News

The dedicated website for the "Precious Moments in Macao" 2012 Photography Competition is up and running, and online submission of works is now open. Anyone who is interested to take part in the competition is welcome to register and submit their works via the website from today till 20 May (24:00). The website serves as a platform to showcase last year's winning entries, to offer an overview of the competition and to allow contestants to register and submit their works online. Do not miss the chance to showcase your works. Please go to the website http://photo.gcs.gov.mo now to register with a few simple steps and upload your works to grasp your chance of winning cash prizes and trophies. Winners of the First, Second and Third Prizes of the "Precious Moments in Macao" 2012 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 2012 Macao Yearbook will select from the entries the winner of the Yearbook Cover Award, who will get a cash prize of MOP5,000; and 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 2012 Macao Yearbook and its full-page illustrations. All photography aficionados are welcome to take part. The date of judging is 3 June 2012.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that the total number of licensed motor vehicles reached 208,037 at the end of March 2012, a year-on-year increase of 5%, of which motorcycles (111,717) and light private cars (82,098) accounted for 54% and 39% respectively. New registration of motor vehicles decreased by 3% year-on-year to 4,190 in the first quarter of 2012, with motorcycles and light private cars sharing 51% and 44% of the total. In the first quarter of 2012, number of traffic accidents rose by 7% year-on-year to 3,620 cases, resulting in 1,298 victims and 2 of them were killed. Cross-border vehicle traffic by land between Macao and Mainland China increased by 8% year-on-year to 1,051,932 vehicle trips in the first quarter of 2012, of which vehicle traffic through the Border Gate accounted for 83%. Commercial flight movements at the Macao International Airport increased by 4% year-on-year to 8,846 in the first quarter of 2012, with Mainland China (38% of total); Taiwan, China (28%) and Thailand (11%) being the major routes. Helicopter flights between Macao and Hong Kong (3,243) and between Macao and Mainland China (758) decreased by 18% and 20% respectively. Passenger ferry transport between Macao and Hong Kong totalled 28,265 ferry trips in the first quarter of 2012, down by 8% year-on-year. Concurrently, passenger ferry transport between Macao and Mainland China increased by 15% year-on-year to 6,791 ferry trips. In the first quarter of 2012, seaborne container throughput totalled 27,016 TEU or 19,737 containers handled, up by 16% and 15% respectively year-on-year. Gross weight of seaborne containerized cargo increased by 31% year-on-year to 50,153 tonnes, with 1,494 tonnes of transshipment goods. Gross weight of containerized cargo by land rose by 1% to 9,482 tonnes, including 3,010 tonnes of transit goods. In the first quarter of 2012, outward (3,816 tonnes) and inward air cargo (1,745 tonnes) fell by 24% and 30% respectively year-on-year. Transit air cargo decreased by 9% year-on-year to 891 tonnes. At the end of March 2012, number of mobile telephone users increased by 15% from a year earlier to 1,419,073, whereas fixed-line telephone users decreased by 1% to 165,444. As regards internet services, number of subscribers reached 213,445 and the cumulative duration of usage totalled 153 million hours in the first quarter of 2012, up by 18% and 30% respectively.
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In order to better reflect recent wage levels of construction workers, the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) releases average daily wage and wage index of local construction workers starting from the first quarter of 2012; meanwhile, the wage index of construction workers has been rebased using 2010 as the base period. Information from DSEC indicated that the average daily wage of overall construction workers decreased by 3.4% quarter-to-quarter to MOP563 in the first quarter of 2012. The average daily wage of skilled & semi-skilled workers (MOP568) fell by 4.2%, while that of unskilled workers (MOP373) went up by 1.9%. Analyzed by occupations, average daily wages of electricians & electrical workers (MOP565) and bricklayers & plasterers (MOP525) decreased by 9.9% and 3.1% respectively over the previous quarter; however, wage of carpenters (MOP569) increased by 8.2%. Furthermore, the average daily wage of local construction workers rose by 1.3% quarter-to-quarter to MOP646. After discounting the effect of inflation, wage index of construction workers was 89.5 in real terms, down by 4.0% quarter-to-quarter; wage index of local construction workers increased slightly by 0.1% to 98.9 in real terms. As regards construction materials, in the first quarter of 2012, the average price of concrete (MOP440 per cubic metre) increased by 8.3% quarter-to-quarter, but that of spiral & round reinforcing steel bars (MOP6,036 per tonne) decreased by 1.7%. The price index of construction materials for residential buildings rose slightly by 0.9% quarter-to-quarter to 120.7.
