News

From yesterday 5 p.m. until 5p.m. today (September 15) the Cross-departmental Working Team sealed one premise suspected to provide accommodation illegally, and 3 occupants were found on site. Since the law on "Prohibition of Providing Illegal Accommodation" took effect on August 13, a total of 470 premises were checked, of which 62 premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally were sealed, while 60 were normal residences. Ensuing investigations on the rest of the premises have been launched. Among the checked premises, some were vacant or unoccupied. Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) and the Public Security Police Force (PSP) will continue investigation on unanswered doors, which are suspected to be used to provide accommodation illegally. Meanwhile, during investigations to other cases, PSP has found four premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally and informed the Cross-departmental Working Team to handle the cases. To date, the operations involved more than 512 occupants, among whom 286 were occupants of premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally and were investigated, including 12 operators, 9 touts, 9 persons who manage the premises that provide accommodation illegally (management staff) and 3 occupants who failed to fulfill their duty of cooperation. Among the occupants, there were 11 overstayers and 8 illegal immigrants. To help the investigations, when necessary, MGTO can request a judicial order to enter into the suspect premises to investigate. Following the raid to premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally, MGTO began sanction proceedings on involved operators, touts and managing staff, and adopted provisional measures to cut the supply of water and electricity to the concerned premises and sealed the doors. According to the new law, operators and person who manage the premise that provide accommodation illegally (management staff) incur a penalty up to 800 000 patacas, touts can be fined up to 100 000 patacas and occupants who fail to cooperate are fined 3 000 patacas. Public can also call 2833 3000 to report suspected premises. MGTO and Legal Affairs Bureau remind travelers that, according to the law on "Prohibition of Providing Illegal Accommodation", occupants found in premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally have the obligation to provide information or will be fined 3,000 patacas for violating the duty of cooperation. Occupants providing false information need to bear criminal responsibility. Non-residents who fail to pay the fine by due date might be denied reentry into Macau in the future.
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Chief Executive of Macau SAR Chui Sai On presided over the opening ceremony of PATA Travel Mart 2010 today (Sept 15) at the Cotai Expo of the Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel. Other officiating guests at the opening ceremony included Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Cheong U, Chief of Cabinet of the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Cecilia Cheung, Director of Macau Government Tourist Office João Manuel Costa Antunes, PATA Chairman Hiran Cooray, PATA CEO Gregory Duffell and PATA Secretary and Treasurer Anthony Wong. PATA and MGTO held a media briefing after the opening ceremony to introduce PATA Travel Mart 2010. Director Antunes also presented the latest information on Macau's tourism industry as well as the destination's tourism products and facilities. PATA Chairman Cooray expressed, “It gives me much pleasure to welcome all PTM delegates this year, to the colourful and culturally rich city of Macau, SAR. I am happy to see that we have a positive response from the industry for PTM2010. We can assure you of valuable industry gleanings that you will take back with you. We are also looking ahead to the coming year, which will be a grand celebration for PATA to celebrate our 60 years of glory and success. Your participation and involvement will add infinite value.” MGTO Director João Manuel Costa Antunes said that being the first time for Macau to host Asia Pacific's premier travel trade show which gathers close to 1000 delegates from around the world, we believe PTM2010 will be a landmark on Macau's road in the development of our MICE industry as well as a defining moment of our cooperation with PATA in contributing towards the progress of the tourism industry in the region. He added that as host city of PTM2010, Macau will make sure that participants will not only benefit from the business and networking platform of the event, but will also have the chance to experience Macau's business and leisure tourism facilities, feel the unique charm of 'The Historic Centre of Macau', and see how Macau is transforming itself into a global centre of tourism and leisure. As Asia Pacific's foremost travel contracting and networking show, the PATA Travel Mart 2010 takes place from September 15 to 17 at the Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel and is expected to attract a thousand delegates and guests. The 3-day travel mart provides a platform for 900 buyers and sellers to network and seek business opportunities. The first two days are for trade members and the organizer will invite local higher education institutes to visit the mart on the third day. Today (Sept 15) a workshop on ‘Designing Dream Experiences’ is held, and the City of Dreams have invited delegates to a show preview of the House of Dancing Water. Founded in 1951, PATA is a non-profit membership association dedicated to building responsible development of the Asia Pacific travel and tourism industry. MGTO has been a member of PATA for over half a century since 1958. PATA has currently 800 full members and over 7,000 chapter members around the globe. PATA's membership boasts more than 100 government, state and city tourism bodies, over 50 airlines and cruise lines, and hundreds of travel industry companies. PATA Chapter is the foundation of the Association with close to 40 chapters all over the world, of which PATA Macau Chapter was set up in 1983 and it has over 70 members at present. There has been a close tie between Macau and PATA. Between 1980 and 2002, PATA conducted 5 task force projects to provide guidelines and recommendations for tourism development in Macau. These projects include "Macau - A study of Tourism Development" in 1980 regarding the balance between heritage preservation and tourism development; "Macau Education Task Force" in 1990 concerning the overall education and training framework to meet short and long term manpower needs; "Macau Tourism in Transition" in 1994 pointing to the development of a MICE destination; "Macau Tourism Marketing - A new Focus for the Millennium" in 1996 about the setting up of overseas representation offices; and "A study of the Future of Macau's Tourism and its International Airport in the Context of the Pearl River Delta Region" in 2002 regarding market diversification and interrelationship between the aviation network and marketing promotion.
