News

Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT) and the Education Bureau of Nansha District, Guangzhou signed the Framework Agreement on Occupational Training Co-operation at the 2013 Guangdong-Macao Cooperation Joint Conference on 14 June. Acting President of IFT, Ms. Florence Ian and the Head of the Education Bureau of Nansha, Guangzhou, Ms. Li Ai Hua presided over the ceremony. The cooperation agreement has been successfully reached after discussions and exchange visits, and mutual understanding on the cooperation between Nansha and Macao stated in the Framework Agreement on Co-operation between Macao and Guangdong, in order to essentially carry out the cooperation of professional technical education and training, as well as related exchanges and cooperation for tourism, hospitality and related areas of both territories, as agreed by the two parties. IFT will choose Ling Dong Vocational and Technical School in Nansha as the first cooperating unit to launch the professional and technical tourism and hospitality training. The two parties will establish long-term and continuous cooperation mechanism to promote professional and technical training in tourism and hospitality. Details of the cooperation agreement include: - Cooperate to implement exploratory research;
- Carry out exchange teaching activities;
- Jointly organise academic seminars, training courses on specific topics and so on. In order to effectively implement the cooperation, IFT and Ling Dong Vocational and Technical School both assigned coordinators to carry out effective and real-time communication between the two institutes, for following up the progress and planning of the cooperation projects. IFT has been dedicated to educating and training tourism and hospitality talents since its establishment. In addition to degree programmes, IFT has been providing foundation, intermediate and advanced level of courses for working adults and students of vocational colleges. In 1999, IFT developed the widely accepted Macao Occupational Skills Recognition System (MORS) in cooperation with the Europe Union. Up to now, there are 5,279 tourism professionals having passed the assessment of the System and 31 organisations certified as MORS training centre. In 2000, IFT introduced the System to the Mainland China in collaboration with Zhuhai No. 1 Vocational School, in order to share the advanced and international tourism education experience of IFT and Macao with the colleges in Mainland China. There are 408 students having participated in the training and assessment in Zhuhai. Currently, IFT plans to introduce MORS to Nansha, Guangzhou with the first collaboration with Ling Dong Vocational and Technical School for better preparing for training talents for enhancing regional tourism branding of Macao and Guangdong.
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Prof. Rui Martins, vice rector (research) of the University of Macau (UM), recently represented UM at the XXIII Annual Meeting of the Association of Portuguese Speaking Universities (AULP). It was unanimously approved at AULP's Board of Administrators Meeting that the XXIV annual meeting of AULP will be held in Macao in June 2014. AULP is an association whose members are from approximately 150 universities around the world, including Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guiné-Bissau, Macao, Mozambique, São Tomé e Príncipe and East Timor. This year's annual meeting was held at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), one of the top five universities in Brazil, in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Prof. Rui Martins chaired a conference/roundtable, within the programme, entitled "Academic Impacts of International Exchanges and Their Financial Support". Panelists included Secretary of Higher Education of the Ministry of Education of Brazil, Prof. Paulo Speller; Rector of the Federal University of Mato Grosso, Brazil, Prof. Maria Lúcia Cavalli Neder; and Vice Rector of the New University of Lisbon, Prof. José Esteves Pereira. Prof. Rui Martins also represented UM as one of the vice presidents of AULP, at its Board of Administrators Meeting, as well as at the General Assembly of the association, where he presented a bid from Macao, in the form of a joint proposal from Macao's three main public higher education institutions, namely, UM, the Macao Polytechnic Institute and the Institute for Tourism Studies, for the organisation of the XXIV annual meeting of AULP in June 2014, in Macao, on the new UM campus. The proposal was approved unanimously by the Board of Administrators and was later confirmed at the General Assembly of AULP. With this approval, it will be the fifth time that the AULP's annual meeting is held in Macao, following previous sessions in Macao in 1998, 2003, 2006 and 2010.
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The Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) launches the Subsidy Programme for Fashion Design on Sample Making 2013, open to all local fashion design talents from June 17 to August 16, 2013. The eight selected finalists will be granted subsidies, up to a maximum of MOP150,000 each. To implement the Macao SAR Government's policy to develop the local cultural and creative industries, the IC has specially designed a Series of Subsidy Programmes for these industries, which include a set of specific financial and support measures, aiming to foster local talents, encourage the creation and incubation of cultural and creative products with market potential, as well as publicize and promote local brands thus ultimately achieving the growth of Macao's cultural and creative sectors. In this series of programmes, the Subsidy Programme for Fashion Design on Sample Making 2013 is the first to be launched and is aimed at local fashion design aficionados. The objective is to support the production of fashion design samples and promotional catalogues, encouraging designers to develop commercial activities and to participate in local and international fashion shows and marketing events, thus enhancing the quality of Macao's fashion design industry while popularizing and promoting local fashion creations. The programme will award subsidies to a maximum of eight successful applicants, to be chosen by a jury. Interested parties can download the application rules and regulations and application form at www.icm.gov.mo or www.macaucci.com. For further enquiries, please contact Ms. Lam or Ms. Lau on (853) 2892 4040, during office hours.
