News

Jointly organized by Macao Trade & Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) and Department of Foreign Trade & Economic Cooperation of Guangdong Province, the “Guangdong & Macao Branded Products Fair 2010” (the Fair) will be held during July 22-25, at Macau Fisherman’s Wharf Convention and Exhibition Centre. According to the spirit of “Reform of the Pearl River Delta Regional Cooperation Framework” and “Strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperation Agreement” signed in last March, Guangdong & Macao Branded Products Fair 2010 demonstrates the specific action taken by Macao Trade & Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) and Department of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation of Guangdong Province, to enhance cooperation between Guangdong and Macao on economic and trade. It is also another large-scale exhibition between Guangdong and Macao right after “Guangdong & Macao Branded Products Fair 2009”. As in the previous edition of the Fair, the Guangdong & Macao Branded Products Fair 2010 won the wondrous support of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, and Trade Development Bureau of Ministry of Commerce, PRC as specially invited supporting organisations, and more than 40 government departments, chamber of commerce, business associations from Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau as co-organisers, and the Macau Fairs and Trade Association as the coordinator. The 2010 Branded Products Fair is a comprehensive showcase for trade, culture, shopping, leisure and entertainment goers. The carnival-style Fair is enriched with exhibition and products demonstrations, ‘Forum on Services Industry and Services Trade”, business matching, products and services presentations, purchasing and business negotiations, cultural performances, and lucky draws. More than 200 Guangdong and Macao enterprises took part and a wide selection of products is available The Fair is both for exhibition and purchase. The 249 exhibition booths cover a total of 6,000 square metres of exhibition floor, displaying famous brands and products from Guangdong province and Macao, namely, foodstuffs, tea leaves, small household appliances, daily necessities, electronic products, arts and crafts, tourist souvenirs, etc. Participating cities from the Guangdong Province include, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Swatow, Foshan, Shaoguan, Meizhou, Huizhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jianmen, Yangguang, Zhanjiang, Mouming, Zhaoqing, Jingyuan, Chaozhou, Yunfu, all together 18-prefecture level cities and 142 enterprises of branded products. With the tremendous efforts of encouragement from the Department of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation of Guangdong Province, 192 enterprises represented by 295 exhibition booths were registered for the Fair. Selecting from the best among the good ones, 142 enterprises were chosen by the Department of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation of Guangdong Province. Overall quality of the participating enterprises is improved. Among them, 95 of the enterprises possess the rights for imports and exports, representing 65.5%; 76 of them (52.4%) had their trademarks registered outside mainland China, 94 of them (63%) are awarded national level or provincial level branded products; 24 of them (16%) are enterprises of branded products selected by the Ministry of Commerce or the Province as pilot products for developments; 92 of them (61%) are leading enterprises in their own fields, including the five enterprises of famous brands such as Guangdong Silk-Tex Group Co. Ltd, and the Zhuhai Double Happiness Electric Appliance Co., Ltd awarded as ‘Well-known Brands in China’; the 13 enterprises awarded ‘Well-known Trademark in China” such as Yangjiang Shi ba zi, Double Happiness, Lankfair; 41 enterprises awarded “Guangdong Top Brand Products”; 28 enterprises awarded “Guangdong Famous Trademark” and some other leading enterprises as well. The Exhibition and Purchasing Zone are arranged according to their own cities. The branded products are demonstrated in their respective cities ones. To show the spirit of Guangzhou Asian Games, through inviting 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee, souvenirs franchisee of Guangzhou Asian Games will offer Asian Games souvenirs during the Fair as another highlight of the Fair. A special exhibition zone is dedicated to the branded Macao products from 67 participating Macao enterprises, showing an array of featured Macao products either manufactured by Macao enterprises or business products from Macao, covering foodstuffs, consumer products, daily necessities, home decorations, electronic products, clothings, leather goods, and products using Macau enterprises as agents. “Services Industry and Services Trade Forum” and the signing of cooperation agreement with Guangdong & Zhongshan cities respectively The Guangdong & Macao Branded Products Fair 2010 and the Services Industry and Services Trade Forum is co-host by