2015 Policy Address: Create a ‘City of Culture and Events’
Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Alexis, Tam Chon Weng delivered his first Policy Address last month (Photo provided by Government Information Bureau)
During his Policy Address to the Legislative Assembly on 13 and 14th April, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Alexis, Tam Chon Weng said that he will work to transform Macau into a 'City of Culture and Events', based on the city's traditional festivities and by adding new tourism elements.
In his first Policy Address since becoming Secretary, Mr. Tam said that he will jointly promote the development of the areas under his portfolio - education, culture, tourism, sport, social work and health. In terms of tourism, Secretary Tam pointed out that he wants to transform Macau into a 'City of Culture and Events' as well as launch new tourism products, such as open-deck tourism buses, 3D video mapping performances, street performances, creative industry displays, night tourism, and other initiatives. Secretary Tam also announced that the Tap Seac neighbourhood would be transformed into a cultural hub, with the ageing Hotel Estoril to be revamped as a youth centre for arts education.
Commenting on the overflow of tourists during the festive seasons - some 31.5 million visitors were welcomed to the territory for the whole of last year - Alexis Tam noted that over 67.4 per cent or 21,2 million visitors came from Mainland China, with overseas visitors representing only 9.2 per cent, partially due to the improvements in Guangdong Province's transport infrastructure, such as the high-speed rail train, which shortens the trip between Zhuhai's Gongbei district and Guangzhou to one hour.
The Secretary said that now Macau needs to find a balancing point, detailing the problems created by the large influx of tourists during the recent Chinese New Year season, when on average 147,000 tourists per day visited the territory. That, he said, is much more than Macau's current capacity, which he said was approximately 90,000 per day, according to a study released recently by the Institute for Tourism Studies.
Regarding what represented a 'balance point,' the Secretary said that the MSAR has the capacity to receive 21 million tourists from Mainland China per year, leaving space to achieve the goal of receiving more tourists from international markets. He also said that the 21 million mark was not set in stone but was dependent upon local infrastructure. Once infrastructure was improved, that number could be increased.
Celebrating UNESCO Recognition
Ten years after UNESCO classified The Historic Centre of Macau as a World Heritage area in 2005, recognising 22 plazas and monuments, the territory is preparing celebrations to commemorate the landmark designation. Activities to raise awareness about the heritage sites and of the “history of Macau as an intersection point between East and West" are to be organised this year, said Alexis Tam.
Alexis Tam Leads Delegation on Beijing Visit
Following the presentation of his Policy Address last month, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Alexis Tam led a delegation to Beijing, visiting several ministries. The Secretary visited the National Tourism Administration, presented the proposal staggering individual travellers, and expressed his hope of creating a better tourism environment, while safeguarding the quality of life of local residents.
Upon his arrival to Macau, Mr. Tam said that while the central government had agreed with his suggestions, it would have to talk to relevant entities in the Mainland before any of the proposals could be implemented.
In Beijing, Alexis Tam also met with the State Administration of Cultural Heritage to exchange opinions on protecting world cultural heritage.
The delegation then met with the Deputy Minister of Culture, Ding Wei, with whom they exchanged opinions regarding enriching the existing 'Agreement on Mainland and Macau Closer Cultural Partnership Arrangement', and jointly developed an annual cooperation programme. The Mainland and Macau will deepen co-operation in the spheres of culture, creative industries, manpower training, cultural heritage and the promotion of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
This year, the Macau SAR Government celebrates the 10th anniversary of the successful inscription of the Historic Centre of Macau on UNESCO's World Heritage List. Secretary Tam reaffirmed that the Macau Government will continue to do its utmost to protect the Historic Centre of Macau, and promote the essence of Macau's cultural heritage, whilst meeting the Director of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, Li Xiaojie.