The 'Experience Macau - Fuzhou, Fujian' promotion was held last month, in a collaborative initiative by the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR) and the Fujian Provincial People's Government, and was presented by MGTO, the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office of the Fujian Provincial People's Government and Fujian Tourism Provincial Bureau. The event, held from 20^th to 31^st May in Fujian's capital city of Fuzhou, featured a large-scale exhibition open to the general public and industry practitioners. The 11-day exhibition attracted over one million visitors.

The opening ceremony of the promotional event, on 20^th May, was officiated by the MSAR Chief Executive Chui Sai On, Deputy Secretary of the Fujian Provincial Committee and Fujian Governor Su Shulin, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Alexis Tam, Deputy Secretary-General of Fujian Provincial People's Government Wang Yongli, Fujian Tourism Provincial Bureau Director Zhu Hua, Chief-of-Cabinet of the Office of the MSAR Chief Executive O Lam, Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office of the Fujian Provincial People's Government Deputy Director Lin Xuefeng, and MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes presided over the 'Experience Macau - Fuzhou, Fujian'. The Fujian Provincial People's Government Deputy Governor, Zheng Xiaosong, also attended the welcome dinner, held at the C&D Hotel, and delivered an inspiring speech.

At the welcome dinner, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Alexis Tam reiterated that Macau is moving on all fronts to build a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure, in addition to gearing its economy towards moderate diversification, while exploring more tourism elements and products. Fujian and Macau maintain close tourism co-operative links, he said, particularly in terms of multi-destination tourism, and through the two places' common connection to A-Ma culture, linking Fujian and Macau in the exchange and development of culture, tourism and harmonious relations.

The Secretary also mentioned that under China's 'One Belt, One Road' initiative Macau will utilise the advantages associated with its history and culture to strengthen co-operation with different provinces and cities, jointly promoting the Maritime Silk Road tourism brand, fostering regional tourism development, and pursuing mutual benefits. During the dinner, MGTO presented a martial arts hologram performance starring internationally and nationally awarded wushu athlete Jiarui plus Portuguese folk dancing, for guests, travel trade operators and media to appreciate in a new and novel format presenting Macau's traditional cultural performances.

On 20^th May, MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, joined by 16 members of the Tourism Development Committee (CDT) and 15 Macau travel industry representatives, attended an 'Experience Macau - Fuzhou, Fujian' tourism promotion seminar, at which the Office presented the territory's tourism resources and provided an update on the city's tourism situation, followed by a luncheon for Fujian and Macau travel trade operators. Fujian Tourism Provincial Bureau Director Zhu Hua and Deputy Director Chen Yihui also attended the seminar.

Interactive exhibition

The 'Experience Macau - Fuzhou, Fujian' exhibition - held from 20^th to 31^st May at the Sanfang Qixiang ('Three Lanes and Seven Alleys') Pavilion, in Nanhou Street - was divided into several pivotal areas. These comprised the MSAR Establishment 15 Years of Achievements Display Area; Video Mapping Display Area; Cultural and Creative Display Area; Festivities and Events Display Area; World Heritage Display Area; New Infrastructure and Hotels Display Area; and Tourism Information Area.

Interactive elements and games were incorporated into the exhibition, so that Fujian residents could learn more about Macau's tourism resources and development in a fresh and interesting way, while promoting a diversified image of the city's tourism attractions. Visitors could also produce and print their own Macau postcards as souvenirs on-site. The 11-day exhibition attracted expected over one million visitors, while the MSAR delegation, comprising 155 persons, included MGTO, CDT, the travel trade, performers and media personnel.

Fujian is Macau's second main source of visitors in the Mainland by province after Guangdong. Last year, Macau welcomed more than 21 million visitors from the Mainland, up 14.1 per cent year-on-year, of whom more than 900,000 hailed from Fujian.

China Maritime Silk Road Tourism Promotion Alliance

MGTO is one of the members of the newly-formed 'China Maritime Silk Road Tourism Promotion Alliance'. Established on 8th May in Xiamen, under the guidance of China National Tourism Administration, and initiated by Fujian Tourism Provincial Bureau, the Alliance numbers among its members the tourism authorities of ten coastal provinces (municipalities and autonomous regions) dotting the Maritime Silk Road; namely, Fujian, Hebei, Tianjin, Shandong, Jiangsu, Shanghai, Zhejiang, Guangdong, Guangxi and Hainan, as well as Hong Kong and Macau. The Alliance seeks to assemble the tourism resources of the Maritime Silk Road to jointly establish a Maritime Silk Road tourism brand in order to boost the development of the regional tourism economy.