the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute and the Department of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation of Guangdong Province and to be held from 3-5pm on 22 July at the Business Matching Zone of the venue. The forum is one of the key activities of the 2010 Fair, targeted mainly at the services industry of Guangdong and Macao, as well as the small and medium-sized enterprises. Representatives of the Department of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation of Guangdong Province will conduct a presentation on the current development and policies of the services industry and its development in the Guangdong Province, whereas the chamber of commerce of Macau and representatives from the business sector will be presenting the development and cooperation opportunities for the services sector of Guangdong and Macau. The forum is aimed to assist enterprises and trade visitors to obtain business information and to facilitate cooperation. During the forum, a signing ceremony will be conducted on the “Strengthening of Comprehensive Strategic Cooperation Agreement” between Macau Trade and Investment Promotion Institute and the Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Bureau of Guangzhou city, as well as the Cooperation Agreement between Macau Trade and Investment Promotion Institute and the People’s Government of the Zhongshan City on the “Lighting metropolis of China – Guzhen Lights Exposition’ Products and Services Promotion activities to create cooperation platform on purchasing and negotiations During the Fair, several products presentations will be conducted, namely “New Green Concepts”, “Green and Intelligent Kitchen”, “Quality Lingzhi types and health products and their functions and effectiveness”, “Coffee”, “How to select effective anti-ageing products”, “King of teas – Dahongpao – from the Wuyi Mountain”, “How to appreciate crystals?”, “Traditional arts and crafts of Thailand – inlay of jewels in paintings’, “Duomu – new cleaning agent without additives – to make your life more healthy”, etc. To promote cooperation of Guangdong and Macau procurors with branded products enterprises, the organizer has arranged business matching session, and mutual promotional activities for the building of trade platform development for Guangdong and Macau, as well as well-known purchasing enterprises and retail business groups such as: the world famous retail brand TESCO, renowned mainland Chinese department stores group – Grandbuy Co.Ltd, will have purchasing negotiation session at the Fair with participating enterprises. The organizer has set aside business matching and purchase negotiation zone, to provide all rounded services for the buyers and sellers, to facilitate trade results. Contact point in Macau for Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Bureau of Jiangmen City established The launching ceremony for the contact point in Macau for Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Bureau of Jiangmen City will be officiated after the opening ceremony of the 2010 Fair. This is the second city from the Pearl River Delta to set up a contact point in Macau. The first to establish such is Zhuhai. The set up of a contact point from a second city of PRD marks the entry of another phase of deepening the cooperation of Macau and the cities of Pearl River Delta, and will facilitate mutual exploration of markets in the new round of economic and trade cooperation between Macao and Jiangmen, as well as to benefit enterprises of Jiangmen to explore overseas market through Macau as the regional services platform. The ceremony will be officiated by the Secretary of Economy and Finance, Francis Tam Pak Yuen, Department Head of the Department of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation of Guangdong Province Liang Yaowen, Deputy Mayor of the People’s Government of the Jiangmen City Chen Jialin. Functioning at the new round of economic and trade cooperation between Guangdong and Macao Against the backdrop of the global financial impact on the world in the second half of the year 2008, and the various impact posed onto the Guangdong and Macau enterprises, the Guangdong and Macao Branded Products Fair 2009 was an event formed under the essence of the “Outline Plan for the Reform and Development of the Pearl River Delta Region” and the “Strengthening of Comprehensive Strategic Cooperation Agreement” signed in March last year, to ensure a stable, sustainable and faster pace of development for enterprises of both places. The Fair encapsulates the competitive advantage of Macau’s tourism industry and Macao as a business services platform, and targets at Macau residents and tourists, for the promotion of local economy and facilitation of branded products of Guangdong and Macau to speed up their entry to mainland China market and overseas markets. The Fair also seeks to help enterprises of Macau and from the region to make use of the business opportunities presented by the financial crisis. The Fair 2010 is a continual activity between Guangdong and Macao