News

Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that visitor arrivals in package tours increased by 18.3% year-on-year to 757,190 in January 2013. Package tour visitors mainly came from Mainland China (562,722), with 250,029 coming from Guangdong Province, followed by those from Taiwan, China (55,473); the Republic of Korea (42,469) and Hong Kong (30,763). Macao residents travelling outbound using services of travel agencies increased by 18.9% year-on-year to 112,893 in January 2013, of which 40,308 travelled in package tours. The main destinations were Mainland China (64,808), accounting for 57.4% of the total, while Hong Kong and Taiwan, China took up 18.3% and 11.2% respectively. There were 100 hotels and guesthouses operating at the end of January 2013, providing 26,027 rooms, up by 16.5% year-on-year; guest rooms of 5-star hotels accounted for 63.8% of the total. In January 2013, the hotels and guesthouses received 832,543 guests, up by 19.1% year-on-year, with the majority coming from Mainland China (60.3% of total) and Hong Kong (14.5%). The average length of stay of guests decreased by 0.13 night year-on-year to 1.4 nights. Meanwhile, the average occupancy rate of hotels and guesthouses stood at 82.9%, up by 3.8 percentage points year-on-year, with 5-star hotels reaching 84.9%. In January 2013, visitor-guests took up 70.1% of the total number of overnight visitors, higher than the 59.1% in January 2012.
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Consumer Council released its latest specific price survey on shampoos and shower gels. Survey result showed that price differences from about 9 percent to the highest 51 percent were recorded for the same brand of product sold at different outlets, various price changes were also observed in many shampoo brands and certain shower gels recorded different levels of price decreases. Consumer Council collected prices of 10 brands of shampoo and shower gel from 32 retail outlets (including supermarkets and drugstores) on 11th March. In comparison with the data from January's survey, the lowest price discrepancy recorded was only 8.62 percent, the greatest price difference was observed in 'Dove damage therapy intensive repair shampoo/700ml', which was sold at $39.7 to $59.9, with a difference of over $20.0 or 50.88 percent. Only 1 out of the 10 surveyed items recorded no change in price in the current survey and obvious price changes were recorded in 'Rejoice Shampoo/1000ml', which observed price differences of less than 10 percent in 18 retail spots. For shower gel, prices of 'LUX Body Wash/1L' had been decreased by about 10 percent in 4 retail spots. The remaining items recorded only minimal price changes. Consumer Council indicates that selling prices of the same product are found to vary in different branches under the same supermarket chain stores. Consumers are advised to check with the data provided by the Council on its website (www.consumer.gov.mo) and its 'Supermarket price information platform' iPhone and Android apps. For enquiry, please call 8988 9315.
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Consumer Council released its latest specific price survey on canned foods. Survey result showed that price differences recorded for the same brand sold at different retail outlets ranged from 6.5 percent to the highest 38.8 percent. Consumer Council collected prices of 11 brands of canned food from 20 retail outlets on 7th March. In comparison with January's survey, prices of 6 brands remained unchanged and price differences recorded for the same canned food brand sold at different retail outlets ranged from the lowest 6.5 percent to the highest 38.8 percent. A general price discrepancy of almost 10 percent to 20 percent was recorded for most surveyed canned food brands. In the current survey, the greatest price difference of 38.8 percent was recorded in 'Ma Ling Premiun Ham Luncheon Mear/340g', which was sold at $16.5 to $22.9, with a difference of $6.4. Survey result also showed that selling prices of some surveyed products in branches under the same supermarket chain were slightly different. Consumers are advised to check with the survey data to make price comparisons. The specific price survey on canned foods is now available on Consumer Council's website (www.consumer.gov.mo) and in the Council's 'Supermarket Price Information Platform' iPhone and Android apps. .
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Owing to tropical cyclone in Western Australia (Broome, Dampier, Derby, Fitzroy Crossing, Halls Creek, Karratha, Kununurra, Marble Bar, Nullagine, Port & South Hedland, Roebourne, Wickham and Wyndham) and flooding in Queensland, Macao Post announced that all mail delivery services (including Correspondence, Printed Matters, Small Packets, Parcels and EMS) from Macao to Western and Queensland of Australia are subject to delay until further notice.
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Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) holds two sessions of Retail Service Trainer Workshop for managers and supervisors of the retail industry to equip them with high-quality customer service skills. By enhancing service quality, it is expected to create a friendly tourism environment in harmony and contribute to building Macau into a "World Centre of Tourism and Leisure". The workshop held last year received the support and active participation from the retail industry, so this year MGTO continues to organize two sessions of "Achieving Total Customer Satisfaction" Retail Service Trainer Workshop during March 12-13 and April 16-17 respectively. The topics of each two-day workshop include The Role of the Manager/Supervisor as a Trainer/Coach, Requirements for Professionalism, Total Customer Satisfaction Concept, System Approach to Effective Retails Service Training, Practical Demonstration of Retail Training Skills, etc, which will be lectured by the trainers from an international management development company through interactive learning method. MGTO hopes that after providing the professional training to retail shop managers and supervisors, they can master practical quality customer service skills and transfer the skills to their frontline staff, thus eventually enhancing the total service quality of the retail industry. MGTO has committed to advocate Macau's warm hospitality, and by organizing training workshops to boost the service quality of tourism industry, it is believed to strengthen the image of Macau as a tourist destination.
