Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) organized for the first time a Macau destination presentation in the Middle East to promote the tourism of the city among travel operators and media in the region, aiming to attract more visitors from this part of the world, stimulating the diversification of the source of visitors to Macau. MGTO has been striving to explore opportunities to expand the tourism market from the Middle East, a market with huge potential. Macau is participating for the forth consecutive year at the most important tourism fair in the region, the Arabian Travel Market, held in Dubai from 4 to 7 of May, and this year, for the first time, on the eve of the event, MGTO hosted a Macau destination presentation. During the presentation, MGTO’s Market Division chief Betty Fok introduced to dozens of Middle East travel trade and media, the Macau World Heritage, its leisure tourism products, infrastructures for business tourism and entertainment, among others, presenting Macau tourism situation and helping to expand the market in this part of the world. On its 17th edition, ATM was held the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. Macau booth at the event was dedicated to the theme “Experience Macau”, and the five senses, “See, Taste, Feel, Hear, Touch”, showcasing the unique difference of Macau. The number of visitors from the Middle East to Macau more than tripled from 2,000 in 2004 to 7,700 in 2009, revealing that Macau is an increasing popular destination among Middle East visitors. On the first quarter of the year, the number of visitors from the Middle East increased by 21.88 percent compared to the same period last year. ATM is the leading travel and tourism exhibition in the Arabic world and the Middle East. According to organizers, the event attracted last year 2,180 exhibitors, 15,000 visitors and 1000 media representatives.
