Establishment of the Macao Gallery in Malacca to boost tourism

The government of Macau Special Administrative Region and the Malacca Historic City Council signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish the ‘Macao Gallery’ and to strengthen mutual relationship and cooperation as well as promote mutual tourism and culture. Entrusted by the Chief Executive, Chui Sai On, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, on behalf of the government of the Macau Special Administrative Region, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the establishment of the Macao Gallery in Malacca with Encik Yusof bin Haji Jantan, Mayor of the Malacca Historic City Council. The signing ceremony was witnessed by the State Secretary of Malacca, Datuk Wira Omar Bin Kaseh. Chief Executive of the Macau Special Administrative Region, Edmund Ho Hau Wah, paid an official visit to Malaysia in April 2007. During his visit, the authority of Malacca agreed to provide a venue for Macau to promote its tourism and culture. The venue is now named as ‘Macao Gallery’. The Macao Gallery is situated only ten minutes away from central Malacca. The building was previously a governmental department of the authority of Malacca built in typical Siam style and is part of the historical heritage in Malacca. This two-storey architecture has an area of about 3,000 square meters. The Macau SAR government and the authorities of Malacca agreed to sign a MOU for the management and usage of the architecture. The Macau SAR government together with the Malacca Historic City Council will be responsible for the management of the Macao Gallery. The Gallery will showcase the arts and culture of Macau as well as the history of Macau and Malacca. The MOU also states that the two parties will share experiences in the fields of education and culture, so as to further understand the historical background of both places. Director of Macau Government Tourist Office João Manuel Costa Antunes, Chief of the Cabinet of the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Alexis Tam and officials of Malacca were present at the signing ceremony. Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) organized the “Experience Macau! Celebrations!” Dinner in Kuala Lumpur and launched the Celebrate Macau Package as the first promotional activities to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Macau Special Administrative Region. The Consular Counselor of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Malaysia, Su Qiang, Representative of the Chief Minister of Malacca, Y.B. datuk Latiff Bin Datuk Tamby Chik, Mayor of the Malacca Historic City Council, Encik Yusof bin Haji Jantan and Ngiam Foon, President of Malaysia Association of Tours and Travel Agents (MATTA) attended the mentioned event. With the honour of Secretary Chui Sai On to officiate the opening ceremony, Malaysia became the first station to launch the global series of promotional activities to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Macau SAR. MGTO will soon roll out the series of promotional activities in major source markets all around the world after the launch in Malaysia. Speaking at the “Experience Macau! Celebrations!” Dinner, Director Antunes noted that MGTO will showcase “Experience Macau” through the five senses for the year long Celebrate Macau Package. Malaysia is one of the major source markets of Macau. Last year, Macau received 450,000 visitors from Malaysia, an increase of 12.28 percent over 2007 that makes it the 4th visitor generating market. At present, Malaysia Airlines flies several times weekly between Macau and Kuala Lumpur, while AirAsia provides 21 services a week between the two places. Starting from March, AirAsia will add a new service between Macau and Penang.