Watch out, world, Macau is on the roll – and not because of another giant gaming project.
A tourism model integrating culture, convention and exhibition, gaming and retail, sports, leisure, events and culinary elements is being developed to shape Macau into a multi-dimensional destination, Dr Chui Sai On, secretary for social affairs and culture, Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) announced at a recent press conference held at Macau Fisherman’s Wharf. “A world of difference, the difference is Macau” is the slogan used to highlight the multifaceted tourism products of this Special Administrative Region.
“To promote Macau’s image as an international destination, we will strive to diversity tourism products through integrating existing tourism resources with other new elements to launch more unique and innovative tourism products and itineraries. We will also provide tourism products that suit the interests of various types of visitors to make their visits more in-depth and enjoyable,” Dr Chui said.
In recent years, Macau has maintained rapid growth in tourist numbers. Visitor arrivals surpassed 27 million last year, an increase of 22.7 percent over 2006. Its top three source markets were the Mainland, Hongkong and Taiwan.
“We will work hard to sustain the growth momentum of the Southeast Asian market, and at the same time, boost arrivals from mid- and long-haul markets such as America and Europe. We will venture into forthcoming markets such as the Middle East, Russia, Vietnam and Indonesia for a more diversified market portfolio.”
MGTO’s agenda also includes reinforcing the quality tourism brand of “Macau World Heritage” and strengthening Macau’s image as a cultural tourism destination, as well as tapping the convention and exhibition industry.
