Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) is holding throughout May a series of activities to promote Macau around the world, such as through art in Seoul, or as a destination for summer holiday in Taiwan, Russia and Portugal, as well as a destination for students' excursions in Hong Kong, and much more.

Korea

Deputy Director of MGTO Cecilia Tse, accompanied by MGTO and Macau Travel trade representatives, recently inaugurated the exhibition 'Touching Moments in Macau through Artists' Perspectives' at the Ganainsa Art Centre in Seoul, featuring works by Korean contemporary artists offering a new perspective for the Korean public to view Macau.

The display - running until 4^th May - presents Macau-inspired works by six renowned Korean artists, following their visit to the city in January this year. The displayed artists include the sculptor Byungjoo Kim, videographer and photographer Sehwan Roh, painter and sculptor Heeseop Park, and painters Kang-Wook Lee, Dongjae Lee and Chung Sue-Jin. The exhibition is curated by Heekyung Kang, the CEO of Gana Art Park, a prestigious institution dedicated to enhancing the artistic environment in Korea.

“We have shown Macau on television, magazines, newspapers, through photos, design and so forth. I have to stress that contemporary art is our very first attempt in Korea. In particular, the collaboration with such acclaimed Korean artists has a very special meaning. As the title of the exhibition suggests, the art works will provide a brand new perspective on experiencing Macau", said Cecilia Tse at the opening.

Portugal

Macau Tourism Promotion and Information Centre in Portugal will join the third edition of a Travel Fair, to be held in Lisbon, from 8^th to 10^th May. The fair targets consumers and aims to help Portuguese families source competitive solutions for their summer holidays. The Macau Tourism Promotion and Information Centre in Portugal will book a space of six square metres to disseminate promotional materials, existing Macau packages from agents marketing Macau, and inform the public about tourist updates and new city infrastructure. Last year's statistics reveal that this fair welcomed 12,500 visitors to Lisbon.

In order to promote Macau cultural activities, launch new books and boost the sales of Macau Tourism Promotion and Information Centre in a Portuguese library, the Centre will participate in the 85^th edition of the Lisbon Book Fair from 28^th May to 14^th June. Like previous editions, there will be autograph sessions with local writers who have published books about Macau.

A familiarization tour to Macau has been scheduled from 17^th to 23^rd May, with the group planning to appear in a TV report with the main Portuguese channel 'RTP' about the various types of cuisine of Macau for a programme titled 'Portuguese Cobble Stones'.

Hong Kong

MGTO will host a seminar for the Hong Kong Association of Travel Agents (HATA) on 12^th May in Hong Kong, in which 120 members of HATA will participate. The event presents an opportunity to highlight the key indicators, promotional strategies, and travel products of Macau in addition to the territory's burgeoning hotel developments.

Later in the month, on 23^rd May, MGTO is hosting the Hong Kong Teachers Seminar and Luncheon in the neighbouring SAR. More than 160 primary and secondary teachers and principals plus study tour organisations will join the event to learn about the rich resources available in Macau for student excursions. The ideal platform for bringing together Hong Kong teachers and Hong Kong study tour organisations, MGTO seeks to create the synergy to propel Macau's strategy as a 'Rewarding Incentive Destination for Student Excursion' beyond normal expectations.

Taiwan, China

MGTO will participate in the Kaohsiung International Travel Fair (15^th to 18^th May), organised by the Kaohsiung Association of Travel Agents, and co-operate with five local travel agents to promote Macau's summer tourism products. As this year is also the 10^th anniversary of the inscription of the Historic Centre of Macau on the World Heritage List MGTO will base its booth design on Macau's historic Portuguese-style buildings. In addition, Macau has been selected by Lonely Planet as one of the 10 Best Travel Regions of 2015, thus this accolade will also be included in the design of the booth.

Macau will also be promoted in the Taipei Tourism Expo (22^nd to 25^th May), organised by the Taipei Association of Travel Agents, and will co-operate with 10 local travel agents in promoting Macau's summer tourism products.

Russia

MGTO is planning a major promotion event in Russia in May, where it will have a stand at the PITE - Pacific International Travel Expo in the Far Eastern city of Vladivostok. An annual event, held this year from 21^st to 23^rd May, PITE is the largest regional travel trade event in the Russian Far East, covering several of the largest cities in the Russian Asia Pacific Region. Another principal promotional activity in May will be an outdoor campaign for Macau held in five of Russia's largest cities.

Malaysia

The 26^th Macau Arts Festival (1^st to 31^st May) is a great regional draw, in particular for those many Malaysians who love the arts. Thus, this MGTO promotion seeks to remind Malaysians throughout the month that the Festival's 100 activities - performances, seminars, forums, backstage explorations, and others - has something for everyone, and serves as the perfect vehicle to showcase the different sides of Macau through its arts, culture, and fascinating historic performance venues. MGTO will highlight the Festival through print media, social media, radio, infographic press release and other channels.

This May, MGTO has engaged four Key Opinion Leaders (KOL) to deliver their personalised travel stories on Macau that will include reminiscences on Luxury and Lifestyle, Food, Romance and Heritage, Adventure and Entertainment. Each KOL will travel to Macau to explore and then share with their followers the various exciting experiences enjoyed in Macau. The KOLs will share their trip on their respective social media platform to create awareness of, and hopefully interest in, Macau. This campaign is designed to showcase Macau as a destination filled with endless possibilities as highlighted by the KOLs very different backgrounds.

Other Markets

Additional Events organized or participated in by MGTO, include the Food Promotion 'L'atelier des Chefs' to be held in France (4^th and 5^th May); Arabian Travel Market (4^th to 7^th May, www.arabiantravelmarket.com); Shanghai World Travel Fair in Xiamen (7^th to 10^th May); 11^th Strait Travel Fair will be held in Xiamen, Fujian Province (8^th to 10^th May); 'Experience Macau - Fujian, Fuzhon' in Fuzhou and Fujian Province (25^th to 31^st May).

For more details, please visit: http://eservice.macautourism.gov.mo/calendar/promotion_activities.php?year=2015&month=5&lang=1