Macao Launches Leisure Tourism Attraction ‘Macau Cruise’

The territory's latest leisure tourism attraction - Macau Cruise - was officially launched on 25^th September. Operated by Yuet Tung Shipping Co., Ltd., the sightseeing vessel departs from the Inner Harbour Ferry Terminal, with the boat tour taking in multiple famous attractions like the A-Ma Temple, Sai Van Bridge, Macau Tower, Macao Science Center, Friendship Bridge and NAPE - plus, now, the stunning views of Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. The ticket price for the estimated 2-hour trip is MOP85, with two tours scheduled per day departing at 2:00pm and 7:00pm.

Macau Cruise became the first maritime leisure tourism product to be launched after Macao was granted the management of its territorial waters. In 2015, the State Council approved a new administrative division map for the Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR). According to the decree, 85 square kilometres of waters surrounding Macao are placed under MSAR management. With the new maritime area, the MSAR Government established interdepartmental group the Co-ordination Commission for the Management and Economic Development of the Maritime Area, and jointly formulated a framework law for the management of maritime areas ('Lei de Bases de Gestão das Áreas Marítimas') via the Legal Affairs Bureau, the Marine and Water Bureau (DSAMA), the Environmental Protection Bureau of Macao, Macao Government Tourism Office and Economic Services.

The relevant laws clarify that DSAMA is the competent entity for the comprehensive management of sea areas, the oversight duties of which it took up on 24^th July of this year. In addition, Macao Government Tourism Office is actively co-ordinating the work to facilitate private operators in the launch of leisure sea cruise routes around Macao.