News

Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) organized a familiarization group of nearly 100 Southeast-Asian travel agents coming from Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia to Macau for site inspections and business networking during April 14 – 17. The mega trade visit serves to further promote international visitor-source markets. During their stay in Macau, the travel agency representatives visited various resort hotels, World Heritage sites and museums, enjoying spectacular themed shows and a taste of local delicacies. As part of their program, the Singapore trade delegates joined the "Macau Amazing Race" on April 15 to explore Macau's fascinating tourism features through the city-orientation contest. Furthermore, MGTO held a mini mart for Macau and Southeast-Asia travel trade partners on April 16 to facilitate direct negotiations about business opportunities and promote travel trade cooperation between Macau and the three countries. MGTO invited over 100 local trade delegates to the mini mart including 77 enterprises ranging from hotels, travel agencies, large-scale resort hotels, event venues to airlines and ferry operators. The participants explored and discussed business opportunities during the session, seeking to enchant more Southeast Asian to visit and experience Macau. MGTO also hosted a luncheon for the familiarization group. During her welcome speech, MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes stated that to be in line with government's strategic positioning of Macau as a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure, MGTO set six work highlights this year, of which includes visitor source market diversification targeting Southeast Asia and Russia. Head of Destination Marketing Department, Betty Fok and the Coordinator of Macau Grand Prix Committee, João Manuel Costa Antunes gave an elaborate presentation about the latest tourism industry development and the 60th Macau Grand Prix for the familiarization group respectively. MGTO has always regarded Southeast Asia as an important visitor-source market and kept promoting Macau among their trade and citizens via a variety of channels for many years. In February 2009, MGTO established its representative office in Indonesia for market development. In March 2010, MGTO and some Mainland tourism departments jointly visited Singapore and Malaysia for the promotion of travel routes linking Zhongshan, Zhuhai and Macau. In July 2011, the office held an array of promotion events in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. During March and April last year, MGTO promoted Macau in the three Southeast-Asian countries together with Macau trade representatives. In early April this year, the office organized the "Macau Festival 2013" in Malaysia's capital Kuala Lumpur, a biennial event which enjoyed wide popularity. Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia all ranked among the top ten visitor-source markets in Macau last year. In the first two months this year, a total of 23,000 Singaporean visited Macau while the number of Malaysian and Indonesian visitors approximated 36,000 and 27,000 respectively. MGTO will make unrelenting efforts to expand international visitor sources and steadily enhance the diversified development of tourism markets.
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Consumer Council conducted its specific price survey on oral care products on 12th April for the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12th June. Result of the mentioned survey has been uploaded to the Council's website (www.consumer.gov.mo) and is available in the Council's 'Supermarket Price Information Platform' iPhone and Android apps. For inquiry, please call the Council's hotline: 8988 9315.
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The Tourism Crisis Management Office (GGCT) so far has not received any calls for enquiries or assistance regarding the Boston Marathon bomb blasts till noon time. According to the information obtained by GGCT, there are currently no Macao travel tours in Boston, and no Macao athlete participated in the marathon race either. GCCT will keep monitoring any developments of the explosions. GCCT reminds that Macao residents may call the 24-hour Tourism Hotline at (853) 2833 3000, or the Chinese Consulate-General in New York at 212-2449392 or 212-2449456, for assistance if necessary.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that visitor arrivals in package tours increased by 21.6% year-on-year to 803,934 in February 2013, attributable to the long holiday of Lunar New Year. Package tour visitors mainly came from Mainland China (600,005), with 278,140 coming from Guangdong Province, followed by those from Taiwan, China (61,853); the Republic of Korea (38,318) and Hong Kong (35,912). In the first two months of 2013, visitors in package tours reached 1,558,242, up by 19.7% year-on-year. Macao residents travelling outbound using services of travel agencies soared by 37.8% year-on-year to 134,809 in February 2013, of which 50,533 travelled in package tours, up significantly by 1.3 times. The main destinations were Mainland China (79,864), accounting for 59.2% of the total, while Hong Kong and Taiwan, China took up 14.7% and 11.6% respectively. In the first two months of 2013, outbound residents surged by 28.5% year-on-year to 247,702. There were 100 hotels and guesthouses operating at the end of February 2013, providing 28,122 rooms, up by 26.1% year-on-year; guest rooms of 5-star hotels accounted for 66.5% of the total. In February 2013, the hotels and guesthouses received 774,965 guests, up by 7.5% year-on-year. The average length of stay of guests held stable from a year earlier at 1.4 nights. The majority of guests came from Mainland China (60.4% of total) and Hong Kong (16.6%). Due to the substantial increase of 5,812 guest rooms year-on-year, the average occupancy rate of hotels and guesthouses decreased remarkably by 8.5 percentage points to 77.3%, with that of 5-star hotels at 78.8%. In the first two months of 2013, number of guests increased by 13.2% year-on-year to 1,607,669; the average occupancy rate stood at 80.1%, down by 2.2 percentage points. From January to February 2013, visitor-guests took up 67.5% of the total number of overnight visitors, higher than the 63.3% in the same period of 2012.
