per delegate for meetings with a minimum of 100 delegates and a duration of 2 full days; 3) Key-note Speaker & Heads of Delegation Hotel Support is a new item introduced to provide 2 nights hotel accommodation to each of the key-note speakers and heads of delegation for meetings with a minimum of 100 delegates and a duration of 2 full days; both 4) Site Inspections Support and 5) Bid Support remain unchanged. Exhibitions
1) Accommodation Support increased to 10%; requirement for applying 2) Exhibition Venue Rental Support, 3) Hardware Support and 4) Opening Ceremony Support, has been lowered to 2 actual event days; both 5) Site Inspections Support and 6) Bid Support remain unchanged; 7) Qualified Buyers Support is a new item introduced to support 50% of the transportation expenses (max MOP$3,000 per buyer) and 3 nights of hotel accommodation (max MOP$1,091 per night) for one buyer per 3m x 3m standard booth for exhibitions with a minimum of 1,000 sq. m. paid rental space per day and exhibiting for at least 2 days. Incentive Travel
The minimum requirement in the number of overseas participants in the incentive group has decreased to 50 and award dinners and local transportation are also qualified for support in incentive travel. The updated budget for Support to Business Tourism is MOP44 million. Support to Aviation Industry
In the tourism aspect, MGTO focuses on supporting the marketing activities of the airlines. Since the launch of the plan, Air Macau, VIVA Macau, Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, Air Asia, Thai Air Asia, Jetstar Asia and Tiger Airways have submitted proposals for joint promotions. The revised plan to support 1) local carriers (Air Macau and VIVA Macau); 2) new routes to Macau and 3) airlines now flying to Macau via Board of Airlines Representatives (Macau) with promotional budget. The revision clarifies the definition of new routes as new scheduled flights operated by any airline, of new or existing origins, that were not operated in the past 12 months. The updated budget for Support to Aviation Industry is MOP35.5 million. Support to Revive Sichuan’s Tourism Industry
Representatives of MGTO around the world WILL invite travel trade and media to visit Sichuan via Macau to promote joint destination itineraries. When participating in travel fairs and roadshows abroad, especially in the target markets of Sichuan, MGTO WILL also showcase the tourism promotion material and latest tourism information of Sichuan. In addition to continuous support to flights from Macau to Chengdu, which stimulates more Macau residents to travel to Sichuan, MGTO has started cooperating with travel agencies from July 18 to introduce special packages to target the teachers and students segment markets during summer holiday. The budget for the support plan to Sichuan tourism remains at MOP20 million. To enhance the effectiveness of the “Plan to Support Macau Tourism Industry”, MGTO has added two support items in the revised plan, namely “Exemption of Renewal Fees of Licenses and Work Permits” and “Support to Industry Training”. Exemption of Renewal Fees of Licenses and Work Permits
MGTO will exempt the initial renewal fees for licenses and work permits of businesses or professionals, which have been licensed by MGTO before the date of implementation of such measure. However, the additional fees for overdue renewal of licenses and work permits will not be exempted. Businesses or professionals being exempted include hotels, guesthouses, restaurants, night clubs, bars, saunas and/or massages, health clubs, karaokes, travel agencies, tour guides and ground transfer agents. Support to Industry Training
MGTO will consider supporting training initiatives organized by travel trade associations for tourism employees to enhance the service quality of the industry. The amount of support will depend on proposals submitted to MGTO for evaluation by the travel trade associations. The overall budget after the launch of the revision to the “Plan to Support the Macau Tourism Industry” is MOP$136 million. As support to “Industry Training” will be approved on a case by case basis, the budget does not include the support amount for “Industry Training”. Please go to MGTO’s website http://industry.macautourism.gov.mo/en/index.php at for details of the plan and application procedures.