Winners of Quality Tourism Services Accreditation Scheme 2018 Announced

The Quality Tourism Services Accreditation Scheme (QTSAS) Awards Gala Dinner 2018 was held on 5th December.

In 2018, 85 qualified catering merchants were presented with the Star Merchant Award, while three awardees were also presented with the prestigious Service Star Award. In addition, nine qualified travel agencies were presented with the Star Merchant Award. To commend travel agencies which provided their patrons with high-quality services in and beyond Macao, Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) conferred the Service Star Award - Inbound Service plus Service Star Award - Outbound Service to two Star Merchant travel agencies meeting the prescribed standard receiving the highest total score for Inbound Service and Outbound Service, respectively.

During the dinner, MGTO Acting Director Cheng Wai Tong remarked that MGTO will work towards the goal of transforming Macao into a city of creativity by tapping into innovative technology to enhance Macao’s image as a Creative City. Furthermore, the Office will continue to develop smart tourism whilst widening the diversity of the city’s cultural tourism products as well as unremittingly building the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area as a travel destination under the Greater Bay Area travel brand.

He added that Macao is keenly participating in the Country’s Belt and Road Initiative and development of the Greater Bay Area, observing that the inauguration of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge presents a new horizon of opportunities and challenges for Macao’s tourism industry.

With concerns arising about human resources and tourism service quality, great importance is attached to the cultivation of tourism industry professionals and relevant training, thus MGTO is striving to deliver Macao’s strengths through tourism education and training by supporting multiple endeavours to build Macao into a tourism education and training base in the Greater Bay Area. In accordance with social prospects and market demand, MGTO provides professional and opportune tourism training whilst encouraging industry professionals to fight for international accreditation and accolades thereby continuously enhancing service quality and tapping into development opportunities as it rises to new challenges.

Cheng pointed out that the SAR Government is dedicated to the preservation of local gastronomic culture by encouraging small and medium-sized enterprises to upgrade and shift into new models. These initiatives are undertaken to generate Macao’s greater influence as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy and enrich the new diversity of local businesses. MGTO encourages members of the tourism, catering, cultural and creative industries to join hands in partnership, leading to co-operation throughout the field of gastronomy and others to augment the diversity Macao has to offer as a Creative City of Gastronomy.

In 2014, MGTO launched QTSAS with the objective of establishing service quality standards for members of the tourism industry as well as supporting and encouraging them to upgrade their service quality. The Scheme - seeking to recognise tourism businesses for their outstanding services and excellent service management - has gained wide recognition and satisfactory results in the trade since its launch.

QTSAS currently promotes two accolades - namely, the Star Merchant Award and Service Star Award - targeting the catering industry and travel agencies. Since its launch some 260 catering businesses and 36 travel agencies have been presented the Star Merchant Award including winners of the year.

Meanwhile, MGTO has held an array of high-participation training courses and professional accreditation courses for participating and award-winning merchants, supporting their enhanced service quality. In addition, MGTO promotes the Scheme via various channels and has produced brochures with lists of award-winning merchants, including the Star Merchant Award - Restaurants and Eateries Guide and Star Merchant Award - Travel Agency Industry for distribution at various Tourist Information counters.

For the lists of award-winning merchants, please browse the MGTO website: www.macaotourism.gov.mo.