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Consumer Council conducted its price check on 16 brands of rice from 23 retail spots (including supermarkets and grocery stores) on 2nd May, relevant data has been uploaded to the 'Specific Product Price Information Platform' on the Council's website. The abovementioned survey included 2 Japanese rice brands, 2 Australian rice brands, and 12 Thai rice brands. Survey result showed that selling price of the same brand in different retail stores differed and the price discrepancy ranged from 1.02% to 20.98%. Prices of 'Golden Rabbit (10Kg)' differed significantly in different stores, the lowest selling price recorded was $123.00 while the highest was $148.80, which amounted to a difference of over 20%. Consumers may access the relevant resources on the 'Specific Product Price Information Platform' on the Council's website and make price comparisons. For enquiry, please call 89889315.
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Consumer Council continues to improve its channels for releasing supermarket price data. After launching the "Supermarket Price Information Platform" app for iPhone, the Council extends its service and launches a version for consumers using smart phones running Android. The public are welcome to download both versions of the mentioned app. The Council continues to open up new channels for releasing supermarket price data. Aside from the "Supermarket Price Information Platform" and "Specific Product Price Information Platform" on the Council's website, local mobile phone users can also get access to resources of the latest "Supermarket Price Survey" through WAP channels on their mobile phones. Consumer Council launched its 'Supermarket Price Information Platform' app for iPhone in late 2011, since then, over 24,000 users have downloaded the app and a browsing record of over 1 million has been recorded, this reflects that many consumers now have the habit of making price comparisons on their mobile phones. Consumer Council now launches its "Supermarket Price Information Platform" app for Android for the provision of better service to consumers. Consumers can now search for the platform app in Google play shop, or download it directly from the Council's website (www.consumer.gov.mo). To make it easier for local citizens and tourists to browse its contents, the interface and contents of "Supermarket Price Information Platform" are available in Chinese, English, and Portuguese. "Supermarket Price Information Platform" app provides consumers with retail prices of around 300 kinds of products from over 10 local supermarkets, and consists of 'Supermarket Price Watch', 'Best Price in Town', and 'Shopping Basket' for consumers to browse, compare, and search for their desired items. "Supermarket Price Information Platform" also includes a list of 'Certified Shops'. For enquiry, please call 89889315.
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Kelly Kong, Helen Liu and Jelana Wang, students of Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT), won the 'Audience's Choice' Award in the PATA Social Entrepreneurs' Challenge organised by Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA). They are currently enrolled in first and second year of IFT's bachelor degree programme in Tourism Business Management. The 2012 PATA Social Entrepreneur Challenge is a platform to showcase the new ideas of the young, dynamic and creative talents in the tourism and hospitality industry. It also serves the purpose of providing new socially responsible business plan for entrepreneurs. It challenged full-time undergraduate students from PATA member schools in tourism, hospitality or culinary arts to submit a video on a socially responsible tourism business idea on YouTube (maximum 5 minutes) fitting either of the following themes: changes in travelling patterns; changes in tourism and hospitality sectors; innovation in tourism and hospitality products; exploration of new tourism products; the influence of technology in the tourism industry; and tourism's extra disciplinary roles. The competition attracted more than 26 individual and group participants from various regions and countries of the Asia Pacific region. PATA announced the 3 finalists of the competition and one of them was the IFT Team with the topic of "The Influence of Technology in Tourism Industry". The three finalists were invited to present their ideas to a panel of judges at PATA Annual Conference in Kuala Lumpur, 21-22 April, 2012, after a rigorous competition, IFT Team performed outstandingly and won the "Audience's Choice" Award. The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is a membership association acting as a catalyst for the responsible development of the Asia Pacific travel and tourism industry. In partnership with PATA's private and public sector members, it enhances the sustainable growth, value and quality of travel and tourism to, from and within the region.
