MGTO officials unveil this year
Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) held an Annual Press Conference 2016 today (27 January), when MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes announced total visitor arrivals to Macao over last year hit a record of 30.7 million, slightly dropped by 2.6% compared with 2014. Despite a minor downturn in visitor arrivals throughout the year, a range of tourism figures marked a growth last December. Looking into the year ahead, MGTO will carry on its team efforts to promote Macao around the world to propel steady tourism development. Four major goals are set up in 2016, supporting the Macao SAR Government to forge ahead with Macao’s development into a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure. During the Press Conference, MGTO presented a retrospection of last year’s tourism performance, an introduction of 2016’s working plan as well as the outstanding rankings and recognitions Macao received from numerous tourism reports and surveys last year. A brand-new Macao tourism promotional video also made a debut during the event. Around 500 attendees were present in the conference, including members of travel trade and over 80 members of the press from the Mainland, Hong Kong, home and the region. The above media attendees also include international journalists based in Macao and Hong Kong. Macao tourism situation in 2015 With the economy impacted by whirlwind forces, Macao tourism industry went through a period of adjustment in 2015. According to statistics, last year's visitor arrivals to Macao surpassed 30 million despite a slight decline of 2.6% compared with 2014. The number of visitors from the Greater China markets topped 27 million with a decrease of 2.4%, whereas the total of international visitors dropped by 3.9%. Although the year-round total of visitor arrivals dropped slightly in 2015, the tourism industry had achieved significantly better performance in the 4th quarter, with the scale of decrease in tourist arrivals narrowing down from 3.6% of the 1st quarter to 1.7%. In addition, the number of international tourist arrivals in the 4th quarter had experienced a more remarkable growth as well, a period-on-period increase of 3.9%. In particular, a combination of multiple mega events including Macau International Marathon, Parade through Macao, Latin City and Macao Light Festival in December 2015 had driven positive growths in a range of tourism figures such as total visitor arrivals, numbers of Greater China and international visitors, all of which registered an increase compared with the corresponding period of 2014. The average length of stay (day) for overnight visitors also marked a period-on-period increase, with the ratio of overnight-stay visitors outweighing that of same-day visitors once again since December 2012. The Mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan again ranked as the top three visitor markets to Macao. Macao welcomed over 20.4 million Mainland visitors last year, dropped by 4%. 44% of the Mainland visitors came from Guangdong Province. For Hong Kong and Taiwan markets, an increase of 1.7% and 3.6% was recorded respectively. As for international visitor arrivals, the numbers of visitors from the Philippines and the United States raised by 5.3% and 0.6% respectively, as the two visitor source markets ranked the 6th and the 8th largest for Macao. Overnight visitors stayed for an average of over two days MGTO indicated that the average length of stay for overnight visitors was 2.1 days throughout the year, an increase of 0.2 day. The total of overnight visitors in Macao exceeded 14.3 million, which constituted 46.6% of total visitor arrivals and decreased by 1.8% year-on-year. According to preliminary figures, last year’s total of overnight guests of hotel establishments, on the other hand, went down by 2% to a record of over 10 million. Affected by a decline in gaming expenditure and hence a slowdown in non-gaming expenditures, the visitor expenditure between January and September 2015 totaled 26.3 billion US dollars, a period-on-period decrease of 36.4%. In terms of hotel industry, the average occupancy rate of hotel establishments in Macao in 2015 was 81%, declined by 6 year-on-year, based on preliminary figures. The average room rate of three to five star hotels was 187 US dollars, down by 7.8%. Preliminary statistics also indicate that a total of 8.52 million visitor-times came to Macao in tour groups last year, a year-on-year decline of 8%. Up to date, there are 110 hotels in Macao supplying 33,047 rooms in total, including 46 budget accommodation establishments operating 1,506 rooms all together. MGTO's Tourist Information counters handled over 1.3 million visitor inquiries, material requests and suggestions last year. Regarding measures against illegal accommodation, the interdepartmental task force inspected over 1,100 apartment-times and sealed 153 apartments throughout the year; the Office also submitted an analytical report on proposed amendment to the Law on “Prohibition of Providing Illegal Accommodation”, beside an exchange of ideas and information with residents and community associations through meetings. Since launch of the “Quality Tourism Services Accreditation Scheme” (QTSAS) in 2014, MGTO has conferred the Star Merchant Award on 167 catering businesses by far, including 84 award winners last year. On the other hand, over 2,300 participant-times joined the industry training courses and workshops supported or facilitated by MGTO in 2015. In terms of manpower, the Office recruited 34 new staff members in 2015, adding up to a total of 407 employees at present. Macao won recognition for destination