"Macao Food Guide during Spring Festival" offers a list of local restaurants open during Chinese New year
With the seven-day Spring Festival Golden Week (7 – 13 February) approaching, Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) is actively getting prepared with a variety of measures adopted as follow: activation of tourism notification system, more scrupulous inspections, reminders sent to trade about various concerns, staff arranged at various locations to provide tourism information for visitors, food guide publication as well as an array of mega celebrations to roll out during Lunar New Year, etc. The above measures are done to safeguard service quality, optimize tourism environment and cater to the needs of local residents and visitors, so that they can enjoy a memorable vacation in town. Tourism Notification System for Golden Week Tourism Administration of Guangdong Province and MGTO will put their "Tourism Notification System for Spring Festival Golden Week" into operation from 4 to 14 February. The two authorities will keep in close contact to ensure smooth operation of hospitality work for visitors between Guangdong and Macao during Lunar New Year. During the period of notification system operation, MGTO will release relevant information on its website daily including updated numbers of Mainland and total visitor arrivals at various entry ports on every previous day. The related figures are available on MGTO’s Macao Tourism Industry Net: http://industry.macaotourism.gov.mo during the aforementioned period. MGTO regularly posts on its website different categories’ room rates of all hotels and guests houses in Macao ,and through its WeChat ID, the Office also suggests visitors to arrange their accommodation and itinerary in advance before visiting Macao. During Chinese New Year, MGTO will carry out more scrupulous inspections at tourist spots, border ports and different districts. Besides, the Office will take concerted action with police authorities to combat provision of illegal accommodation. Manpower will be added at Tourist Information counters, with MGTO’s inspectors standing by round-the-clock. MGTO's tourism hotline (853) 2833 3000 will maintain its 24-hour operator service to answer tourists' enquiries. Visitors can also visit MGTO's website to obtain tourism and related information. Calling for trade’s assistance to divert visitors off the beaten path In order to safeguard visitor rights and tourism quality, MGTO has already sent out letters to trade operators to raise their awareness about hygiene, fire safety, guest capacity, opening hours, occupational guidelines for hosting tour groups, requirement for hotels and catering establishments to declare their price lists as well as for hotels to keep a record of hotel guest information upon check-in, hotel swimming-pool management guideline and so forth. In addition, MGTO has redesigned and produced a new version of its promotional brochure “Enjoy Macao” in different languages including Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Portuguese and English. The new brochure is ready for distribution at MGTO’s Tourist Information counters and service counters, with assistance from local travel agency associations to give away to visitors as well. By sending out letters, MGTO specially advised local travel agency associations to suggest tour operators adjusting the itinerary of their tour groups to major attractions. On the other hand, through mobile text messages, the Tourist Office advised visitors to visit popular sightseeing attractions during off-peak hours. Such tactics are adopted to divert visitors from crowded areas so as to minimize the impact on traffic and neighborhoods near tourist sites and maintain a positive destination image of Macao. Staff will be stationed at ten different tourist points to provide tourism information and guidance for visitors and assist in crowd management. MGTO also regularly communicates and exchanges news with Consumer Council, Public Security Police Force, Macau Customs Service, Marine and Water Bureau, Transport Bureau and so forth. Visitors can visit Public Security Police Force's website: http://www.fsm.gov.mo/psp/pspmonitor on phone or computer and check the real-time border-crossing images at the arrival/departure halls and traffic lanes of Barrier Gate, Outer Harbour and Cotai Frontier Post on the "Real-Time Information Platform of Border Ports". Hence they can flexibly choose a suitable timing to leave or arrive in Macao. MGTO's website offers a direct link to Public Security Police Force's webpage for the "Real-Time Information Platform of Border Ports". Handy information for an enjoyable trip Visitors can conveniently view the monthly highlights about local events and festivals, performances, exhibitions, activities as well as the newest attractions in town from MGTO’s mobile app "What's On, Macau" and plan their itinerary in Macao. They can also download the mobile apps "Experience Macau" and "Step out, Macao" to acquire more local travel tips. For local dining, visitors can find award-winning restaurants and eateries listed in the publication “Star Merchant Award" – Restaurants and Eateries Guide. MGTO has also published the "Macao Food Guide during Spring Festival" (Chinese version only) together with the United Association of Food and Beverage Merchants of Macau, the Industry and Commerce Association of Macau Northern District, General Union of the Macau Neighborhood Association as well as the Industry and Commerce Federation of Islands of Macau. Offering a contact list of restaurants and eateries open during Chinese New Year, the handy food guide familiarizes visitors with relevant restaurants’ operation information. To let citizens and visitors enjoy a colorful festive experience, MGTO is presenting a series of events during Spring Festival, including "Parade of Gigantic Golden Dragon" on the first day of Lunar New Year, "Parade for Celebration of the Year of the Monkey" on the third and sixth day of Lunar New Year, performances at local attractions by performance groups from 8 countries/regions which participate in the Parade, “Parade Float Exhibition” and “Fireworks Display for the Celebration of Chinese New Year". As another highlight, the God of Fortune, the three Gods of Happiness, Prosperity and Longevity, the 12 Chinese Zodiac Mascots, Entourage Boy and Girl, Macao Tourism Ambassadors, dragon and lion dance teams will travel around town wishing residents and visitors a happy Lunar New Year, while distributing “Lai Si” and souvenirs. MGTO has made continuous efforts to optimize the supporting facilities along the eight walking tour routes themed as "Step Out, Experience Macao's Communities" through interdepartmental task force, with increasingly complete information available about dining options, shopping, sanitary facilities and so forth. The Office has also launched a WeChat game “Macao Hunt” in February. Participants can look out for golden monkeys along the designated walking tour routes for a chance to win electronic coupons from nearby merchants and enter a lucky draw. "Macao Food Guide during Spring Festival", Chinese New Year Festivities Program and related information can be downloaded from MGTO's website: http://www.macaotourism.gov.mo or acquired from MGTO’s Tourist Information counters.
