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The listing of the Ruins of St. Paul’s as one of the monuments among the “New 7 Wonders of Portuguese Origin” is a big boost to our efforts in the promotion of Macau, said Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) director, João Manuel Costa Antunes. “On the year that is celebrated the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Macau Special Administrative Region, the listing of the Ruins of St. Paul’s as one of the ‘New 7 Wonders of Portuguese Origin’ is an honor to us and it certainly will help to promote Macau in Portugal and the Portuguese speaking countries,” Costa Antunes pointed out. “The Ruins of St. Paul’s are one of the finest examples of Macau’s unique characteristics as a city of European, Chinese and other Asian exchanges. The history and architectural elements of the Ruins of St. Paul’s by itself are a tourist attraction of Macau”, the MGTO director added. The winning monuments of the competition were announced on June 10, Portugal National Day, in a ceremony held in Portugal. Among the winners are monuments built by the Portuguese in America, Africa and Asia. A total of 239,418 people participated in the selection, voting through the Internet, telephone and SMS. The Ruins of St Paul’s are Macau’s ex-libris. The façade of the former Mater Dei Church is part of The Historic Centre of Macau, listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site in 2005. The Ruins of St. Paul’s refer to the façade of what was originally the Church of Mater Dei built in 1602-1640 and the ruins of St. Paul’s College, which stood adjacent to the Church, both destroyed by fire in 1835. The baroque design of the granite façade is unique in China, and carries some sculptured western and oriental motifs. St. Paul’s College was the first western style university in the Far East, and it prepared missionaries for the dissemination of Catholicism in Asia and enabled a broader interchange in other fields. Other sites of the “New 7 Wonders of Portuguese Origin” include monuments in India, Morocco, Cape Verde and Brazil. The monuments were selected from a total of 27, located in 16 countries. The “New 7 Wonders of Portuguese Origin” was created following the world competition of the “New 7 Wonders”, which were announced in Lisbon in 2007, in an initiative by New7Wonders.
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Institute For Tourism Studies is proud to invite Dr. Richard A. Engelhardt, Consultant of Culture Policy, Creative Industries, Cultural Tourism and Heritage Convention, UNESCO, and Dr. Johannes Widodo, Associate Professor, Department of Architecture, National University of Singapore, to come to Macao and give an intensive heritage programme to the Heritage Management Year 4 Students. The two specialists in heritage conservation led the students to an on-site trip at Coloane Village on 11 June. The course “Economics of Heritage Conservation” identifies, analyses and appraises the economic and social values of the totality of Macau’s heritage assets, utilising international-standard inventory, mapping and assessment methodologies. The course is conducted in intensive modules consisting of guided field work, utilising the methodology developed by mAAN (the Modern Asian Architecture Network) for this purpose. This methodology has been endorsed and adopted as the standard of the institutions forming the UNESCO-ICCROM Asian Academy for Heritage Management (AAHM), of which IFT is a member of the executive. In 2005, when the Historic Centre of Macao was successfully inscribed as a World Heritage Site, IFT launched “Heritage Management” bachelor degree programme in the same year. In the academic year of 2008/09, 161 students are registered in this specialisation. The first batch of 34 students has received the higher diploma of Heritage Management last year and this year, they will graduate with their bachelor degrees. IFT also organises Executive Development Programme and other training on cultural heritage, to tailor to the needs of the industry. Dr. Richard A. Engelhardt was educated in anthropology, archaeology and the history of East, South and Southeast Asia at Yale University and Harvard University. For the past 30 years, he has directed archaeology and heritage conservation projects throughout Asia and the Indo-Pacific region. In 1981, he joined the United Nations system and has worked with the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, as well as a number of UN Specialised Agencies. From 1989-1991, he served as UNESCO Chief Technical Advisor on a project to modernise the national museums of the ASEAN countries. From 1991-1994 he opened and served as Head of the UNESCO Office in Cambodia, where he launched the international safeguarding campaign for Angkor. In recognition of his services in the preservation of the Angkor Monuments, H.M. King Norodom Sihanouk awarded him the prestigious title of Commandeur de l’O rd re Royal du Cambodge. In addition to his Cambodian knighthood, Dr. Engelhardt has been decorated by the governments of China, the Philippines, and Vietnam for his services to the conservation of cultural heritage. He has also been honoured by the Global Heritage Fund with a Lifetime Achievement Award for contributions to the conservation of the world’s heritage. Among his UNESCO responsibilities, Dr. Engelhard serves as Chairman of the International Jury for the annual UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Conservation Awards competition, as is the Co-Convenor of the UNESCO-ICCROM Asian Academy for Heritage Management. Trained in architecture and urban history, Dr. Johannes Widodo is Assistant Professor at the Department of Architecture since 2001, with a joint appointment as Research Leader in Asian Cities Cluster to Asia Research Institute (ARI) at the National University of Singapore. Dr. Widodo's area of specialisation includes architecture, urban history and morphology of Southeast Asian cities, Asian modernity, and heritage conservation in Southeast Asian context. As one of the founding members of the Asian Academy for Heritage Management (AAHM), which was jointly established by UNESCO and the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM), IFT is proud to be officially appointed as the Knowledge Management Hub of the Academy, to act as the clearinghouse of training curricula and to facilitate research conference organisation and training modules development. More importantly, the Knowledge Management Hub is de facto the “AAHM Institute” carrying the responsibility to spearhead the strategic development of the network, in close collaboration with the UNESCO appointed Secretariat. In addition, being an executive member of the UNESCAP Network of Asia-Pacific Education and Training Institutes in Tourism (APETIT), IFT was elected as the first Institute Secretariat of the Network, to coordinate and enhance the exchange of tourism education in the Asia Pacific region. These two appointments are not only international recognitions of IFT’s outstanding achievement in providing cultural heritage education, but also our devotion to enhancing international cooperation. IFT will continue to support the development of Macao’s cultural industry and nurture more quality professionals.