after the 2003 edition of the Fair. With the mutual endeavour of the governments of the two places, the Fair is expected to reach the targeted results and great success. The 2009 Fair has attracted more than 100,000 visitors and tourists. Most of the items are short of demand, during and after the Fair. 589 business matching sessions were conducted and 8 agreements were signed. Exhibitors had received continuously purchase orders after the Fair which had to a certain extent helped them walk out of the doldrums of the financial crisis, realizing Macao’s role as a regional economics and trade services platform. Exhibitors and Professional visitors were generally satisfied with the Fair 2009. Many of them expressed their willingness to come for the 2010 edition is due to the great business opportunities brought down by their experience of the Fair in 2009. Therefore, they will stock up more products to satisfy the needs of Macau citizens and tourists this year. With the success gained last year, coupled with the new cooperation situation of Guangdong and Macau, and the deepening of solid measures on the cooperation of trade and economic activities between both places, as well as having the aim to achieve greater success, the 2010 Fair begins its preparations right after the 2009 Fair concluded. Various promotional activities started as early as June this year. A Carnival for all The Fair 2010 is characterized by its carnival-style with activities such as Jumbo Discount for branded products, consumption coupons, lucky draws, and cultural performances. The lucky draw will be conducted daily for visitors on site. Lucky draw times are daily at 5.30pm on 22, 23 and 24 July. The Grand lucky draw will be held at 7.45pm on 25 July. Cultural performances will be staged at the Fair 2010 with famous singers and artists from Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau, star-studding the event with their songs, dances and other programmes, different everyday. The show times are: 1-1.30pm, 2-2.30pm, 3-3.30pm, 4-4.30pm, 5-5.30pm, 7-8pm daily. Famous singers from Hong Kong will reveal their talents on 22, 24, 25 July from 7-8pm. All programmes are admission free. Local and overseas trade visitors and residents are welcomed to take part at the Fair Free shuttle buses are arranged to take visitors at the following spots. The bus routes are: Avenida de Dr Soares – Macau Square – Estrada de Almeida – Pak Wai Bus Stop – Avenida de Hipodromo – Royal Supermarket at Areia Preta, and from different border checkpoints (Border Gate & Ferry Terminals) and from different major hotels to and from the venue. Free parking for 3 hours will be provided at the Macau Fishermen’s Convention and Exhibition Centre. The Fair 2010 will be open for four consecutive days and welcome local and overseas trade visitors/visitors/Macau residents/tourists to take part in this trade and economic festivity between Guangdong and Macau. Opening hours are: 22 July (Thursday) 12noon to 10pm, 23 and 24 July (Friday and Saturday) 11am to 10pm, 25 July (Sunday) 11am to 8pm. For more information, please visit the website http://www.guangongmacaofair.com or through hotline at 853-87989788 for the Guangdong & Macao Branded Products Fair 2010.
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22nd Macau International Fireworks Display Contest, organized by Macau Government Tourist Office, will be held on September 11, 18, 22, 25 and October 1 at the sea area in front of the Macau Tower. Director of MGTO, João Manuel Costa Antunes expressed in the press conference that he is confident that the ten breathtaking fireworks displays will thrill the spectators' senses of sight and sound, creating wonderful memories for citizens and visitors alike. Among the five nights of fireworks display contest, September 22 falls on Mid-Autumn Festival and October 1 is China's National Day. Teams from Italy and China will deploy their skills on China’s National Day to add extra sparkle to the celebrations. This year MGTO and Companhia de Telecomunicações de Macau S.A.R.L. (CTM) jointly launch “SMS Game” to promote citizen participation in the event. During the period of fireworks display contest, CTM will send out short message to their mobile service subscribers to introduce the game, in addition to promotion of the game on the websites of MGTO and CTM. Macau residents can send one text message to CTM through their mobile to vote for their favorite team after each night of display. The citizen who voted for the most popular team on that night is eligible for lucky draw to win two sets of reservoir stand tickets for the 57th Macau Grand Prix (Saturday and Sunday) and souvenir. The 5 teams who get the most SMS votes will be awarded with “The People’s Choice” certificates and souvenirs. However the voting result will not affect the jury’s decision on the fireworks display contest. MGTO will also post web banner on CTM’s website to enhance the promotion effectiveness. Each participating team is requested again this year to complement their display with music to enthrall the audience with