News

At the Eleventh Macao Inter-Tertiary Debate Competition (English Debates), which was held at the Macao Polytechnic Institute from 18 October to 20 October, the University of Macau (UM) won the championship and all individual awards, including the Best Debater Award in the grand final, as well as five Best Debater Awards in the preliminary rounds. This is the sixth consecutive year UM's English Debating Team has won the championship at this competition. Two teams from UM went straight to the grand final for their excellent performance. Organised by the Tertiary Education Services Office of Macao SAR, the competition attracted debating teams from UM, the Macao Polytechnic Institute, the Macau University of Science and Technology, the Institute for Tourism Studies, the University of Saint Joseph, and the City University of Macau. The competition aims to stimulate university students' interest in a diverse range of topics to help them achieve well-rounded development. It also hopes to help participants improve critical thinking and spoken English proficiency. UM's English Debating Team will participate in the 17th FLTRP Cup National English Debating Competition to be held later this month.
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Consumer Council conducted its 'Supermarket price survey' for October on 22 nd October for the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12th June. Surveyed locations included supermarkets at Lam Mau, Patane and San Kio areas in Santo António Parish. The latest 'Supermarket Price Survey' is now available on Consumer Council's website (www.consumer.gov.mo), and the 'Supermarket Price Information Platform' iPhone and Android apps. The survey is also available free of charge at the offices of Consumer Council, IACM's Iao Hon and S. Domingos Markets, bookstores and libraries. Consumers may also access the resources through WAP channels on their mobile phones. With reference to the local six parishes and the number of supermarkets in each parish, the Council has divided around 100 supermarkets into 8 areas for price collection. The Council collects prices from these supermarkets for the provision of a more comprehensive database for consumers to check price discrepancies and make price comparisons according to their desired locations. For inquiry, please call 8988 9315.
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The 27th Macao International Music Festival (MIMF) proceeds this weekend with a diversified programme for all tastes. On October 24, Thursday, at 8pm, the Macao Cultural Centre Grand Auditorium receives one of the leading violinists in the world today, Kyung-Wha Chung, who rose to international fame on the heels of her win at the prestigious Leventritt Competition, in 1967 and has since garnered global recognition of the very highest stature. The South-Korean violinist will interpret works by Beethoven, Grieg and Franck, accompanied by pianist Kevin Kenner. The Violin Recital by Kyung-wha Chung is certainly a highlight of this MIMF season and a concert not to be missed! From October 24 to 26, at 8pm, Fado and Cantonese Naamyam (Narrative Songs) meet in a unique concert combining western and eastern folk music expressions surrounded by the intimate atmosphere of the century old Mandarin's House, inscribed in the World Heritage List. Fado was recognised Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2011 while the Cantonese Naamyam were inscribed on the Tentative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage Items of the Macao S.A.R. in 2009 and on the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2011. The Macao Chinese Orchestra (MCHO) brings Chinese Music for Television and Film to this year's MIMF, on October 26, Saturday, at 8pm, at the Macao Cultural Centre Grand Auditorium. Under the baton of its Music Director and Principal Conductor, Pang Ka Pang, the MCHO joins award-winning erhu player and renowned singer Cui Rui to present well-known Chinese TV and film themes, taking the public on a journey to revisit the past decades. The Dresden Philarmonic, one of Germany's most renowned orchestras, and its Music Director, Michael Sanderling, will perform the last symphonic concert of the 27th MIMF, on October 27, Sunday, at 8pm, at the Macao Cultural Centre Grand Auditorium. Since its establishment in 1870, the Dresden Philharmonic has been a major driving force in its home city's musical culture, attracting the collaboration of great conductors and outstanding musicians. In this concert, they are joined by German violinist Julia Fischer, recognised worldwide as an uncommonly talented and exceptionally gifted artist, for an unforgettable concert. Tickets for the 27th Macao International Music Festival can be purchased at all Kong Seng Ticketing outlets, by telephone and through online booking. For more information related to the 27th MIMF, please visit the Festival's website at: www.icm.gov.mo/fimm.