Popular traditional goodies for Chinese New Year
As the seven-day Spring Festival Golden Week (15 – 21 February) is approaching, the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) is vigorously preparing for the arrival of the peak period by adopting different measures as follows: activating the tourism notification system, carrying out scrupulous inspections, reminding industry operators about different issues by letter, advising visitors to visit major attractions during off-peak hours, allocating staff at different locations to provide tourism information for visitors, publishing the food guide as well as staging a range of mega Chinese New Year celebrations, etc. The above measures are taken to safeguard service quality in the industry, optimize the tourism environment and cater to the needs of residents and visitors for a memorable time in Macao during the festive season.
Dedication to safeguarding tourism quality
MGTO and the Tourism Administration of Guangdong Province will jointly put the "Tourism Notification System for Spring Festival Golden Week" into operation from 16 – 22 February. Both sides will maintain close communication to ensure smooth work of visitor reception between Guangdong and Macao during Chinese New Year. Throughout the period of system operation, MGTO will release relevant information on the Macao Tourism Industry Net http://industry.macaotourism.gov.mo, and starting from 16 February, will post the previous day’s figures of Mainland and total visitor arrivals at various ports of entry in Macao daily, which the public can view for their reference.
MGTO’s website regularly posts the room rates of different room categories reported by hotels and guests houses in Macao. The Office also advises visitors via its WeChat ID to arrange their accommodation and itinerary in advance before their trips to Macao.
In order to safeguard visitor rights and tourism quality, MGTO has already sent out letters calling for the local trade’s attention to hygiene, fire safety, guest capacity, opening hours, occupational guideline on receiving tour groups, requirement for hotels and catering establishments to declare price lists as well as for hotels to record hotel guest information upon check-in, hotel swimming-pool management guideline and so forth. In addition, MGTO has sent letters advising associations of travel agencies to communicate with local travel agencies and coordinate their itinerary arrangements for tour groups to visit major attractions. Via mobile text message, the Office also advises visitors to visit popular attractions during off-peak hours. These measures are adopted to divert visitors from crowded areas and lessen the impact on traffic and neighborhoods near tourist sites, thus helping to maintain a positive destination image. At the same time, MGTO will arrange staff at ten different tourist points to provide tourism information and guidance for visitors and assist in crowd management.
During Chinese New Year, MGTO will carry out more scrupulous inspections at tourist attractions, ports of entry and different districts, and take concerted action with police authorities to tackle provision of illegal accommodation. MGTO’s inspectors will stand by round-the-clock while manpower will be increased at Tourist Information counters. MGTO's tourism hotline (853) 2833 3000 will maintain its 24-hour operator service to attend to visitors’ enquiries. Visitors can also obtain travel tips and related information from MGTO’s website.
MGTO also regularly communicates and exchanges information with Consumer Council, Public Security Police Force, Macao 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 to check the real-time border-crossing images at the arrival/departure halls and traffic lanes of Barrier Gate, Outer Harbour, Cotai Frontier Post, Taipa Ferry Terminal and Zhuhai-Macao Cross Border Industrial Zone Border Checkpoint on the "Real-Time Information Platform of Border Ports". Hence visitors can flexibly choose to leave or enter Macao at suitable timings.
Thoughtful enhancement of festive experience
Visitors can download MGTO’s mobile app "What's On, Macao" and conveniently browse monthly highlights including events and festivals, performances, exhibitions, activities as well as the newest attractions in town for their itinerary planning. They can also download the mobile apps "Experience Macao" and "Step out, Macao" to acquire more local travel tips. In addition, visitors can follow MGTO’s WeChat ID “MGTOweixin” to obtain more information.
MGTO has also published the "Macao Food Guide during Spring Festival" (Chinese version only) together with the General Union of NeighborsAssociation of Macau, the United Association of Food and Beverage Merchants of Macau, the Industry and Commerce Association of Macau Northern District as well as the Industry and Commerce Federation of Islands of Macao. Offering a contact list of restaurants and eateries open during Chinese New Year, the handy food guide familiarizes visitors with operation information of relevant restaurants. In addition, visitors can find award-winning establishments listed in the publication “Star Merchant Award – Restaurants and Eateries Guide” and brochure “Star Merchant Award – Travel Agency Industry”.
To let residents and visitors enjoy a fascinating experience in this festive season, MGTO will roll out a series of activities during Chinese New Year, including the Golden Dragon and Lion Parade, Parade for Celebration of the Year of the Dog, performances presented at designated locations by non-local performance groups of the Parade, Parade Float Exhibition and the Fireworks Display for 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, as well as the dragon and lion dance teams will go around the city to give blessings to residents and visitors and distribute “Lai Si” and souvenirs.
The Chinese New Year Festivities Program as well as the aforementioned guides and brochure are available for download on MGTO's website: http://www.macaotourism.gov.mo or can be acquired from MGTO’s Tourist Information counters. Residents and visitors can also browse the "Macao Food Guide during Spring Festival" and the “Star Merchant Award – Restaurants and Eateries Guide” on MGTO’s WeChat ID.
