Members of Macao and Korean trade discuss business opportunities
The month-long “Taste of Macao: East meets West” food promotion and “Macao．Korea Travel Mart” began today (19 April) as two of the major highlights in the mega promotional event “Experience Macao – Korea” currently held in Korea. Through innovative and multidimensional promotion strategies, Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) hopes to inspire travel trade to launch brand new tourism products tailored to different market segments in Korea. The “Experience Macao” Gala Dinner was held tonight and attended by the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao Special Administrative Region Government, Dr. Alexis Tam. Following the opening of the “Experience Macao Your Own Style” Road Show yesterday, which attracted many locals in Korea already, the month-long “Taste of Macao: East meets West” food promotion also commenced today. At night, MGTO hosted an “Experience Macao” Gala Dinner and invited nearly 200 representatives of governmental entities, travel trade and media from both Korea and Macao to embark upon a culinary journey combined with Macao Intangible Cultural Heritage, advanced technology and magical performance. With the Gala Dinner held, the “Taste of Macao: East meets West” food promotion was officially unveiled. Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao SAR Government, Dr. Alexis Tam; President of Korea Tourism Organization, Jung Chang Soo; Minister, Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of Korea, Hao Xiao Fei; Chief of Office of the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Ip Peng Kin; MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes; Chairman of Korea Association of Travel Agents, Yang Moo Seung, and MGTO Korea representative, Lew Hwan Kyu, joined the wine toasting at the “Experience Macao” Gala Dinner. Forge ahead to become a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure During the Gala Dinner, Secretary Tam stated that having successfully developed tourism over the past decade, Macao is at the right time to pursue the goal of becoming a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure. The hard work, energy and investments that have taken place must now be leveraged to take full advantage of the positive prospect of the global tourism trend. He remarked that the global tourism market is very competitive, but what truly makes Macao stand out is its story, its character and its people. The UNESCO heritage site, food, signature festivals and events as well as integrated resort complexes are all there to best reflect Macao’s unique city narrative. On the other hand, Macao is strategically located at the Pearl River Delta. Key infrastructures including the upcoming completion of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge will open a new window of opportunities for Macao to collaborate with its counterparts from Mainland China and Hong Kong to offer multi-destination tourism to visitors from Korea and other international tourists from the region and beyond. Visitors will enjoy more choices and better connections. In addition, Macao is striving to increase its year-round appeal as a high quality, leisure and business tourism destination, thus increasing visitor satisfaction, length of stay and expenditure. He added that Macao has the vision to become a regional leader in dynamic tourism and this vision is supported by the SAR Government’s endeavor to give all the visitors a unique Macao experience. The SAR Government has been working together with its local and overseas trade partners who have specific market and segment expertise. Through close partnership with the trade, the SAR Government strives to deliver the full growth potential of tourism. President of Korea Tourism Organization, Jung Chang Soo, stated that Macao is well known as “Little Europe in Asia”, with its abundant tourism resources and infrastructures in an atmosphere inspired by East and West cultures. The city is fantastic with a good balance between sense of homogeneity and difference. All these attract over half a million Korean visitors every year to Macao. Young generations nowadays enjoy travel as a part of daily life with fluent foreign language skills and high technology devices. If Macao can keep providing distinguishable content and service, more Koreans will visit Macao. Minister, Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of Korea, Hao Xiao Fei, stated that in recent years, Macao has achieved new progress in its development into a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure. The booming tourism and MICE industries have fostered social and economic progress in Macao, while the prosperity of the industries plays an active role in advancing the city’s long-term development and helping it to become a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure with adequate diversification of the economy. Macao is a dynamic city with a thriving economic momentum and an abundant mix of local cultures and communities, which fully meets the demand of the Korean visitor market. She believes that as Macao makes a greater effort to promote its destination to Korea, the interchanges between Korea and Macao will become more in depth with more Koreans choosing Macao as their leisure destination. MGTO Director Senna Fernandes expressed her hope that the Macao food promotion can reach a great range of people and as a result, to attract more Koreans to visit Macao in person. Recognizing the enormous potential in the Korean market, MGTO will march ahead with more effective promotional strategies. She conveyed her appreciation to the travel trade partners, media of both Macao and Korea for their support in tapping into the great potential for further growth in Macao’s Korean tourism market. During the Gala Dinner, Macao chefs prepared an exquisite menu of Macanese dishes from Macao for the guests. The dinner also marked MGTO’s newest gimmick to present the food with holographic projection. The guests could enjoy the entire virtual journey without putting on 3D glasses. The captivating performance presented by the House of Magic also tinged the Gala Dinner with a mysterious ambience. Promote Macao with culinary delights Another highlight of the “Experience Macao – Korea” mega promotional event is the month-long “Taste of Macao: East meets West” food promotion. To promote “Macanese Gastronomy”, a listed Macao Intangible Cultural Heritage, MGTO has invited three Macao chefs to prepare signature Macanese dishes for locals and visitors in Korea. Starting from 19 April until 18 May, patrons can enjoy Macanese delicacies during lunch or dinner hours at the buffet restaurant Tavolo 24 in JW Marriot Dongdaemun Square. Located at the hotel rooftop, The Griffin Bar also features a menu of Macao’s signature snacks and special drinks. Both catering outlets are decorated after the theme of the World Heritage monuments and new attractions in Macao, for patrons to experience the city’s aroma to the full. Encourage trade to launch new products MGTO is holding “Macao．Korea Travel Mart” in Seoul and Busan on 19 and 21 April respectively for members of travel trade from Korea and Macao to build connections and discuss business opportunities with each other. The Office again invites travel trade to participate in its “Macao Tourism Product Promotion Scheme” and forge new partnerships. Korean trade attendees may get sponsored by launching new tourism products in the market. This year, the Travel Mart is attended by over 40 trade delegates from airport company, as well as airlines, ferry operators, hotels, travel agencies and related sectors from Macao. Around 110 members of travel trade of Seoul joined the travel mart on the first day, proving the great potential in the Korean Market. Following the visit to Seoul, the MGTO delegation will hold a travel mart and networking dinner in Busan to create more exchange and cooperation opportunities for Macao trade delegates and their Korean counterparts. The team will also ride on the occasion to encourage trade partners to launch new tourism products tailor made for the Korean market.