MGTO has been actively participating in the tourism meetings and activities held by PATA and since 1996, MGTO has been supporting the PATA Gold Awards, so as to promote Macau tourism.
In 2005, the 54th PATA Annual Conference was successfully held in Macau and its MICE industry then entered a new era.
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The Monetary Authority of Macao announced today that the preliminary estimate of Macao SAR’s foreign exchange reserves amounted to MOP165.2 billion (USD20.62 billion) at the end of August 2010. The reserves fell slightly by 0.2% from the revised value of MOP165.5 billion (USD20.69 billion) for the previous month. When compared with a year earlier, the reserves increased by MOP24.1 billion or 17.1%. Macao SAR’s foreign exchange reserves at end-August 2010 represented 32 times the currency in circulation or 257.5% of Pataca M2 at end-July 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, fell by 0.41 points month-to-month but increased by 0.78 points year-on-year to 90.84 in August 2010. For enquiry, please contact:
Research and Statistics Department, Monetary Authority of Macao (Tel: 83952532; Fax: 28353042)
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Macao Post announces that the Temporary Post Counter for the “Macau 2010 Sports Carnival”, that originally service hour arranged on 19th September from 18:00 to 22:00 at Tap Seac Plaza, according to the request of the Organizer, will now be set up from 17:00 to 21:00.
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The three-day PATA Travel Mart 2010 will unveil its curtain tomorrow (Sept 15) in Macau and Chui Sai On, Chief Executive of Macau SAR will officiate the opening ceremony.
The opening ceremony of PATA Travel Mart will be held at 9:30 in the morning, with Chief Executive Chui Sai On, joined by Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Cheong U, Chief of Cabinet of the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Cecilia Cheung, Director of Macau Government Tourist Office João Manuel Costa Antunes, PATA Chairman Hiran Cooray, PATA CEO Gregory Duffell and PATA Secretary and Treasurer Anthony Wong, officiating the ribbon cutting ceremony.
The Macau SAR Government hosted a welcome dinner reception tonight (Sept 14), where Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Cheong U was present and delivered remarks to welcome the delegates, especially tourism professionals and media who have come all the way to Macau.
He expressed that Macau boasts invaluable world cultural heritage as well as diverse tourism and entertainment facilities. He encouraged the delegates to spare time out of their meeting schedule to walk around Macau and to experience what Macau has to offer as a global center of tourism and leisure. He also wished PATA Travel Mart 2010 a very fruitful event.
Director of MGTO João Manuel Costa Antunes pointed out that this is the first time for Macau to host this Asia Pacific’s foremost travel show. Every year, PATA Travel Mart gathers tourism stakeholders from around the world, who utilize this professional platform to network and seek business opportunities. The edition this year is no exception. In addition, by bringing together influential travel trade players from around the world, PATA Travel Mart also presents Macau an opportunity to showcase its ability and strengths as a host city for major international conventions and exhibitions.
