The home page of “Step Out, Macao” Mobile App in Japanese version
The Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) officially introduces Japanese and Korean versions of the “Step Out, Macao” Mobile App to offer greater convenience and encourage visitors to explore hidden gems along the eight “Step Out, Experience Macao’s Communities” walking tour routes in different districts around Macao, thus promoting community tourism and smart tourism. Originally in Chinese (traditional and simplified), English and Portuguese, the content of the Mobile App is now available in Japanese and Korean as well. Besides maps of the eight walking tour routes, the App also offers descriptions of tourism spots including the UNESCO-listed Historic Centre of Macao, schedule of cultural performances, restaurants, bus routes, Wi-Fi locations, public sanitary facilities and other useful information along the routes. Users can also scan the QR codes on direction signs along the themed routes with their Smartphone and obtain the tourism information nearby offline. The Mobile App can be downloaded for free from App Store or Google Play. The Mobile App has previously been awarded by the 2016 PATA Gold Awards in the category of Marketing Media – Mobile Travel Application, in recognition of its exceptional achievement in media marketing. The “Step Out, Macao” Mobile App was first launched by MGTO in December 2013 together with four walking tour routes, and was later upgraded in February 2015 to introduce eight redesigned walking tour routes across different parishes in Macao, Taipa and Coloane. Through the App, MGTO encourages visitors to explore different neighborhoods, with the aim to balance visitor flows around Macao and foster community tourism development. Japan and Korea have both been major visitor source markets for Macao all along. In the first eight months this year, Macao has received 187,011 Japanese visitors and 422,379 Korean visitors, recording a year-on-year increase of 7.5% and 12.8% respectively. Through introducing different language versions and new features of the “Step Out, Macao” Mobile App, MGTO hopes to offer more convenient and enriching travel experiences for visitors during their journey in Macao, at the same time attracting more international visitors to the city. MGTO will keep optimizing and enhancing the features of the Mobile App so as to offer different functions and services for all visitors. This press release is available at: http://industry.macaotourism.gov.mo/en/pressroom/