a light and sound spectacular. To enhance the enjoyment, the organizer will install sound systems at the waterfront of the Macau Tower Outdoor Plaza, at the Macau Tower Street seaside and at the square in front of Kun Iam Statue on Ave. Dr Sun Yat Sen so that the public can enjoy synchronized music to the spectacular displays. Spectators are able to listen to live music of the fireworks displays through Radio Macau's live broadcast at FM100.7. In past years, world-renowned pyrotechnic companies have participated in the Macau International Fireworks Display Contest. The contest this year features teams from the United Kingdom, Chinese Taiwan, the Philippines, Australia, Portugal, Korea, Japan, France, Italy and China. Among which, teams from Korea, Italy and China make their Macau debut. This year a number of teams who scored high in the past years revisit Macau to vie for the contest again. Tamaya Kitahara Fireworks Co. Ltd. from Japan won the championship in 2004, 2005 and 2009, as well as the second prize in 2008. Their unique technique to produce firework shells which are perfectly spherical will gain the applause of the spectators again. Platinum Fireworks, Inc. from the Philippines and Infinity Pyrotechnic from Australia will compete for a higher score in the contest this year. Platinum Fireworks was the second runner-up last year and Infinity Pyrotechnic who took part in 2008 edition will bring the spectator through a journey of light and sound with passionate music. Established in 1996, Pyro 2000 Limited from the United Kingdom has participated in various fireworks displays and competitions around the world. The team staged a fireworks display for the closing ceremony of World Cup Cricket Final in 2007 and pocketed the second prize of the Macau International Fireworks Display Contest 10 years ago. Wan Dar Fireworks Mfg. Co., Ltd. from Chinese Taiwan is a veteran in the Macau International Fireworks Display Contest as well as other international celebrations and competitions. It took part in this contest as early as 1989 and attained the third prize in 2008. Wan Dar is all set for this year’s prize which it missed last year. SAS Sodip Pyrotechnie from France, with a history of 60 decades, uses cutting edge technology to design and display fireworks patterns accompanied by classical or robust music. The team got the fourth prize in the contest in 2003. Portuguese team Pirotecnia Lanhelas Lda, known as Gaspar Fernandes & Irmao Lda before 2008, joined the contest for three times and won the second prize in 1989. This is the first time for both teams from Italy and China to take part in Macau’s fireworks contest. Being one of the oldest fireworks company in Italy, Protecnica Morsani S.R.L. celebrates its 130 anniversary this year while Panda Fireworks Group Co. Ltd. staged the fireworks display to mark the 10th Anniversary of the Establishment of Macau SAR, took part in the firework extravaganza at 2008 Beijing Olympics and was the champion in Sweden’s Stockholm International Pyromusical Competition. Another new team, Woori Fireworks Inc. from Korea has taken part in domestic and international fireworks competitions, including the display at Korea/Japan World Cup in 2002. MGTO will spare no effort to bring about the world's most prominent international fireworks display to visitors and at the same time, will promote the fireworks display contest through various international, regional and local media channels, including advertisements on international media in neighboring region and travel magazines as well as distribute posters and leaflets. MGTO and the General Union of Neighbors Association of Macau will again jointly present the Fireworks Carnival to offer an array of live entertainment, cultural activities and culinary delights on the fireworks display nights. In order to capture the spectacular moments of the fireworks display contest, photo and drawing competitions will be held again this year. 22nd Macau International Fireworks Display Contest Photo Competition and 22nd Macau International Fireworks Display Contest Drawing Competition will invite entries soon. The winners of the two competitions will be entitled to premiums and trophies.
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The Historical Archives of Macao will hold another of its popular conservation workshops on Saturday 24th of July from 14.00 to 17.00. This time the focus will be on binding a buttonhole notebook. No previous experience is required but participants must be at least ten years old. Starting 19th of July, please visit the Historical Archives of Macao (open Mon-Fri, 09:30-18.30, Sat, 13.00-18.00) on Tap Seac Square to register and pay the workshop fee of MOP$20 (inclusive of materials and equipment for the workshop). Places are limited and will be distributed according to order of registration. For more information about individual workshops this year, please visit http://www.archives.gov.mo. For further details, please contact Ms. Esther Chu of the Macao Historical Archives of the Cultural Affairs Bureau at 85986537.