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Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) participated in the 23rd International Travel Expo Hong Kong (ITE HK) and the 4th MICE, Business & Incentive Travel Expo on 11th to 14th June 2009, to promote Macau’s leisure and business tourism. Macau Government Tourist Office is one of the supporting organizations of the ITE HK this year. MGTO Director João Manuel Costa Antunes, who was invited to officiate the opening ceremony, led the largest-ever delegation of MGTO officials and 39 Macau travel trade representatives from hotels, travel agents, airlines, shipping companies and destination management companies to the fair. As this year marks the 10th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Macau SAR, the Macau booth was specially designed to showcase the theme “Experience Macau Celebrations”. Portuguese-style architecture decorated with traditional Chinese red lanterns to created an atmosphere of joy and happiness. By participating in the ITE HK 2009, Macau Government Tourist Office aims to reach Hong Kong and international exhibitors, travel trade buyers and public visitors to promote Macau as a leisure and business destination, as well as to facilitate Macau travel entities to present their products to the target audience. Apart from the information dissemination, MGTO also hosted an in-booth cocktail to on the first day of the fair to greet 200 Hong Kong travel trade partners, MICE organizers and media friends to celebrate the event. Two seminars will be held during the consumer days (13th & 14th June) to introduce the Macau World Heritage, events and festivals, new facilities, “Celebrate Macau” Photo Collection and “Sweet Memory” Campaigns to the public. In addition, MGTO has organized “Experience Macau!” familiarization tour on 13th to 14th June for ITE hosted buyers to visit Macau’s World Heritage, unique tourist spots and new hotels and MICE facilities, to showcase Macau’s potential in leisure and business tourism development. “The 23rd International Travel Expo Hong Kong (ITE HK) and the 4th MICE, Business & Incentive Travel Expo” is held from 11th to 14th June 2009 at the HK Convention and Exhibition Centre. It is a prime travel expo held annually in Hong Kong, and has attracted an international portfolio of exhibitors and visitors, providing a platform for mutual exchange among the travel industry. According to official release, there are over 600 international exhibitors from 50 countries and regions participating in the Expo.
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Macao would actively dedicate its advantageous condition to participate in the co-operation between the Pan Pearl River Delta (PPRD) region to tackle global financial crises, the Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, said today. Mr Ho was conveying this message in his keynote address to the Fifth PPRD Regional Co-operation and Development Forum and Economic and Trade Co-operation Fair held in Nanning, the capital of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. He quoted the Premier Wen Jiabao’s earlier saying that one country alone could not fight these severe financial crises solely. “We have to work together to propel collaboration inside the country and with foreign countries. “Firstly, the co-operation between the region may help to overcome one’s weakness. In this way we may minimize the impacts and to create friendly atmosphere to revitalize the economy,” said Mr Ho. He said Macao’s economy was basically optimistic and the society was relatively stable, yet the exports of services and goods were facing different challenges that caused a slight drop in economical figures. Mr Ho stressed that it was essential to discuss how to cope with global financial crises in this forum. The National Development and Reform Commission announced the Outline of the Plan for the Reform and Development of the Pearl River Delta (2008-2010) that included Macao. Mr Ho said the Outline was an important guideline for the future development of Macao. “The Outline stated that Macao’s role could be developed as a world-class tourism-leisure position to promote regional collaboration. Due to limited resources, Macao’s tourism should integrate with that of the PPRD region.” Mr Ho said that the Macao Government would continue to perfect legislation, to step up training, and to optimise market. Moreover, the 2009 Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum and Exhibition had successfully established a platform for the PPRD region and European countries to exchange green views. Mr Ho also attended several investment contracts signing ceremonies.