PATA Travel Mart 2010, which is expected to attract a thousand delegates and guests, will take place from September 15 to 17 at the Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel. PATA cooperated with the Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT) and Hong Kong Polytechnic University to organize a full-day seminar, “Human Resources Challenges in the Tourism and Hospitality Industry: Promoting Industry and Academic Collaboration” at IFT today (Sept 14). Tours to Macau’s world heritage sites were also provided for the delegates.
Founded in 1951, PATA is a non-profit membership association dedicated to building responsible development of the Asia Pacific travel and tourism industry. MGTO has been a member of PATA for over half a century since 1958.
PATA has currently 800 full members and over 7,000 chapter members around the globe. PATA's membership boasts more than 100 government, state and city tourism bodies, over 50 airlines and cruise lines, and hundreds of travel industry companies.
PATA Chapter is the foundation of the Association with close to 40 chapters all over the world, of which PATA Macau Chapter was set up in 1983 and it has over 70 members at present.
There has been a close tie between Macau and PATA. Between 1980 and 2002, PATA conducted 5 task force projects to provide guidelines and recommendations for tourism development in Macau. These projects include "Macau - A study of Tourism Development" in 1980 regarding the balance between heritage preservation and tourism development; "Macau Education Task Force" in 1990 concerning the overall education and training framework to meet short and long term manpower needs; "Macau Tourism in Transition" in 1994 pointing to the development of a MICE destination; "Macau Tourism Marketing - A new Focus for the Millennium" in 1996 about the setting up of overseas representation offices; and "A study of the Future of Macau's Tourism and its International Airport in the Context of the Pearl River Delta Region" in 2002 regarding market diversification and interrelationship between the aviation network and marketing promotion.
MGTO has been actively participating in the tourism meetings and activities held by PATA and since 1996, MGTO has been supporting the PATA Gold Awards, so as to promote Macau tourism.
In 2005, the 54th PATA Annual Conference was successfully held in Macau and its MICE industry then entered a new era.
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MGTO’s Inspection Division joined forces with the Public Security Police Force (PSP) on September 14 to seal three premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally on the same floor of a building in response to a complaint. 27 occupants were involved and one premise constituted of 40 bedspaces. An operator was seized in the operation. The three premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally were flat A, B and D on the 6th floor of a building. The Cross-departmental Working Team found 18 occupants from the Mainland in flat A, which housed 40 bedspaces. Four occupants were found in flat B, including the operator of that premise. Five occupants were found in flat D. Flat A and D shared one common main door and a large amount of food was found in flat D. Since the law on "Prohibition of Providing Illegal Accommodation" took effect on August 13, a total of 465 premises were checked, of which 61 premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally were sealed, while 58 were normal residences. Ensuing investigations on the rest of the premises have been launched. Among the checked premises, some were vacant or unoccupied. Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) and the PSP will continue investigation on unanswered doors, which are suspected to be used to provide accommodation illegally. Meanwhile, during investigations to other cases, PSP has found four premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally and informed the Cross-departmental Working Team to handle the cases. To help the investigations, when necessary, MGTO can request a judicial order to enter into the suspect premises to investigate. To date, the operations involved a total of 503 occupants, among whom 282 were occupants of premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally and were investigated, with 10 overstayers and seven illegal immigrants. 12 operators, nine touts, nine persons who manage the premises that provide accommodation illegally (management staff) and two occupants who failed to fulfill their duty of cooperation were seized. Following the raid to premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally, MGTO began sanction proceedings on involved operators, touts and managing staff, and adopted provisional measures to cut the supply of water and electricity to the concerned premises and sealed the doors. According to the new law, operators and person who manage the premise that provide accommodation illegally (management staff) incur a penalty up to 800 000 patacas, touts can be fined up to 100 000 patacas and occupants who fail to cooperate are fined 3 000 patacas. Public can also call 2833 3000 to report suspected premises. MGTO and Legal Affairs Bureau remind travelers that, according to the law on "Prohibition of Providing Illegal Accommodation", occupants found in premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally have the obligation to provide information or will be fined 3,000 patacas for violating the duty of cooperation. Occupants providing false information need to bear criminal responsibility. Non-residents who fail to pay the fine by due date might be denied reentry into Macau in the future.
