To further strengthen Macau's tourism connection with Southeast Asia and attract more visitors to Macau, Macau Government Tourist Office launched promotions in four Southeast Asian countries from July 14 to 19. MGTO employed the theme of "Experience Macau" for a series of promotional activities targeting the source markets in Southeast Asia, including Macau tourism product presentations, mini marts and dinners to promote Macau to the local travel trade. MGTO Director João Manuel Costa Antunes, Head of Promotion and Marketing Department Cecilia Tse and Head of Marketing Division Betty Fok, joined by over 20 representatives from Macau's travel agencies, airline, hotels, large scale resorts and business tourism venues, kicked off a 6-day promotional event in Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. MGTO hosted a series of promotional activities in four countries respectively, with over 400 local travel trade partners and media representatives took part. Participants were updated with the latest tourism information of Macau at the Macau tourism product presentations while mini marts provided a platform for travel trade members to exchange and seek business opportunities. Travel trade and media were invited to gala dinners at night. Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia were among Macau's top 10 source markets last year as well as in the first half of this year. Preliminary statistics show that there were about 100,000 visitors from Thailand, about 150,000 from Malaysia, about 120,000 from Singapore and about 90,000 from Indonesia visited Macau in the first half of 2011. In early July, MGTO joined hands with Hong Kong Tourism Board to organize a large scale familiarization trip for travel agencies from Southeast Asia to visit tourism facilities of Hong Kong and Macau. Over 30 travel agencies from Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand engaged in a three-day itinerary to experience the charm of Macau. The promotional activities will further enhance the communication and cooperation between Macau and the travel trade in these four Southeast Asian