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With a view of strengthening the exchange and cooperation between the operators of the convention and exhibition industry in Macao and Hong Kong, promote the advantages of Macao´s convention and exhibition industry and the "one-stop service" for MICE Bidding and Support in Macao, so as to attract a greater number of events organizations to hold activities here, Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) hosted a lunch reception in Hong Kong on the occasion of the 23rd anniversary of the Hong Kong Exhibition & Convention Industry Association (HKECIA), in a bid to promote the advantages of Macao´s MICE industry and to draw attention to the afore-mentioned "one-stop service". The lunch hosted by IPIM took place on June 6. Representatives of the Hong Kong Exhibition & Industry Association were invited, in addition to potential event organizers and representatives of the tourism, booth builders for trade fairs and logistics sectors. Executive Director of IPIM, Mrs. Irene V. K. Lau made a presentation on the advantages of Macao´s convention and exhibition industry and the "one-stop service" for MICE bidding and support in Macao, in a bid to attract more event organizers to hold activities in Macao. Furthermore, IPIM and Macao´s MICE industry representatives also attended the 6th Guangzhou-Hong Kong-Macao Exhibition Industry Cooperation Forum and the HKECIA´s 26th Anniversary Dinner, which also took place on the same day. Guests present at the lunch reception included the Chairman of the HKCEIA, Mr. Daniel Cheung, the Honorary Life President of the same Association, Mr. Stanley Chu, their Honorary Secretary, Mr. Andrew Kay, the Vice Chairman of the Macao Convention and Exhibition Association, Mr. Alan Ho Hoi Meng, and the President of the Board of Directors of Macau Fair & Trade Association, Ms. Whitney Sam.
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Macao and Guangdong have agreed to raise the level of co-operation for the facilitation of social and economic development, and for the improvement of people's livelihood. This accord was reached during the annual Guangdong-Macao Co-operation Joint Conference held today (14 June) in Zhongshan municipality, Guangdong province. The two sides would continue to focus and increase co-operation in different areas including the joint development of Hengqin island and Nansha New Area, liberalisation of trade in services, development of tourism, culture, creative industry, convention and exhibition. The meeting also proposed to speed up co-operation on social affairs and livelihood which were considered to be beneficial to people's well-being on both sides, such as education, popular science, environmental protection, power and water supply, food safety. It also decided to accelerate the construction of a new passenger passageway adjacent to the Border Gate-Gongbei checkpoint and push forward the construction of other cross-border infrastructure projects and the study of regional planning. During the meeting, Macao and Guangdong inked 11 co-operation protocols such as in the areas of new passenger passage, food safety, facilitated travel for yatchs, environmental protection, old age security, anti-smuggling, a spur line of the inter-city rapid light rail extending to Hengqin island, occupational training, contingency plan for the new campus of University of Macau and facilitation of quarantine related to convention and exhibition. The Chief Executive of the Macao SAR, Mr Chui Sai On and the Governor of Guangdong Province, Mr Zhu Xiaodan, who headed their respective delegations, delivered keynote speeches at the annual meeting. Macao's Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Tam Pak Yuen, and the Vice Governor of Guangdong Province, Ms Zhao Yufang, reviewed and concluded the fruitful co-operation between Macao and Guangdong in the past year. Also at the meeting today were Macao's Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Mr Lao Si Io, Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Zhou Bo, and Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Macao, Ms Qiu Hong.