glamour Although external factors had an impact on Macao’s economy, it did not lessen Macao’s attractiveness as a travel destination. The globally-acclaimed travel guide book “Lonely Planet” has named Macao one of “Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2015 – Top 10 Regions”. Following that, Macao also received a range of recognitions from numerous tourism surveys and reports in 2015. The China Institute of City Competitiveness ranked Macao as the second most distinguished tourism city in China in its “2015 Chinese Cities Competitiveness Ranking List”. In the Annual Report on Development of World Tourism Cities (2015) released by the World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF), Macao is among the top 20 of over 100 tourism cities in the world in terms of both Tourism Prosperity Index and Tourism Development Potential Index. In addition, Macao was voted one of the top 10 favorite travel destinations in 2015 on Cool Hunting, a lifestyle blog in the United States, and received the “Best Leisure Destination” Award presented by Top Travel Magazine in China, whereas the Social Media Trend Research conducted by the Japanese travel agency H.I.S. revealed that Macao was chosen to be the most desirable travel destination in Asia in 2016. The above recognitions reflect the fascinating glamour manifested by Macao in terms of tourism resources, products, culture and other dimensions. MGTO targets four major goals In 2016, MGTO will carry on its strenuous efforts to foster diversified and sustainable tourism development in Macao, supporting the Macao SAR Government’s work to expedite the city’s development into a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure. Four major goals are set up this year: 1. Deepen the planning of tourism development, foster Macao’s development into a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure; 2. Develop electronic administration and enhance tourism service quality; 3. Promote smart tourism, explore diversified tourism products; 4. Strengthen regional cooperation, actively participate in international organizations. As Director Senna Fernandes indicated, MGTO will commence on the following tasks under its four major goals of 2016: 1. Deepen the planning of tourism development, foster Macao’s development into a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure: fully dedicated to formulation of the “Macao Tourism Industry Development Master Plan”; conduct public consultation and prepare a profound planning scheme; evaluate effectiveness of mega events and festivals; carry out studies and surveys on Singaporean and Malaysian visitors, etc. 2. Develop electronic administration and enhance tourism service quality: continue to promote development of electronic administration; plan on building a “MGTO media platform”; add new content and function to Macao Tourism Data plus; continue to carry out the QTSAS and extend the Scheme to travel agencies as well; follow up with proposed amendment to the regulations on hotels and catering establishments, while supporting legislative work of the regulations on travel agencies and tour guides, with continuous measures against provision of illegal accommodation, etc. 3. Promote smart tourism, explore diversified tourism products: promote smart tourism as one of the major priorities; deepen partnership with cultural and sports fields while assisting to promote local mega events of tourism, culture and sports, to unleash synergistic effect and transform Macao into a “City of Events”; promote Macao and launch a brand-new promotional video under the new theme “Experience Macao Your Own Style”; foster diversification of source markets and tourism products; keep promoting “Step Out, Experience Macao’s Communities” walking tour routes; continue to organize and co-organize mega events and festivals, etc. 4. Strengthen regional cooperation, actively participate in international organizations: enhance Macao’s participation in international tourism affairs; provide greater support for Portuguese-speaking countries; engage in the work of China National Tourism Administration regarding “Joint Working Committee on Tourism to Support Macao's Aspirations to Build a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure”; strengthen cooperation across Pan-Pearl River Delta, between Hong Kong/Macao, Guangdong/Hong Kong/Macao, Guangdong/Macao and Fujian/Macao while riding on the opportunities arising from the Belt and Road Initiative to promote multi-destination tourism products, etc. Senna Fernandes added that the Office will make greater efforts to promote smart tourism this year, by maximizing use of the Internet and social platforms for tourism promotion, as well as upgrading MGTO’s mobile apps and audio guides, etc. On the other hand, MGTO will endeavor to expand the diversity of international visitor markets, consolidate existing source markets while tapping into new potential of emerging markets. In 2016, the Office will develop new tourism products, including the transformation project of Tourism Activities Centre into a theme museum on Macau Grand Prix, revitalization of palafitte on Coloane, feasibility study on launch of leisure cruise tour routes between Macao Peninsula and Taipa/Coloane in light of new opportunities across the waters, etc. Continuous efforts will also be made to promote the “Step Out, Experience Macao’s Communities” walking tour routes this year, including launch of mobile games and joint promotion projects with local art and creative companies. Press release and MGTO Director’s PowerPoint presentation can be downloaded from the Media Corner of Macao Tourism Industry Net: http://industry.macaotourism.gov.mo
