The '2017 Annual Work Meeting of Joint Working Committee on Tourism to Support Macao's Aspirations to Build a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure' (Joint Working Committee on Tourism) was held on 6^th April in Macao. During the meeting, the parties discussed a range of topics on how to deepen regional co-operation and promote Macao's development into a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure, as well as confirmed major tasks to be implemented in 2017.

The two Conveners of the Joint Working Committee on Tourism - Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao SAR Government Alexis Tam and Vice Chairman of China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) Li Shihong - both delivered an address during the annual work meeting. Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR, Yao Jian, addressed the meeting and delivered a speech as well.

Meeting reaches consensus on several issues

The Secretary General of the Joint Working Committee on Tourism and Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes presented the local tourism situation and the Macao Tourism Industry Development Master Plan. She also shared the work in progress on Macao's application for designation as a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the field of gastronomy, as conducted by the Application of Macao, China to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network Committee. Following this, the Deputy Director General of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs Department of CNTA, Ren Jiayan, presented the work of the Joint Working Committee on Tourism in 2016 and the targeted goals for tourism co-operation between the Mainland and Macao in 2017.

Key members of the Joint Working Committee on Tourism as well as officials and representatives from the Mainland and Macao discussed various topics and reached a consensus during the meeting. Topics included the implementation of national tourism policies favouring Macao, fostering Macao's transformation into a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure, deepening tourism co-operation between the Mainland and Macao, and the expansion of inbound international tourism markets among other issues on the agenda.

Alexis Tam: Macao will engage in national development plan

Alexis Tam remarked that Macao's tourism industry is currently trending upward in steady progress. The Macao SAR's Five-Year Development Plan published last year and the Macao Tourism Industry Development Master Plan to be completed in 2017 will steer Macao's tourism development along a more systematic, regulated and precise course.

The nation has granted huge support that fuels adequate economic diversification and tourism prosperity in Macao. The SAR Government is dedicated to aligning the Macao SAR's future development with the Country's 13^th Five-Year Plan, striving for Macao to engage in the Belt and Road Initiative and become part of the development of a city cluster in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area so that Macao can better radiate its function and role in national development. The meeting thus serves a very significant meaning and function, enabling various parties to discuss topics on co-operation in depth and together promote tourism development in the Mainland and the Macao SAR.

Li Shihong: Macao can achieve diversified development by holistic tourism

Li Shihong said that the Mainland's tourism industry has been fully incorporated into the system of national strategies and become a strategic pillar industry of the national economy. The era of mass tourism has dawned. A strong pursuit of leisure and holistic tourism development will reveal greater development potential and momentum speeding up Macao's transformation into a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure.

He added that the Mainland has proposed the model of holistic tourism. Riding on mass tourism, Macao can continue to develop holistic tourism, which will lead the city's development towards diversification. By putting greater efforts on comprehensive destination marketing in the Mainland and overseas, Macao can continue to consolidate and expand its visitor markets. Meanwhile, through reform of relevant systems and institutions, the Mainland can nurture a favourable tourism environment and steer its tourism development towards a more systematic and regulated course, which will help deepen tourism co-operation between the Mainland and Macao.

Similarly, holistic tourism development in the Mainland will enhance the synergistic tourism development of both sides. The Committee has to make progress in accomplishing different tasks through down-to-earth measures, while neighbouring provinces can radiate their own competitive advantages and together contribute to Macao's development into a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure.

Committee commencing a number of projects this year

The Joint Working Committee on Tourism will commence a range of projects in 2017 as follows: participation and co-operation in the Belt and Road Initiative and enhance regional co-operation; organization of a mission comprising Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian and Hong Kong to promote multi-destination travel in Indonesia and Malaysia in April, in support of the development strategies of the Belt and Road Initiative; strengthening of concerted efforts in tourism market regulation via an exchange visit to Hainan in the near future; and the combating of irregularities and reinforcement of tourism industry regulations.

The Committee also suggested riding on upcoming events in Macao such as the Macao International Travel (Industry) Expo, the Global Tourism Economy Forum and PATA Travel Mart - not only to invite delegates from across the Mainland and especially from Guangdong and Fujian to participate in the events in Macao but also to encourage and arrange familiarization visits of the overseas travel trade to Guangdong and Fujian before or after their participation in the aforementioned events.

The Committee also recommended continuing the study of ways to capitalize on the opportunities arising from the inauguration of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge in order to better integrate the tourism resources of the three cities and magnify their strengths as a regional tourism brand; this in addition to fully capitalizing on the Individual Travel Scheme for Yachts between Guangdong Province and Macao to promote mutual co-operation in the maritime economy, and so forth.

The meeting was also attended by other officials and representatives from the entities concerned, including the Secretariat for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao Special Administrative Region Government, CNTA, the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao Special Administrative Region, MGTO, Public Security Police Force, Marine and Water Bureau, Tourism Administration of Guangdong Province, Fujian Provincial Tourism Bureau, the People's Government of Zhuhai Municipality, the Administrative Committee of Hengqin New Area and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Authority.