The MSAR's Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Alexis Tam, was invited to present awards at the 12^th UNWTO Awards for Excellence and Innovation held in January in Madrid, Spain, where he also attended a high level meeting on global tourism and security.

Secretary Tam also met with Taleb Rifai, Secretary General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), with whom he conducted friendly exchanges on co-operation to strengthen ties between Macao and UNWTO. They reviewed their good communication and co-operation last year, including the first UNWTO/UNESCO World Conference on Culture and Tourism held in Cambodia, the 4^th Global Tourism Economy Forum held in Macao, and the establishment of the Global Centre for Tourism Education and Training in the Institute for Tourism Studies in Macao, among others.

Alexis Tam said Macao had been honoured by many tourism awards last year and that the MSAR Government will strengthen the development of cultural, sports and tourism in addition to being committed to promoting the diversification of tourism products for international visitors in order to create a more attractive destination for leisure travellers. He added that Macao is keen to work with UNWTO in the further development of friendly relations and co-operation to make a positive contribution to the development of world tourism.

Taleb Rifai identified Macao's efforts to improve tourism competitiveness and promote the diversification of tourism, saying he hopes to co-operate with Macao to build friendly relations and hopes the MSAR Government supports the organization of more projects with the UNWTO. The two sides also discussed the direction of future co-operation.

The Macao team included Alexis Tam, MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Head of Communication and External Relations Department Iong Mei Va, consultant to the Office of the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Rafael Gama and Charles Lam.