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Consumer Council conducted its specific price survey on seasonings on 11th April for the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12th June. Result of the mentioned survey has been uploaded to the Council's website (www.consumer.gov.mo) and is available in the Council's 'Supermarket Price Information Platform' iPhone and Android apps. For inquiry, please call the Council's hotline: 8988 9315.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the TPI (134.15) for the first quarter of 2013 increased by 7.90% year-on-year under the influence of the Lunar New Year; the increment was attributable to higher hotel room rate and charges for restaurant services. Notable increase was observed in the price index of Clothing & Footwear (+20.91%); and Transport & Communications (+13.19%) on account of dearer prices of men's clothing, handbags and airfare. However, price index of Miscellaneous Goods decreased by 2.21% year-on-year. TPI for the first quarter of 2013 rose by 0.28% quarter-to-quarter, of which price index of Transport & Communications; Food, Alcoholic Drinks & Tobacco; and Restaurant Services increased by 5.87%, 5.25% and 4.19% respectively due to increasing prices of local food products, as well as higher airfare and charges for restaurant services. On the contrary, price index of Clothing & Footwear and Miscellaneous Goods decreased by 6.68% and 2.87% respectively quarter-to-quarter. The average TPI for the last four quarters ended the first quarter of 2013 increased by 5.57% from the previous period, with marked increase being observed in the price index of Clothing & Footwear (+14.00%); Restaurant Services (+9.88%); and Entertainment & Cultural Activities (+8.80%). However, price index of Hotel Accommodation decreased by 1.18%. The 2009/2010-based TPI reflects the price change of goods and services purchased by visitors. Sections of TPI goods and services are selected according to the consumption pattern of visitors, namely Food, Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco; Clothing & Footwear; Accommodation; Restaurant Services; Transport & Communications; Medicine & Personal Goods; Entertainment & Cultural Activities; and Miscellaneous Goods.