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Consumer Council conducted its specific price survey on oral care products on 13th June 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 IFT Alumni Annual Dinner was successfully held on 7 June, 2013 at L'Arc Macau. Ms. Florence Ian, Acting president of IFT, Mr. Antonio Chu, Head of Technical and Academic Support Division of IFT, President of Board of Directors of IFT Alumni Association Mr. William Wong, members of IFT Alumni Association and Student Union, alumni and other guests attended. President of Board of Directors of IFT Alumni Association Mr. William Wong reviewed the work of the Alumni Association and called for interested alumni to join the Association as the election of new board members is going to be held this year. Our honorable guest Ms. Florence Ian, Acting president of IFT, emphasised that the success of IFT is all relying on their professionalism and contribution to the hospitality industry. She expressed sincere gratitude to the alumni for their great support to the Institute. In the future, the Institute will continue providing more comprehensive services to the alumni. Mr. Antonio Chu, Head of Technical and Academic Support Division introduced the function of IFT Alumni Affairs to the alumni and thank you for their continuous support to our activities as always. During the dinner, IFT Student Union representative and alumni gave singing performances, while games and lucky draw were arranged to make the evening night a memorable one.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that visitor arrivals in package tours increased by 10.2% year-on-year to 766,971 in April 2013. Package tour visitors mainly came from Mainland China (582,998), with 209,307 coming from Guangdong Province, followed by those from Taiwan, China (49,485); the Republic of Korea (35,301) and Hong Kong (32,678). In the first four months of 2013, visitors in package tours totalled 3,064,304, up by 11.4% year-on-year. Local residents travelling outbound using services of travel agencies increased by 29.4% year-on-year to 114,960 in April this year; those travelling in package tours totalled 42,629, with Mainland China; Taiwan, China; Hong Kong and the Republic of Korea being the main destinations. In the first four months of 2013, outbound residents increased by 27.6% year-on-year to 480,530, of which 176,947 travelled in package tours. There were 99 hotels and guesthouses operating at the end of April 2013, providing 28,111 rooms, up by 16.1% year-on-year; guest rooms of 5-star hotels accounted for 66.6% of the total. In April 2013, the hotels and guesthouses received 897,340 guests, up by 16.9% year-on-year. The average length of stay of guests decreased by 0.1 night year-on-year to 1.3 nights. The majority of guests came from Mainland China (59.2% of total) and Hong Kong (16.8%). The average occupancy rate of hotels and guesthouses decreased by 1.5 percentage points to 80.5%, with that of 4-star hotels at 84.6%. In the first four months of 2013, number of guests increased by 16.1% year-on-year to 3,421,831; the average occupancy rate stood at 79.9%, down by 3.0 percentage points. In the first four months of 2013, visitor-guests took up 70.6% of the total number of overnight visitors, higher than the 64.0% in the same period of 2012.
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The Monetary Authority of Macao announced today that the preliminary estimate of Macao SAR's foreign exchange reserves amounted to MOP128.5 billion (USD16.07 billion) at the end of May 2013. The reserves fell by 0.3% from the revised value of MOP128.9 billion (USD16.12 billion) for the previous month. When compared with a year earlier, the reserves dropped by MOP2.7 billion or 2.1%. Macao SAR's foreign exchange reserves at end-May 2013 represented 16 times the currency in circulation or 131.2% of Pataca M2 at end-April 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 0.27 points month-to-month and 0.59 points year-on-year to 98.39 in May 2013. For enquiry, please contact:
Research and Statistics Department, Monetary Authority of Macao (Tel: 83952532; Fax: 28353042)
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Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) participates in the 27th Hong Kong International Travel Expo (ITE) to promote leisure and business tourism of Macau. MGTO Head of Destination Marketing Department, Ms. Betty Fok, led the MGTO delegation and trade partners to join the opening ceremony of the Expo today (13/6). The 27th Hong Kong International Travel Expo takes place in Hong Kong from 13th to 16th June. To showcase the diversified and latest tourism products in Macau to international exhibitors, trade buyers and public visitors, MGTO together with Macau Economic Services, Macau Trade and Investment Promotion Institute and 42 Macau trade representatives from hotels, travel agencies, ferry companies, event organizers and destination management companies participated in the Expo. MGTO joined the Guangdong‧Hong Kong‧Macau Trade Networking Event held in the Expo today (13/6), and hosted an in-booth cocktail reception to greet over 250 Hong Kong travel trade partners, incentive travel organizers, representatives from the education sector and media friends. This year, MGTO employs the promotional theme "Touching Moments Experience Macau" for the booth design. The traditional Portuguese style building represents Macau's blended culture of the East and the West spanning over 400 years. To promote the 25th Macau International Fireworks Display Contest and the 60th Macau Grand Prix, there is the 2011 champion Formula 3 racing car display and fireworks canopy to indulge the visitors into the festive atmosphere. To provide visitors the fastest and instant access to the latest Macau travel information, MGTO launched the "Experience Macau" smartphone app last year, downloadable from App Store and Google Play. There are tablets available at the booth for visitors to try the app and visit the "Touching Moments Experience Macau" Facebook fan page which promotes Macau tourism in Hong Kong. Moreover, MGTO representatives in Hong Kong organize travel seminars for the trade and public visitors. On 14th June, MGTO will speak at the MICE seminar to promote business tourism of Macau. On 15th June, a seminar about educational tours and exchange programs for students will be held. In addition, "Touching Moments Experience Macau" travel seminars will be held on the consumer days to introduce the latest tourism offerings and thematic itineraries for public visitors. MGTO capitalizes every opportunity to promote Macau tourism, striving to diversify visitor source market and tourism product offering. On 15th June, MGTO will host an "Experience Macau" one day familiarization tour for ITE international buyers, in which 16 participants from Mainland China, Thailand, Singapore, India and Europe, etc will have a chance to further understand the city's potential as a destination for leisure and business tourism.
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