The Tourism Development Committee (CDT, on its Portuguese acronym) held its first plenary meeting this year on the 19th of July.
Macao’s economy was in good health in the first half of the year, with various major macroeconomic indicators looking up, according to Secretary for Economy and Finance and Committee Chairperson, Lei Wai Nong.
The Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) informed that events set to be held in the SAR in the second half of the year will include more innovative features as part of efforts to expand the number of overseas tourists.
Secretary Lei added that Macau would make use of the advantageous economic situation reported in the first half of the year, to consolidate and continue to expand the domestic and overseas markets, while at the same time promoting the integration of the “Tourism +” industry, and drive the joint development of the tourism industry and its peripheral industries.
The official also hoped he could continue to work together with the tourism industry in innovative ways that could stimulate the vitality of this new tourism economy era.
During the meeting, the MGTO mentioned having already planned its event schedule for the second half of the year, including the relaunch of the Macau International Fireworks Display Contest, the 10th Global Tourism Economy Forum, and the Light up Macao, among others.
Three financial support programs for 2024 will also be launched.
With the 70th Macao Grand Prix to be held in November, the Macao Grand Prix Museum will stage a 3D projection mapping show and call for the submission of entries.
In terms of tourism promotion, besides cooperating with a number of airlines to hand out air ticket discounts, the MGTO has also launched the scheme “My Treat for You, See You in Macao” and the “My Treat for You, Joyful Macao Tour” Subsidy Scheme to attract more visitors to Macau.
Moreover, MGTO will continue to invite overseas travel trade and media to come to Macau to experience the diversified and exciting “Tourism +”, cooperate with online and offline travel agencies to promote multi-destination tours to Macao, Hong Kong, and Guangdong, and produce special features that could attract visitors from all over the world to visit the Lotus city.
MGTO will also continue to take part in important travel fairs, and plan to organize large-scale roadshows in Singapore and Malaysia to explore international visitor sources.
The “Macau Courtesy Campaign” was also launched in early July, and related promotions have been rolled out successively, promoting the hospitality of residents and local offerings, fostering the sustainable development and recovery of the tourism industry.
Director of the Economic Development Bureau of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, António Lei, introduced the three-year action plan for the high-quality development of the cultural and tourism industries during the meeting.
Representatives of the Government also listened to members’ views on marine tourism, community tourism economy, concessionary packages for attracting tourists, tourist guides’ practice, tourist endorsement, and optimization of typhoon-related information updates to tourists.
