Spanning a whole week from 1^st to 7^th October, the National Day holidays (1^st October Golden Week) officially began on 1^st October. Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) has adopted a range of measures to actively prepare for the peak period as follows: sending out reminders and mobile text messages to industry partners and visitors, respectively; sharing interdepartmental information; scrupulous inspections; food guide publication; stationing manpower at various tourist spots to provide tourism information and guidance; etc. Through a series of measures, MGTO is dedicated not only to catering to the needs of residents and visitors but to optimizing tourism service quality and the tourism environment of Macao.

By sending out letters, MGTO suggests local travel agency associations advise tour operators to adjust their schedules of tour group visits to major attractions. Likewise, via mobile text messaging, MGTO advises visitors to visit popular sightseeing districts during off-peak hours. Such tactics are adopted to divert visitors from overcrowding areas, accelerate traffic flow, and minimize the impact on neighbourhoods near tourist sites in order to maintain a positive destination image of Macao. From 1^st to 9^th October, personnel will be stationed at ten different tourist locations to provide tourism information and guidance for visitors and assist in crowd management.

MGTO also regularly communicates and exchanges information with other government entities including the Consumer Council, Public Security Police Force, Macao Customs Service, Marine and Water Bureau as well as the Transport Bureau. From the 'Real-Time Information Platform of Border Ports' operated by the Public Security Police Force, visitors can check real-time border-crossing images at the arrival & departure halls and traffic lanes at the Border Gate, Outer Harbour and Cotai Frontier Post by visiting the platform webpage: www.fsm.gov.mo/psp/pspmonitor on mobile phone or computer. Visitors can hence choose a suitable timing to leave or arrive in Macao more flexibly. The MGTO website offers a direct link to the Public Security Police Force webpage 'Real-Time Information Platform of Border Ports'.

In addition, the MGTO website (www.macaotourism.gov.mo) offers diverse information including regularly published room rates for different room categories reported by hotels and guesthouses in Macao on its website plus the Star Merchant Award – Restaurants and Eateries Guide; Macao Food Guide for 1^st October Holiday; and Step Out, Experience Macao's Communities. In addition, via its WeChat ID, the Office will advise visitors to make room reservations and prepare their itinerary ahead of their trip to Macao.

During the National Day holidays, there will be a range of festivals and events, performances, exhibitions and activities in Macao. Residents and visitors can download several mobile apps including What's On, Macao; Experience Macao and Step Out, Macao Mobile App, available from App Store or Google Play for free, and easily obtain information about activities and the latest tourist attractions in Macao.

MGTO will conduct even more scrupulous inspections at various tourist attractions, ports and districts in Macao while co-operating with police authorities to combat illegal accommodation activities. MGTO inspectors will stand by around the clock. The Office will also increase the manpower at Tourist Information counters, whilst the MGTO Tourism Hotline at (853) 2833 3000 will maintain its 24-hour operator service as usual. Residents and visitors may also obtain tourism and related information from the official MGTO website.