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Five projects have been selected for the Cultural Affairs Bureau Academic Research Grants supported by the Macao Special Administrative Region aimed at fostering academic research on Macao-related fields. With more specific criteria, greater openness and enhanced conditions, the Cultural Affairs Bureau Academic Research Grant is aimed at supporting academic research projects in the Humanities that make a significant original contribution to the understanding of Macao, and of Macao's relationship with China and other countries. The regulations provide a flexible scheme for application and for the payment of grants. Applications may be submitted at any time throughout the year. The Evaluation Panel meets twice annually and applicants are informed of the Panel's decision in March or August, depending on when the application is received. This semester, the following projects were chosen out of the applications received between December 1, 2009 and May 31, 2010: Zhu Rong will focus on “A Case Study of World Cultural Heritage Protection and Management in Macao”. Zhu received her doctorate in Architectural Theory and Design from Dongnan University, and is now an associate professor at School of Design of Jiangnan University. Zhao Lifeng will conduct research on “Gaming industry in Macao during the Republic of China (1912 - 1949)”. He obtained a Ph.D. in History from Shanghai’s Fudan University. He is now an associate professor at the Research Centre for Hong Kong and Macao History and Culture at Jinan University’s Chinese Culture and History Research Institute. Peng Feng’s research topic will be “Legal Protection of Culture Heritage: the European Experience and its Application in Macao”. With a Ph.D. in Environmental Law and Resource Protection from Wuhan University, Dr. Peng is now an associate researcher at the Institute of Law in Shanghai’s Academy of Social Sciences. Ye Nong will focus on “Portuguese Migration from Macao to Hong Kong in the Second Half of the 19th century and the Community’s Characteristics”. Dr. Ye received a Ph.D. in Ancient Chinese History from Jinan University and is now an associate research fellow at the Research Centre for Hong Kong and Macao History and Culture at Jinan University’s Chinese Culture and History Research Institute. Zhu Dexin will study the topic of "Clash and Change: Macao Vegetable Farmers in Macao’s 20th Century Urban Development". Zhu was awarded a Ph.D. in Contemporary Chinese History from Nankai University in Tianjin and is now a visiting associate professor at the Historical Research Centre of Macao’s Polytechnic Institute. The grantees must submit, within the research period, a monograph of 120,000 words minimum and the Cultural Affairs Bureau reserves the exclusive right to publish all or part of the grantee's original monograph, for example, in the Bureau’s publication Review of Culture. For more information on the Cultural Affairs Bureau Academic Research Grants, please visit the Cultural Affairs Bureau’s website: www.icm.gov.mo .
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The Pilot Survey of the 2011 Population Census has been successfully completed in mid-August. More than 8,500 housing units were interviewed, with 96% of completed questionnaires. Moreover, 50 winners of the Population Census Quiz were announced. The Director of the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) expressed that public support and co-operation have enabled successful completion of the Pilot Survey. DSEC will conduct a throughout evaluation of the operation in order to enhance the various work of the 2011 Population Census. For households that have not completed an interview during the Pilot Survey period due to travel or other reasons, the Census enumerators have left behind notification letter with which households have been calling DSEC to provide information. In addition, DSEC has held a Population Census Quiz during the Pilot Survey period. The Quiz was well received with participation of more than 1,000 entries. The 50 winners, drawn by Ms. Vanessa Kong, Director of DSEC, were: Vong Sio Mei, Mak Fong In, Fong Iok Ha, Lei Weng Ian, Vong Chi Keong, Chao Mok Lan, Chan Pui Ian, Tou Im Fan, Chan Kin Va, Ng Kai Fong, Choi Tou Man, Lei Im Leng, Vai Kin Va, Chan Pou U, Mak Fong Ieng, Seak Fok Man, Ng Man Lei, Leong Heng Ieng, Chan Mun Van, Lai Sok Peng, Fong Iok In, Lo Chon Fa, Un Man On, Leong Iat, Chan Lai Hong, Loi Pui Veng, Ma Kuok Meng, Cheang Sai Mun, Chio Pek Kei, Tong Hin Kit, Lam Lai Seong, Lai Vai Peng, Choi Kit Hong, Vong Lai Ieng, Leong Vai In, Chan Peng Kai, Iong Kam Vun, Lai Sut Ieng, Vong Pui Man, Tong Hin Veng, Seak Kun Fong, Ieong Si Nga, Leong Mei Chan, Chan Iok Lin, Chan Lai Ieng, Lo Vai Keng, Chu Kuok Chu, Lam Lai Sa, Lam Fong Kun and Chon A Cheng. The above winners will receive MOP500 worth of supermarket shopping coupons. Winners shall bring along their ID card and collect the prizes in person at the Division of Promotion and Dissemination of Information of DSEC, Alameda Dr. Carlos d´Assumpção, No. 411-417, Dynasty Plaza, 17th floor, between 9:00 am and 5:30 pm Monday to Friday, before 30 September 2010. Moreover, winners will be notified individually and the list of winners will be available on the DSEC website (www.dsec.gov.mo). For enquiries, please call 8399 5334.
