Macao, a popular tourist mecca

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 ◆ Macao, a popular tourist mecca

Sound law and order and stable economic expansion are set to pose a bright future for Macao's tourist industry, Director Joao Manuel Costa Antunes of the Macao Government Tourist Office said recently.

Addressing a seminar on "Blueprint for Macao Development" sponsored by the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute, Antunes predicted the number of tourist arrivals in Macao is heading towards a new record this year after hitting more than 10 million in 2001.

In the first five months, the positive trend continued as Macao received 9.65 percent more visitors than in the same period of last year.

The ratio of tourists from China's inland areas among the total rose to 38.8 percent from January to May against less than 30 percent for last year.

There was no change in the top three source markets, namely Hong Kong, China's inland and Taiwan. However, the "fabulously quick" rise of the inland market is gradually leading to a change in the structure of Macao's tourist business and this enormous market is becoming one of Macao's most important potential tourist provider, the official noted.

Since Macao returned to the motherland, the small city has been even more known in China's interior, he said.

The simplification of entry and exit matters between Macao and Zhuhai and approval from the China National Tourism Administration to allow more travel agencies to manage Macao-bound tours have enticed more and more inland tourists to travel to Macao.

Hong Kong remained the largest tourist source for Macao by bringing in 5.19 million visitors in the first five months, up 4.87 percent.

The performance of the Taiwan market was also significant with visitor arrivals jumping 10.7 percent to 1.45 million.

The MGTO plans to make a number of adjustments in marketing and promotional strategy, human resources training and allocation, industry management and packaging of tourism products to be poised for a new era following the liberalization of the gambling industry -- Macao's economic pillar.

New casino operators will inject, in the near future, billions of dollars to Macao to build theme hotels and new facilities for tourism and leisure.

The "Cultural Heritage Tours of Macao" has been conceived to provide specially designed itineraries for tourists to enjoy Macao 's cultural treasure, Antunes said.

Macao with its almost 450 years of history boasts a blend of the cultures of East and West, which are exposed in local architecture, living style, traditions and food.

In addition, the Special Administrative Region (SAR) government is building Macao into a MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) location, which will lure more business travelers to the city. Macao now offers a wide variety of meeting venues.

Antunes said his MGTO is projected to launch more tourism promotions in China's interior, Hong Kong and other markets to uplift the popularity of Macao.