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that there were 100 hotels and guesthouses operating in 2012, an increase of 5 year-on-year, comprising 67 hotels and 33 guesthouses. Due to the opening of several new hotels, number of persons engaged increased by 20% year-on-year to 39,647 at the end of 2012, with 31,695 (80% of total) working in 5-star hotels; meanwhile, the guesthouses had only 178 workers, less than 1% of the total. Rising number of hotels and guests drove up Receipts of the hotel industry to MOP 21.93 billion in 2012, up by 16% year-on-year. Room Sales, the major source of receipts, increased by 20% to MOP 10.25 billion, with 5-star hotels accounting for 78% of the total. Receipts from Food & Beverages (MOP 4.91 billion) and Rental of Space (MOP 3.83 billion) also registered year-on-year increase of 21% and 25% respectively. Expenditure of the hotel industry amounted to MOP 19.45 billion in 2012, up by 26% year-on-year, of which Non-operating Expenses (including depreciation of fixed assets, interest paid, etc.) increased by 31% to MOP 7.17 billion. Operating Expenses (MOP 8.97 billion) and Compensation of Employees (MOP 7.76 billion) together shared 86% of the total, up by 23% and 36% respectively year-on-year. Gross Value Added that measures the sectoral contribution to the economy was MOP 10.34 billion, up by 11% year-on-year. With the new hotels coming into operation, Gross Fixed Capital Formation tumbled by 50% year-on-year to MOP 8.24 billion in 2012.
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The Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT)'s Bachelor Degree Programme emphasises on the balance between theory and practice. Students are required to complete certain hours of practical tasks related to their majors every year. One of the tasks given to the Tourism Business Management students is to provide free guided tour to tourists and local residents. The activity, with the theme of "Tour around Macao with IFT Students", is organised by year two students of Tourism Business Management Degree Programme. With the assistance from the instructors, five different itineraries have been designed and each lasts about one hour and thirty minutes. This free guided tour service will be provided to all tourists and local residents on Saturday and Sunday, from 26 October – 17 November. The main objectives of the activity: I. It allows the students to put what they have learnt about tourism into practice. The whole project, from itinerary design to time control to the actual tour guiding, is planned by the students themselves with assistance from instructors. By coordinating the activity, their communication skills can also be enhanced. II. To promote Macao to the tourists by offering the free guiding service at the city centre and tourist attractions. Residents will also be made aware of the importance of tourism to Macao. IFT is the only public higher education institution in Macao that cultivates talents for tourism and service industry. It endeavours to promote Macao through various activities and to leave a good impression to everyone who visits the place.
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Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) attended the third edition of World Tourism Conference, an event jointly organized by World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the Government of Malaysia in Malacca, Malaysia from 21-23 October 2013. The theme of World Tourism Conference 2013 is "Global Tourism: Game Changers and Pace Setters". The opening ceremony was officiated by Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, YAB Tan Sri Dato' Haji Muhyiddin Bin Mohd Yassin; Minister of Tourism and Culture, Malaysia, YB Dato' Seri Mohamed Nazri bin Abdul Aziz and the representative of Secretary General of UNWTO, Zoltan Somogyi, etc. MGTO Deputy Director Manuel Pires and Head of Communication and External Relations Department, Kathy Iong attended the opening ceremony and a series of panel discussions. World Tourism Conference serves as an exchange platform for UNWTO members. Various tourism ministers, officials and industry delegates came from worldwide to join the event. The conference hosted 13 panel discussions in 4 key areas. The sessions not only elaborated successful stories of different travel destinations and tourism organizations but also welcomed attendees to express their own perspectives. Official delegates and industry partners from different destinations also shared their tourism planning, development and marketing strategies with each other during panel discussions. The 4 key areas for discussion include Beyond Mass Tourism, Innovative Marketing, New Directions for Tourism Product Development as well as Tourism Debate: Boon or Bane of the Tourism Sector.
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To enhance the techniques in identifying victims and handling human trafficking cases, the Human Trafficking Deterrent Measures Concern Committee organized training programs for frontline officers of Health and Labour Affairs Bureau from 21-23 October. Over 200 participants took part in the training programs and invited trainers are from the International Organization for Migration. Topics of the programs include the trafficking in person's impact on health, the role of health care officers, the phenomenon of forced labour around the world, identification and evaluation of victims, case studies, group discussion, etc.