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The unemployment rate has remained at 3.8 per cent, which showed that a string of measures to stabilise the economy and employment are working well, the Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Tam Pak Yuen, said today. Mr Tam, who is leading a business delegation to Guangxi to attend the fifth Pan-Pearl River Delta (PPRD) Regional Co-operation and Development Forum and Economic and Trade Co-operation Fair, said Macao would step up communication and co-operation with the PPRD region. He said some concrete joint projects with the PPRD region had been been introduced and he hoped all parties might seek for a wider co-operation. When asked by reporters on the employment issue in Macao, Mr Tam said due to the impacts caused by the global financial crisis in the third and fourth quarters last year, the Government’s principle was to maintain a stable economy and employment. Over the past three months, figure have shown that the unemployment rate remained at 3.8 per cent. Mr Tam said he believed the percentage to remain like this in the next few months. He said the Government had speed up the launch of public constructions projects and introduced training courses that would certainly help to ease unemployment. On Macao’s economy, Mr Tam said that the last two quarters recorded two digits negative growth, and he expected the same in the second quarter of this year. The Government would strive to control the negative growth over the whole year to one digit, he said. Information Department
Government Information Bureau
Macao Special Administrative Region
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The Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, said today the fifth PPRD Form would be looking at ways to further enhance the infrastructure development of the Pan Pearl River Delta region. Mr Ho told reporters this at Macao International Airport this morning as he led an official delegation to the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region to attend the fifth Pan-Pearl River Delta (PPRD) Regional Co-operation and Development Forum and Economic and Trade Co-operation Fair, to be held from June 9-11. Mr Ho said the forum would mainly discuss ways to strengthen mutual co-operation, especially the development of the infranstructure of the region. Asked about a protest last Sunday by a group of civil servants, Mr Ho said civil servants were a part of society, that they enjoyed the right to protest and assembly, and the Government would fully consider their expressed views. He stressed the Government would take into account the benefit of the whole society and, at the same time, ensure that civil servents enjoy a fair treatment.
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The Pan Pearl River Delta region should strengthen co-operation and ride out the impacts of the financial crisis, Chief Executive Mr Edmund Ho Hau-wah said today. And with the string of supportive measures offered by the Central Government, the pace of the diversification of Macao’s economy would be faster, he said. Mr Ho is in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region with an official delegation to attend the fifth Pan-Pearl River Delta (PPRD) Regional Co-operation and Development Forum and Economic and Trade Co-operation Fair, being held on June 9-11. He said Macao and Guangxi would tie up co-operation in many areas including in trading, logistic and transportation, which were discussed when Mr Ho met with the Party Secretary of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Mr Guo Shengkun, and the Chairman of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Mr Ma Biao. Mr Ho and the official delegation arrived in Guangxi in the afternoon and were received by the Vice-president of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Mr Chen Wu. During the meeting with the Guangxi officials, Mr Ho said faced with the impacts of the global financial crisis, the Pan Pearl River Delta (PPRD) region should strengthen co-operation. The Macao delegation attended a welcome dinner hosted by the Guangxi Government, and the opening ceremony of the PPRD forum. Mr Ho would deliver a keynote speech tomorrow and attended several investment contracts signing ceremonies.
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Three members of a family who arrived in Macao on a flight from Australia with a confirmed Influenza A (H1N1) case were placed under medical observation and were all tested negative for the virus, the Health Bureau announced. The three had taken QF029 from Melbourne, to Hong Kong on 1 June, and sat near an Australian child who showed influenza symptoms during the flight. The child was sent to hospital on entering Shenzhen via Hong Kong on 3 June and was confirmed as a H1N1 case the next day. The Guangdong health authorities notified Hong Kong of the confirmed case to help locate people who had close contacts with the patient. The Bureau received reports from Hong Kong yesterday evening about the case and located the three people soon afterwards. The three -- a couple and their daughter -- were all tested negative for the virus but were required to be placed under medical observation until Tuesday. Meanwhile, two Canadian women and a Portuguese man were tested negative for Influenza A (H1N1) virus today. Today the Hospital Conde S. Januário treated 86 children and 39 adults with respiratory illness symptoms: medical teams at terminals checked body temperatures of more than 142,000 people entering Macao. They also dealt with 128 enquiries. To date there is no probable or confirmed human case of Influenza A (H1N1) reported in Macao.
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A Portuguese woman was tested negative for Influenza A (H1N1) virus today, the Health Bureau announced. Today the Hospital Conde S. Januário treated 86 children and 39 adults with respiratory illness symptoms: medical teams at terminals checked body temperatures of more than 126,000 people entering Macao. They also dealt with 198 enquiries. To date there is no probable or confirmed human case of Influenza A (H1N1) reported in Macao.
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Three people were tested negative for Influenza A (H1N1) virus today, the Health Bureau announced. Today the Hospital Conde S. Januário treated 91 children and 37 adults with respiratory illness symptoms: medical teams at terminals checked body temperatures of more than 121,000 people entering Macao. They also dealt with 370 enquiries. To date there is no probable or confirmed human case of Influenza A (H1N1) reported in Macao.
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