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The Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT) and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (HKPolyU) jointly organised the PATA Travel Mart 2010 Human Resources Seminar at IFT on 14 September. This full-day seminar is one of the activities on the PATA Travel Mart programme, scheduled to take place in Macao for the first time on 14 to 17 September. The event brought together buyers and sellers in the Asia Pacific Region for business networking and matching. The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) was founded in 1951, acting as a catalyst for the responsible development of the Asia Pacific travel and tourism industry. In partnership with PATA members, it enhances the sustainable growth, value and quality of travel and tourism within the region. The seminar, titled "HR Challenges in the Tourism and Hospitality Industry: Promoting Industry and Academia Collaboration", was hosted by PATA CEO Mr. Greg Duffel, PATA Education and Training Committee Chairman Professor Kaye Chon and IFT President Dr. Fanny Vong. During the seminar, scholars and industry practitioners had productive discussions on the following topics: (1) Career Planning for Hospitality and Tourism Industry: Advice to Students (2) Is There a Gap in Expectations between Educational Institutions and Industry? What Can We Do to Narrow the Gap? (3) Perspectives from Young People: Panel by Students and Recent Graduates (4) Current Issues in HR Challenges and Potential Solutions The goal of this event is to provide a forum that will help bridge the potential gap that exists between the academia and the tourism industry by suggesting innovative and unique perspectives on the issues and constraints of the supply and demand of qualified employees in the travel and tourism industry, and at the same time creating an occasion for students and the new PATA generation to interact with industry leaders in the region.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that visitor arrivals in package tours surged by 75.6% year-on-year to 458,968 in July 2010. In comparison with July 2009, visitors from Mainland China (323,849); Taiwan, China (24,519); Japan (24,081) and the Republic of Korea (12,370) rose substantially by 98.4%, 23.3%, 64.7% and 260.1% respectively, while those from Hong Kong (24,165) decreased by 7.6%. In the first seven months of 2010, visitor arrivals in package tours increased by 39.0% year-on-year to 3,523,907. In July 2010, Macao residents travelling outbound in package tours soared by 69.3% year-on-year to 25,105, with Mainland China (71.0% of total); Taiwan, China (6.5%); Malaysia (5.8%) and Japan (5.6%) being the most popular tour itineraries. In the first seven months of 2010, residents travelling in package tours totalled 135,664, up by 27.4% year-on-year. Meanwhile, outbound residents travelling under own arrangements using services of travel agencies rose by 15.5% year-on-year to 50,012 and the main destinations were Mainland China (31.5% of total), Hong Kong (31.3%) and Taiwan, China (18.6%). In the first seven months of 2010, outbound residents travelling under such arrangements increased by 11.4% year-on-year to 267,325. At the end of July 2010, total number of available guest rooms of the hotel sector increased by 1,564 (+8.6%) year-on-year to 19,759 rooms. A total of 654,999 guests checked into hotels and guest-houses in July 2010, up by 24.6% year-on-year, with the majority coming from Mainland China (51.9% of total) and Hong Kong (21.3%). The average occupancy rate of hotels and guest-houses stood at 79.9%, up significantly by 12.2 percentage points year-on-year; average occupancy rate of hotels reached 80.6%, with 4-star hotels leading at 82.2%. The average length of stay of guests remained unchanged as July 2009, at 1.5 nights. Number of guests reached 4,455,167 in the first seven months of 2010, up by 22.7% over the same period of 2009. In the first seven months of 2010, visitor-guests of hotels and guest-houses accounted for 60.5% of the total number of tourists, down from 61.4% in the same period of 2009.
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