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The Monetary Authority of Macao announced today that the preliminary estimate of Macao SAR's foreign exchange reserves amounted to MOP129.9 billion (USD16.25 billion) at the end of March 2013. The reserves fell by 2.0% from the revised value of MOP132.6 billion (USD16.60 billion) for the previous month. When compared with a year earlier, the reserves increased by MOP1.1 billion or 0.9%. Macao SAR's foreign exchange reserves at end-March 2013 represented 16 times the currency in circulation or 135.2% of Pataca M2 at end-February 2013. The trade-weighted effective exchange rate index for the pataca, a gauge of the domestic currency's exchange rates against the currencies of Macao's major trading partners, rose by 0.89 points month-to-month and 1.22 points year-on-year to 98.25 in March 2013. For enquiry, please contact:
Research and Statistics Department, Monetary Authority of Macao (Tel: 83952532; Fax: 28353042)
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The Government Information Bureau is once again holding the "Precious Moments in Macao" Photograghy Competition. Participants may submit their works online through our dedicated website http://photo.gcs.gov.mo from 22 April (00:00) to 12 May (24:00). The aim of the competition is to chronicle the developments and events of Macao over the past year. Prospective entrants can visit the website http://photo.gcs.gov.mo to register and upload their works. Each entrant may submit no more than five works. The website also showcases last year's winning entries and offers an overview of the competition. Participants will have the chance of winning cash prizes and trophies. Outstanding entries will also be used for the cover and illustrations in the Macao Yearbook, an annual publication by the Government Information Bureau. Entries are expected to be able to underscore Macao's goodness by capturing the changes in the cityscape and people's lives during the period from 2012 till the submission deadline. Winners of the First, Second and Third Prizes of the "Precious Moments in Macao" 2013 Photograghy Competition will each receive a cash prize of MOP8,000, MOP5,000 and MOP3,000 respectively, in addition to a trophy. A total of 50 Merit Prizes will also be awarded and their winners will each get a certificate as well as a cash prize of MOP500 (Note: the final number of merit prizes will depend on the standard of competition entries). In addition, the Editorial Committee of the 2013 Macao Yearbook will select from the entries the winner of the Yearbook Cover Award, who will get a cash prize of MOP5,000: 5-15 winners of the Yearbook Full-page Illustration Award will each receive a cash prize of MOP1,000 (the actual number of winners will depend on the number of suitable entries). The competition is co-organised by eight photographic associations and four media associations, namely Photographic Society of Macao, Photography Salon Society of Macao, Macao Association for the Promotion of Photographic Art, Macao Association of Photographers, Macao Multimedia Photographic Art Association, Macao Association of Photographic Art, Macao Camera Lens Art Association, Macao Digital Photography Association, Macao Media Workers Association, Macao Journalists' Club, Macao Journalists' Association and Macao Media Club (listed in no particular order ). Winning works and outstanding entries will be featured in a public exhibition, including entries to be used as the cover of the 2013 Macao Yearbook and its full-page illustrations. Information pamphlets about the competition can be obtained from the 12 co-organisers; Princess Photography Equipment; Nice Photography Equipment; Foto Digital Fantastic; Digital Hang Seng; Foto Digital "Ieng Fo"; Digital Chi Pak; the Government Information Centre; IACM libraries and activity centres; Cultural Affairs Bureau libraries; DSEJ education centres; the University of Macau; Macau University of Science and Technology; Macao Polytechnic Institute; Institute of Tourism Studies; Academy of Public Security Forces; University of Saint Joseph; City University of Macau; Kiang Wu Nursing College; Macau Institute of Management; Macao Centre of Continuing Studies; and the Macao Association of Civil Servants. The date of judging is 2 June 2013.
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Macau promoted its Grand Prix Diamond Jubilee on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai last weekend. The Macau Grand Prix Committee (MGPC) and the Macau Government Tourist Office cooperated together in the organization of the promotional activity from 12th to 14th of April, held at the Waterscape Square. The theme of the booth was the Macau Grand Prix Jubilee celebrations and Macau's many other visitor attractions. The colorful exhibition area let members of the public experience all the colorful sights and the carnival atmosphere of the Macau Grand Prix. Visitors were able to experience the excitement of the Guia Circuit via two racing stimulators. In addition, a display area for photo opportunities included two racing machines: The Formula 3 car driven by 2000 Macau F3 Grand Prix winner Andre Couto in 1998, and the motorcycle ridden in 2003 by eight-time Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix winner Michael Rutter. Visitors could also stand atop a mini winners' podium. Based on information provided by the Formula 1 organizers, there were a total of 190,000 spectators over the three-day event.
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The Tourism Crisis Management Office (GGCT) is paying close attention to the strong earthquake that occurred this morning (13 April) in the Kansai region, Japan and will maintain close contact with the tourism industry for developments. According to the information provided by the tourism industry, a group of 23 people are currently travelling in the Kansai region in Japan and their personal safety has not been affected. So far GGCT has not received any calls for assistance or information. Macao residents may call the 24-hour Tourism Hotline at (853) 2833 3000 for assistance if necessary.
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