Logo of this year’s Congress of APAVT
Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) and the Portuguese Association of Travel and Tourism Agencies (APAVT, from its Portuguese acronym) organized on May 23 in Lisbon a presentation session for tourism government officials, operators and media about the 43rd National Congress of APAVT to be held in Macao in November.
The theme and logo of the congress were unveiled by APAVT at the occasion. Under the theme “Tourism: In the East, all new!”, the Congress of APAVT slated for November 23 to 27, is expected to gather in Macao around 500 Portuguese tourism operators and travel agents and provide them with an update about the new tourism offers and opportunities since the last time the event was held in the city nine years ago.
The presentation was attended by the Secretary of State for Tourism of Portugal, Ana Mendes Godinho, MGTO Director, Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, the President of Portugal Tourism Board, Luís Araújo, APAVT President, Pedro Costa Ferreira, legislators members of the Working Group for Tourism of the Portuguese Legislative Assembly, representatives of several regions of Portugal Tourism Board, heads of tourism associations, along with APAVT associates, media, among others, in a total of around 170 guests.
During the presentation session at the Portuguese capital, Secretary of State for Tourism of Portugal, Ana Mendes Godinho, noted that “the organization of the Congress of APAVT in Macao represents the unique golden key that will close this great year for Portugal-China relations. Clearly, we will have a very significant moment on July with the inauguration of the direct flights Lisbon-Beijing-Hangzhou, but throughout the year we have been also developing a string of intense initiatives in order to reinforce the presence and promotion of Portugal in China.”
MGTO Director expressed that: “We are confident that the congress will lead to more networking between operators, to new travel packages being launched in the market, and to bring more Portuguese visitors to Macao, improving the positive results of last year and reinforcing our already good historical relations”. Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes pointed out that the event comes in line with the Protocol on Cooperation in Tourism signed last year between Macao and Portugal to reinforce relations and stimulate tourism cooperation in different levels, and is aligned with Macao’s goal to become a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure and a commercial and trade cooperation service platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries.
APAVT President Pedro Costa Ferreira expressed his happiness for seeing the congress travel abroad this year: “First of all, obviously, because it is Macao. This tourism destination that is a kaleidoscope of emotions, cultures, stories and people. Also, because Macao represents a whole global economic centeredness which is moving East, with the city embodying a truly window of change of the economical structure that is being heralded and, mainly, which can be perceived.”
In addition, MGTO Director had a meeting today (May 24) in Lisbon with the President of Portugal Tourism Board, Luís Araújo. During the meeting, the two sides updated each other on their respective tourism situation, discussed the preparations underway for the National Congress of APAVT in Macao, as well as on enhancing bilateral and multi-destination tourism cooperation and exchanges, along with the possibilities brought by the soon to be opened direct flights between Portugal and Mainland China, among other topics.
The 43rd National Congress of APAVT is being organized with the support of MGTO. This is the fifth time that APAVT holds its annual national congress in Macao, and the second since the establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region, after 1982, 1990, 1996 and 2008. APAVT is the most representative association of Portuguese tourism, and since its foundation in 1950, has played a fundamental role in the development of tourism in Portugal. At the same time, throughout the years, APAVT has been pivotal in fostering a closer relation between Portuguese travel operators and Macao, by jointly organizing with MGTO promotional activities of the destination in Portugal, along with familiarization trips and participation in tourism travel fairs in Macao, among other initiatives.
Last year Macao welcomed 15,624 visitors from Portugal, marking a three per cent year-on-year increase. The growth continued for the first four months of the year, with arrivals recording 10.4 per cent increase.
This press release is available at: http://industry.macaotourism.gov.mo/en/pressroom/