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The Monetary Authority of Macao announced today that the preliminary estimate of Macao SAR’s foreign exchange reserves amounted to MOP163.7 billion (USD20.42 billion) at the end of June 2010. The reserves rose by 3.4% from MOP158.3 billion (USD19.72 billion) for the previous month. When compared with a year earlier, the reserves increased by MOP21.8 billion or 15.3%. Macao SAR’s foreign exchange reserves at end-June 2010 represented 32 times the currency in circulation or 273.4% of Pataca M2 at end-May 2010. 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 0.50 points month-to-month and 1.74 points year-on-year to 92.29 in June 2010. For enquiry, please contact:
Research and Statistics Department, Monetary Authority of Macao (Tel: 83952532; Fax: 28353042)
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that the Tourist Price Index (TPI) for the second quarter of 2010 rose by 12.29% year-on-year to 164.04. The price indices of Miscellaneous Goods; Accommodation; Clothing & Footwear; Food, Alcoholic Drinks & Tobacco; Transport & Communications; and Restaurant Services increased notably by 23.48%, 17.38%, 8.69%, 6.22%, 6.09% and 4.79% respectively, attributable to dearer prices of gold jewellery, men’s clothing, alcoholic drinks and tobacco, rising hotel room rates and airfares, as well as higher charges for restaurant services. On the contrary, price index of Entertainment & Cultural Activities registered a slight decrease of 0.05% year-on-year. The second quarter TPI went up by 1.38% quarter-to-quarter, of which the price indices of Miscellaneous Goods; Clothing & Footwear; and Food, Alcoholic Drinks & Tobacco increased by 6.01%, 2.86% and 2.17% respectively, on account of rising prices of gold jewellery, men’s clothing, alcoholic drinks and tobacco. On the other hand, price index of Accommodation decreased by 10.60% as a result of lower hotel room rates compared with the first quarter. The average TPI for the last 4 quarters ended the second quarter of 2010 increased by 8.45% over the previous period, with marked increase observed in the indices of Miscellaneous Goods (+19.45%); Accommodation (+10.72%); and Food, Alcoholic Drinks & Tobacco (+5.16%). For the first half year of 2010, TPI went up by 10.84% year-on-year, of which the price indices of Miscellaneous Goods and Accommodation rose significantly by 21.40% and 14.29%, respectively. TPI reflects the price changes of goods and services purchased by visitors, which is compiled according to the consumption pattern of visitors. TPI covers 8 sections of goods and services, namely Food, Alcoholic Drinks & Tobacco; Clothing & Footwear; Accommodation; Restaurant Services; Transport & Communications; Medicine & Personal Goods; Entertainment & Cultural Activities; and Miscellaneous Goods. The base period of TPI is from July 1999 to June 2000.
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The email system of the Education and Youth Affairs Bureau was out of order on July 13; currently the system has resumed its normal operation. The individuals and institutions that had contacted DSEJ through email during this time can inquire the staff of DSEJ by telephone or consider resending the email. We would like to apologise for any possible inconvenience in communication and contact caused by this incident.
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The 16th Asia Pacific Tourism Association (APTA) will be held at IFT from 13-16 July, 2010. The Asia Pacific Tourism Association (APTA) is an internationally acclaimed association in the field of tourism comprised of 17 Asia Pacific countries and regions. The purpose of APTA is to further facilitate quality tourism research especially in the Asia-Pacific area, to share research achievements and to exchange ideas between academics and their counterparts in the business world. A conference is held annually and a journal is published quarter-annually and its quality research papers are distributed all over the world. IFT, being a Macao representative of APTA, is proud to bring the annual meeting to Macao as one of our 15th Anniversary celebration series this year. Macao, being one of the fastest developing and most exciting tourism destinations in Asia, transforms herself into a modem, vibrant and cosmopolitan city that boasts the latest world-class attractions in gaming and entertainment. The conference themed “Competition and Collaboration between Regional Tourism Destinations” attracted hospitality scholars, researchers, practitioners and trade members of the region to submit and present their papers in Macao. The opening ceremony of the conference was hosted by Dr. Sang Taek Lim, Chairman of APTA and Dr. Fanny Vong, President of IFT. Two hundred and twenty delegates from Australia, Canada, Mainland China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Japan, Korea, Lithuania, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Spain, Chinese Taiwan, Thailand, and United States were invited to attend this conference. There are also representatives from Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR. Aiming to create a platform and opportunity to exchange the latest developments, trends, and research in the area of competition and collaboration between regional tourism destination, ideas are shared, discussed, and debated in the conference. Papers of both applied and conceptual orientation are presented on the following topics, along with other relevant concerns: - Destination Management
- Restaurant Management
- Hotel Marketing/Management
- Travelers’ Behaviour
- IT and Tourism
- Forecasting
- Hospitality Management
- Human Resources Management
- Community-Based Tourism
- Sustainable Tourism
- Casino Management
- Tourism Policy/Planning
- Brand Equity/Branding
- Financing/Accounting
- Event Management
- Tourism Industry
- Hospitality Education
- Tourism Trends Speakers include: - Prof. Kaye Chon
Chair Professor of Hotel and Tourism Management and Director of School, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University - Dr. Dai Bin
