Director General of Tourism Administration of Guangdong Province, Zeng Yingru (left)； Deputy Executive Director of Hong Kong Tourism Board, Becky Ip (right) and MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes at “Guangdong･Hong Kong･Macao” themed zone
Supported by China National Tourism Administration (CNTA), organized by Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) and coordinated by Macau Travel Agency Association, the 5th Macao International Travel (Industry) Expo (“the Expo” or “MITE”) was inaugurated at Hall D, Cotai Expo of the Venetian Macao this morning (7th July). A total of six featured exhibition zones and activities are presented in the event, in line with the Macao Special Administrative Region Government’s participation in our Country’s Belt and Road initiative and the development planning of a city cluster in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The Expo also leverages Macao’s role as a Sino-Portuguese platform and highlights the unique advantages and diversity Macao has to offer.
The opening ceremony was officiated by personages including Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Ho Hau Wah; Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao Special Administrative Region, Yao Jian; Head of International Organizations and Legal Affairs Department of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Macao Special Administrative Region, Zhang Jian; Vice Chairman of CNTA, Li Shihong; MGTO Director on behalf of the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao Special Administrative Region Government, Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes; and President of Macau Travel Agency Association, Alex Lao, among other guests. Nine consuls or representatives from embassies in Beijing and various consulates general in Hong Kong and Macao also attended the opening ceremony.
In parallel with Belt and Road development and planning of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development
During the opening ceremony, MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes gave a speech on behalf of the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Alexis Tam. She expressed that the Expo welcomes its fifth anniversary this year as Macao enters the prime phase in moving forward with a surge of new developments. Right here in the Expo, members of the tourism industry can meet a myriad of new opportunities brought by the rise of such new developments. The Expo fully capitalizes on Macao’s unique strengths and embraces the development goals pursued by the SAR Government, namely innovation, coordination, connectivity and sharing of the fruits of development. The 5th MITE highlights Macao as a major hub along the Maritime Silk Road, the city’s advantages as a Sino-Portuguese platform and role in future cooperation with other neighboring cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, in parallel with the SAR Government’s commitment to the Belt and Road development and planning of the city cluster development in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. “We are here to reflect on our experience, embrace the opportunities and step into the major era of the Belt and Road, with our dedication to uphold the major principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits in the Belt and Road Initiative. We will map out the future course for the Expo in a forward-thinking perspective as we strive to forge it into a signature international tourism exhibition of Macao, making contributions along Macao’s path to become a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure,” she emphasized.
Gathers over 300 exhibitors from 45 countries and regions on a wider exhibition floor
Held for the fifth year, MITE is a major international annual event for the tourism industry. It is dedicated to forging a platform that brings together delegates from the tourism and relevant industries near and afar to exchange ideas, build partnerships and enjoy a common share in various visitor markets. The event provides practical travel information for visitors and demonstrates Macao’s capability to organize professional travel fairs and the city’s comprehensive strengths as an international travel destination, in line with Macao’s goal to become a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure. This edition of MITE is held at Hall D, Cotai Expo of the Venetian Macao from 7th to 9th July. The exhibition floor occupies an expanded area of 10,000 square meters and accommodates 473 booths in total. The event is joined by a total of 303 travel or tourism-related enterprises and units from 45 countries and regions across Asia, Europe, the Americas, Africa and Oceania. Among these countries, 19 of them are along the Belt and Road, while 20 exhibitor units are tourism departments from various Mainland provinces or cities.
Features six highlights and underlines Macao’s advantages and dynamism
The Expo not only covers six key elements of the tourism industry — dining, lodging, transportation, entertainment, sightseeing and shopping, but also gathers professionals and operators from tourism and other related sectors worldwide, including travel agencies, hotels, scenic spots and attractions, transportation as well as other travel-related services. The Expo presents a total of six featured exhibition zones and activities including 1) China’s Maritime Silk Road Exhibition Zone: revolves around the Belt and Road Initiative and promotes tourism resources of the Mainland provinces and cities along the Maritime Silk Road; 2) Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area: showcases the development plan and progress of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area with a themed presentation seminar; 3) The Tourism Commodity Fair: attended by Mainland tourism businesses upon CNTA’s invitation, the fair promotes Chinese tourism crafts and related industries; 4) China – Portugal Tourism Seminar & Networking: launched last year, this session continues to radiate Macao’s role as a platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries by offering a networking platform for tourism operators from both sides; 5) Macao Street Exhibition Zone: showcases and promotes local tourism resources and products; 6) Nostalgic Creative Zone: introduces old and renowned local stores along with a display of cultural and creative products, and aims to enhance visitors’ understanding about Macao through the oral history of the city. In addition, a series of tourism presentations are scheduled during the Expo.
To contribute further as a bridge that connects different participants, this edition of MITE is set to enhance business matching and forge an effective networking and promotional platform for exhibitors and industry buyers with the aspiration to expand the spectrum of travel styles, create new business opportunities and widen the scope of regional and international cooperation in tourism.
MGTO continues to promote travel to Macao through MITE
Themed after “Experience Macao Your Own Style”, the Macao booth presented by MGTO in the Expo, features the World Heritage Site “The Historic Centre of Macao”, events and festivals as well as a wide range of local tourism products to industry professionals and visitors from around the world. A “Guangdong･Hong Kong･Macao” themed zone is set up next to the booth to showcase tourism products and joint travel routes across the three destinations.
In line with the SAR Government’s commitment and support to the Belt and Road development, MGTO will keep bringing out Macao’s competitive edges in tourism and culture. Continuous endeavors will be made to organize and support international tourism events in Macao, to encourage organizers to consider Macao as a destination for international tourism meetings or exhibitions, as well as to attract high-value visitations and extend visitors’ length of stay, in conjunction with the dedication to enhance Macao’s international reputation and role as a platform in tourism.
Free admission to the three-day Expo
The 5th MITE is open to the public from 11:00 to 18:00 on 7th July and from 10:00 to 18:00 on 8th and 9th July. Free admission tickets are distributed to the public on-site at Hall D, Cotai Expo of the Venetian Macao.
The co-organizers of the 5th MITE are as follows: Tourism Development Committee of the Macao SAR Government, Macao Chamber of Commerce, Macao Federation of Trade Unions, the General Union of Neighbors Association of Macau, the Women’s General Association of Macau, Association of Returned Overseas Chinese Macau, Travel Industry Council of Macau and Association of Macao Tourist Agents. The Expo’s official premier partner is Bank of China Limited, Macau Branch and the Expo’s media partner is Teledifusão de Macau, S.A. (TDM).
For more information about the 5th MITE, please visit the official website: www.cmitc.com.