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The second review for the 2013 Subsidy Programme for Fashion Design on Sample Making, organized by the Cultural Affairs Bureau, will take place on October 26, 2013, at the Dom Pedro V Theater. The programme has drawn an enthusiastic response, receiving a total of 27 applications, from which 15 fashion design works have been selected for second review, after a first round selection. The second review will take place in a closed-door session, at the Dom Pedro V Theater's Hall of Mirrors. As such, the Hall of Mirrors will be closed on that date, while other facilities will remain open. For more information, please contact Ms. Lam during office hours, on 2892 4040.
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The Environmental Protection Bureau (DSPA) and the Law Reform & International Law Bureau (DSRJDI) of the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region organized the workshop on "Introducing how the EU Countries Implement Environmental Education in the Education Act", which took place , on October 17, in Macao. Two environmental experts from the European Union (EU) were invited to share their valuable experiences on how EU countries have implemented environmental education through the Education Act and the curriculum standards on environmental education and the implementation of Eco-Schools. The workshop, which took place in the Lotus Room, 5th floor, of the World Trade Centre – Macao, was organized by the DSPA and the DSRJDI with the aim to strengthen the exchanges of information between Macao and the European Union on environmental education, taking at the same time, the opportunity to learn from their valuable experiences on environmental education field. Within the framework of the 2nd EU-Macao Co-operation Programme in the Legal Field, the workshop had as guest speakers Mr. Reiner Mathar, from Germany, and Ms. Anna Kristina Linusson, from Sweden, two environmental experts from the EU who shared their experiences on how the EU countries implemented environmental education in the Education Act and curriculum standards, its effectiveness, difficulties and the path to the development of implementation of Eco-Schools in the future. The workshop brought together several local institutions including government departments responsible for education, universities, teachers and students of higher education establishments, staff of educational institutions and environmental associations. In the workshop, the experts presented the origins of environmental education; the process of development; forms of presentation of environmental education elements under the education laws, demonstrated cases and characteristics of environmental education and management in Eco-Schools in some countries of the EU, ways on how to use education to promote the sustainable development and environmental protection and its vision for the future, which gave participants a perspective on the environmental education system and the trend of development in the EU countries. At the question-and-answer session, participants asked for clarification of the current situation and the trend of development of the environmental education in the EU. Some of the local experts in education shared their experiences in environmental education, which was followed by exchanges and discussions with the guest speakers. DSPA hopes that this initiative will promote the interactive exchange of ideas on environmental education, by deepening knowledge and understanding of the participants concerning the law on environmental education and Eco-Schools in different regions, in order to better promote the development of environmental education in Macao. The 2nd EU-Macao Co-operation Programme in the Legal Field, which comprises this workshop, has the "Consolidation of the Macao Legal System" as its main objective and will last until December 2013. The implementation of the Co-operation Programme is coordinated by the Law Reform & International Law Bureau and involves several other bodies and governmental departments of the Macao SAR.
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Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO), Macau Economic Services and Macau Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) together with representatives from 8 local tourism corporations ventured to promote Macau business and incentive tourism at America's Worldwide Exhibition for Incentive Travel, Meetings & Events (IMEX America) in the United States from 15 – 17 October. As the largest exhibition for the incentive travel, meetings and events industry in the United States, IMEX America launches its third edition in 2013. The event is held at Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas this year. MGTO not only promotes the Incentive Travel Stimulation Program among industry buyers but also introduces the latest trends and products of Macau business tourism on the floor. The Office also hosted a welcome reception for Macau exhibitors and overseas hosted buyers at its booth on 15 October, seeking to attract more event organizers and media to the destination's exhibit booth for familiarization and networking opportunities with business tourism corporations from Macau. MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes also attended the related activity to promote Macau business and incentive tourism. Being part of the event last year, MGTO facilitated a platform for exchange and cooperation among hosted buyers and Macau industry delegates. Compared with last year, the exhibition floor has expanded by 17% with a total area of 1.2 million square feet. Over 2,500 exhibitors joined the event including 80 new comers. Exhibitors who came back for the event this year enlarged their booth area as well. The main program of IMEX America features education program, seminars hosted by experienced professionals, seminar about personal development, Association Focus, symposiums, forums, technology sessions, inaugural ceremony and welcome dinner, etc.
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