MGTO holds Spring Luncheon To Thank Hong Kong’s Travel Trade, Business Partners and Media

Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) held a spring luncheon today (6 February) to express gratitude towards the support by travel trade, business partners and media in Hong Kong. Director of MGTO, Mr. João Manuel Costa Antunes, led the MGTO delegation to attend the event. The spring luncheon taken place at Conrad Hong Kong Hotel welcomed over 200 tourism partners and media to thank their support in the development of Macau tourism. A number of representatives from local travel trade related organizations participated in the luncheon. In his welcome remarks, Mr. Antunes expressed his gratitude to the HK travel and media sector for bringing another fruitful year to Macau in 2008. Hong Kong remained the second largest source market and the visitor arrivals have been increased to 8.23 million. Stepping into the Year of Ox, MGTO continued to promote Macau tourism by employing the slogan “Macau: a World of Difference, the Difference is Macau” and the theme “Experience Macau!” to worldwide visitors, inviting them to experience Macau with their five senses. Also, the objective of MGTO is to diversify the tourism products and source markets. MGTO will utilize tourism resources to enhance the development of cultural tourism and promote various thematic tour routes. Furthermore, in line with the celebration of 10th Anniversary of the establishment of the Macau SAR, a series of promotional activities will be launched. MGTO will launch various promotional activities with focus on the "Historic Center of Macau", to organize familiarization tours to Macau, photo exhibitions, and roadshows to promote the wide range of tourism elements in Macau. Regarding business tourism and MICE industry, MGTO will set up a cooperation mechanism with the trade sector for its healthy and stable development. The cooperation network will be consolidated through the "Industry Partner Program", and promotional events focusing on the MICE industry will be implemented, while professional training programs and a cooperation mechanism will be set up to facilitate regional cooperation. Promotional tools such as a Macau Convention Brochure, Macau Incentive Travel Guide, 2nd edition of Macau Meeting Planners Guide, MICE video will be introduced to boost business tourism. To align with MGTO’s goal to attract a diversified range of visitors, the MGTO Hong Kong Representative office will continue to step up its marketing efforts to attract travelers, as well as to cooperate with the travel trade. At the same time, the Hong Kong office will also initiate an array of promotional activities, including product presentations and luncheons, thematic familiarization tours, seminars and workshops, road show, trade visits and industry support, among others, to maintain the vibrancy between MGTO, the travel trade partners and media friends.