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Consumer Council conducted its price check on 16 brands of dairy products from 20 retail spots on 25th April, relevant data has been uploaded to the 'Specific Product Price Information Platform' on the Council's website. The abovementioned survey includes 6 brands of milk cartons, 1 yogurt drink, 3 butters, 1 whipping cream, and 5 cheeses. Among the 6 different milk cartons, selling prices of the same brand in different retail outlets were similar, only 'Pauls Milk - Pure Milk (paper pack 1L)' recorded an obvious price discrepancy of 42.01%, ranging from $16.90 to $24.00. For butter, the lowest price of 'Anchor Pure New Zealand Butter (salted) 227g' recorded was $14.50 while the highest recorded was $21.30, resulting a price discrepancy of 46.90%. Price discrepancies also existed in the 5 different brands of cheeses surveyed, as prices of 'The Laughing Cow Belcube Cheese Spread - 15cubes' ranged from $23.50 to $34.80, which equaled to a difference of 48.09%. Price differences and comparisons can be accessed on the 'Specific Product Price Information Platform' on the Council's website. The latest specific price survey on dairy products is now available online on the Council's official website (www.consumer.gov.mo). For enquiries, please call 8988 9315.
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The statistical data of joint operations of combating illegal workers by PSP and DSAL during March 2012 is as follows: During the operations solely launched by our Force, we have inspected 416 locations, 9 of which were referred by DSAL, and a total of 59 illegal workers were caught. During the operations solely launched by DSAL, they have inspected a total of 17 locations, and 8 illegal workers were caught. Moreover, no any joint operation launched by PSP and DSAL. The above locations of inspection consisted of construction sites, private flats, business and industrial venues, etc.
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Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) participated at "Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2012" to expand the Middle East market source and to promote the positioning of Macau as a World Center of Tourism and Leisure.
Head of MGTO Advertising and Production Division Alice Coelho led the Macau delegation comprising representatives from local tour operator, hotels and resorts, convention and exhibition to the ATM 2012, held from April 30 to May 3 in Dubai.
MGTO has been striving to explore opportunities to expand the tourism market from the Middle East, a market with huge potential. The 50 square meter Macau booth at the event was dedicated to the theme "Touching Moments Experience Macau" showcased the latest updates and tourism products in Macau.
Last year, Macau welcomed over 10,000 visitors from the Middle East, a growth of 24.38%. In the first quarter of 2012, visitors from the Middle East registered a significant growth of 40.7%.
ATM is the leading travel and tourism exhibition in the Arabic world and the Middle East. According to organizer, the event attracted last year 2,236 exhibitors and 22,000 visitors. This press release is available at http://www.macautourism.gov.mo
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This was the core message delivered by Professor Greg Richards from University of Tilburg in the Netherlands who delivered a public seminar "Tourism, Culture and Creativity" at IFT on 24 April 2012 before a diverse audience made up of members of government agencies, professionals, scholars, students and local residents. The seminar was delivered as part of Prof Richards' visit to IFT from 23-25 April 2012. Prof. Richards is the author of "Eventful Cities" which aims to analyse the processes of cultural event development, management and marketing, and link these processes to their wider cultural, social and economic context. Events offer the potential to achieve economic, social, cultural and environmental aims within broader urban development strategies. He is a Professor of Leisure Studies at the University of Tilburg in the Netherlands. He has worked on projects for numerous national governments, national tourism organisations and municipalities, and he has extensive experience in tourism research and education. During the seminar, Prof. Richards discussed the rapidly developing relationship between tourism and creativity, and how "creative tourism", which enables tourists to discover local cultures through their own creative activities, is becoming a niche in its own right. "Creative place requires creative people. Creative people require creative place. Tourists are always looking for the 'secret corners' of the city. One of the best ways to attract tourists is to have good local lifestyle. People are not only here to visit as tourist but also as people in engaging the creativity in the community which generates income" said Prof. Richards at the seminar. Prof. Richards highlighted the case studies of Barcelona, Auckland, and Edinburg, etc. and their experiences of transforming into world creative cities. Examples such as gastronomy and souvenir contribute in this transformation. Tourists may learn Macanese Cuisine anywhere in the world, but the difference is the authentic Macanese Cuisine can only be learnt here in Macao and that would enable tourists to experience Macao. Souvenir is another way of making tourists involve in the city's creative works and remember the city. In concluding his lecture, Prof. Richards emphasised the immense opportunities that lie ahead for Macao to become a creative world city and to help shed its predominant image of merely a leisure and gambling centre.
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