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Macao Post announced that the postal facilities previously affected by noxious fumes in Jamaica have resumed operations, mail delivery services (including Correspondence, Printed Matters, Small Packets and Parcels) from Macao to Jamaica have returned to normal.
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Consumer Council released its latest specific price survey on rice. Survey result showed that prices of rice remained stable, only 1 out of the 15 surveyed products recorded a change in price and price differences recorded for the same product sold at different outlets ranged from 1 to 22 percent. Consumer Council collected prices of 15 brands of rice from 21 retail outlets on 5th March. In comparison with data from January, prices of rice remained stable as only 'Golden Elephant Brand Premium Jasmine Rice/8kg' recorded a price increase of 5.1 percent at one retail outlet. Price differences ranged from 1 to 22 percent were recorded in the current survey. 'Tsing Ling Gi" Thai Hom Mali Rice/10kg', which was sold at $124.0 to $151.0, differed for 21.77 percent; 'Wing On Thai Jasmine Rice/5kg' and 'Japanese Variety Pearl Rice/5kg' both recorded price discrepancies of over 15 percent. Consumers are advised to check with the survey data to make price comparisons. The specific price survey on rice is now available on Consumer Council's website (www.consumer.gov.mo) and in the Council's 'Supermarket Price Information Platform' iPhone and Android apps. For inquiry, please call 8988 9315.
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The Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) released survey results of Manpower Needs and Wages of the Gaming Sector for the fourth quarter of 2012. Survey coverage excludes junket promoters and junket associates. At the end of the fourth quarter of 2012, the Gaming Sector had 54,835 employees, up by 9.2% year-on-year. An analysis by occupation indicated that 23,895 were dealers, an increase of 6.9%, and 14,696 were hard & soft count clerks, cage cashiers, pit bosses, casino floorpersons, betting service operators, etc., up by 8.9%. In December 2012, average earnings (excluding bonuses and allowances) of full-time employees reached MOP18,040, up by 7.9% year-on-year. Average earnings amounted to MOP15,990 for dealers, MOP21,890 for hard & soft count clerks, cage cashiers, pit bosses, casino floorpersons, betting service operators, etc. and MOP12,180 for casino & slot machine attendants, security guards, surveillance room operators, etc., up by 8.8%, 5.4% and 11.4% respectively year-on-year. Job vacancies totalled 2,144 at the end of the fourth quarter of 2012, down by 130 year-on-year. There were 1,209 vacancies for dealers, down by 295. Hard & soft count clerks, cage cashiers, pit bosses, casino floorpersons, betting service operators, etc., had 393 vacant posts, an increase of 195. In terms of recruitment prerequisites, 68.6% of the vacancies required working experience; 63.2% required junior secondary and 23.3% required senior secondary education. Besides Cantonese, other preferred language skills were Mandarin (92.4%) and English (85.2%). A total of 2,838 new employees were hired in the fourth quarter of 2012, and the employee recruitment rate stood at 5.3%, down by 5.5 percentage points year-on-year. Decrease in the employee turnover rate (3.8%) and the job vacancy rate (3.8%), by 2.8 and 0.6 percentage points respectively, indicated that human resources of the Gaming Sector were more stable compared with 2011.
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To celebrate the 15th anniversary of the establishment of 'Consumer Arbitration Centre', Consumer Council releases a commemorative envelope that will be distributed to public, together with commemorative postmark cancellation service, at Macao Post Headquarters on 12th March. 'Consumer Arbitration Centre' was established on 12th March 1998 and aims to solve consumer disputes that are more controversial and complicated through the provision of intermediary services, mediation and mediation. Services provided at the Arbitration Centre are free, fast and confidential. Arbitration has become a trend to solve disputes nowadays as mediation provides a channel to both parties for better communication and alleviates emotions of both parties, Consumer Council therefore continues to enhance its services and simplify the procedures for submission of disputes to the Arbitration Centre. To celebrate the 15th anniversary of the establishment of 'Consumer Arbitration Centre, Consumer Council organizes series of activities, including the release of a commemorative envelope for the 15th anniversary of the establishment of 'Consumer Arbitration Centre', to promote the services of the Arbitration Centre to public. The commemorative envelope will be distributed to public on 12th March from 9AM to 1730PM, a Post Counter will be set up at the Philately Shop located at Macao Post Headquarters and commemorative postmark cancellation service will be provided. A limit of 5 envelopes per person will be distributed each time while stocks last. For inquiry, please call 8988-9315. * The above article can be downloaded at http://www.consumer.gov.mo/c/ccnews.asp
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To celebrate the 15th anniversary of 'Consumer Arbitration Centre', a carnival will be held by Consumer Council on 9th March from 3PM to 5PM at Largo de Camões in Taipa (in front of Pak Tai Temple). In order to promote the Regulations and services of 'Consumer Arbitration Centre' to the public, Consumer Council will hold 4 consecutive carnivals in different local communities on Saturdays in March. On 9th March (tomorrow), Consumer Council will have a carnival held at Largo de Camões in Taipa from 3PM to 5PM. On-site quiz games, booth games and information about the Arbitration Centre will be exhibited during the event. Further, Consumer Council held several exhibitions at tertiary institutions last year to promote the Regulations of 'Consumer Arbitration Centre', organizations and schools interested in organizing such exhibition are welcome to contact the Council for arrangement. For inquiry, please call 8988-9315.
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