Vice Director, China Tourism Academy - Dra. Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes
(Deputy Director) representing the Director, Macau Government Tourist Office - Mr. Kwon Ping Ho
Executive Chairman, Banyan Tree Holdings - Dr. Sang Taek Lim
Chairman, Asia Pacific Tourism Association - Dr. Fanny Vong
President, Institute for Tourism Studies, Macao
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that visitor arrivals in package tours surged by 132.9% year-on-year to 569,803 in May 2010, as visitors in package tours for May last year was adversely affected by the human swine influenza pandemic. Visitors from Mainland China (422,204); Japan (22,645); Taiwan, China (21,293); and Hong Kong (20,368) rose substantially by 168.0%, 85.9%, 38.1% and 14.5% respectively, and those from the Republic of Korea (14,714) and India (11,375) also registered notable increase. In the first five months of 2010, visitor arrivals in package tours increased by 23.2% year-on-year to 2,575,916. In May 2010, Macao residents travelling outbound in package tours increased by 43.6% year-on-year to 19,101, with Mainland China (78.0% of total); Japan (6.1%); and Taiwan, China (4.2%) being the most popular tour itineraries. In the first five months of 2010, residents travelling in package tours totalled 88,575, up by 11.4% year-on-year. Meanwhile, outbound residents travelling under own arrangements using services of travel agencies rose slightly by 0.7% year-on-year to 36,948 and the main destinations were Mainland China (34.9% of total); Hong Kong (32.9%); and Taiwan, China (18.4%). In the first five months of 2010, outbound residents travelling under such arrangements went up by 6.8% year-on-year to 174,312. At the end of May 2010, total number of available guest rooms of the hotel sector increased by 2,001 (+11.4%) year-on-year to 19,573 rooms. A total of 650,849 guests checked into hotels and guest-houses in May 2010, up notably by 46.3% year-on-year, with the majority coming from Mainland China (51.9% of total) and Hong Kong (19.4%). The average occupancy rate of hotels and guest-houses soared substantially by 18.6 percentage points year-on-year to 77.9%; average occupancy rate of hotels reached 78.6%, with 3-star hotels leading at 81.2%. The average length of stay of guests decreased by 0.02 night to 1.5 nights. The cumulative number of guests reached 3,197,610 in the first five months of 2010, up by 20.3% over the same period of 2009. In the first five months of 2010, visitor-guests of hotels and guest-houses accounted for 60.8% of the total number of tourists, down from 61.7% in the same period of 2009.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, today continued his visit in Sichuan, to learn more about the earthquake relief projects supported by Macao. In Guangyuan, a city struck by earthquakes in 2008, Mr Chui and his delegation inspected several reconstruction projects and listened to briefings on the progress of their construction. These projects were namely a mental health centre, a bridge, a sport centre and a house for the elderly. They left Guangyuan for Lizhou in the afternoon and visited a village with reconstructed accommodation financed by Macao. Mr Chui visited two families and told them that he was glad to learn that the lives of Sichuan people had returned to normal. He said the people of Macao were supportive of the relief projects and extended the well wishes of Macao people on their behalf. At a reconstructed middle school, Mr Chui chatted with students and encouraged them to work hard. He had visited the site of the school two years ago, and he said that he was happy to see the newly constructed structure. Mr Chui and his delegation will visit Beichuan County tomorrow and attend a working meeting with senior officials of the province in Chengdu to discuss the progress of the earthquake relief projects.
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IFT is offering a “Western Culinary Arts Practicum Programme”, in cooperation with the local industry, to train professionals in the area of food production. An agreement signing ceremony and press conference was held on 12 July at IFT with 11 participating partner hotels to mark this meaningful collaboration. The programme is set up to answer the need for young chefs from the local industry, hence its special emphasis on practical training. It is a contribution to the local hospitality industry by creating qualified personnel and an invitation to those who are interested in acquiring the art, skill and refinement for this commendable profession. The concept of this programme is for IFT to provide theoretical knowledge while working with well-established local hotels for practicum opportunity, where students apply the theories in hands-on practical training environment. Our industry partners include: Altira Macau, City of Dreams, Four Seasons Hotel, Grand Lapa Macau, Grand Hyatt Macau, Grand Lisboa Hotel, Hotel Lisboa, MGM GRAND Macau, Sands Macao Hotel, The Westin Resort Macau and Wynn Macau. This free programme is carried out 6 days a week (1 day at IFT and 5 days at hotels), and lasts for 18 months, during which participating hotels will be paying a monthly allowance of not less than MOP4,000 to the students. Programme contents include general courses (such as language, computer studies, nutrition, food hygiene, purchasing and cost control, hospitality and food industry, restaurant service and customer care) which take place at IFT, while gastronomy knowledge as well as practicum are mainly at hotels. Upon completion of the programme, students will receive a certificate issued by IFT and a skills certificate issued under Macao Occupational skills Recognition System (MORS). It is hoped that by creating qualified manpower and bringing in the right talents to the hospitality industry, that IFT’s new training programme is able to meet local demand for culinary professionals.
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