MGTO Outlines Work Projects for 2017
Senna Fernandes reviewed the city’s tourism industry for 2016 and announced major goals for 2017
More than 400 tourism industry and media representatives attended MGTO’s Annual Press Conference
At the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) Annual Press Conference on 18th January, 2017 Director of MGTO Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes reviewed the territory's tourism industry for the previous year and announced four major goals for 2017. Some 400 representatives from the tourism industry and media attended the Press Conference.
Major goals for 2017 include, firstly, Developing a diversity of tourism products, in addition to evaluating the effectiveness of events and initiating new projects: MGTO will complete the formulation of the Macao Tourism Industry Development Master Plan this year, conducting various strategies and measures in parallel with the major goals set in the Master Plan. In addition, MGTO will conduct a feasibility study on the cultural tourism project slated for Ka Ho Village of Our Lady. MGTO will progress the remodelling of the Tourism Activities Centre into the Macau Grand Prix Museum, and will begin preparatory work for the relocation of the Wine Museum to Coloane. MGTO will also support industry partners operating maritime tours around the Macao Peninsula, Taipa and Coloane.
Secondly, Enhance industry service quality and optimize industry incentive system: MGTO will in tandem with training institutes provide industry training programmes. MGTO will also continue to implement the Quality Tourism Services Accreditation Scheme, optimising assessment and incentive systems already in place. In addition, MGTO will conduct regular inspections at tourist attractions, including ports of entry and MGTO-licensed establishments.
Thirdly, Unleash synergistic effects and enhance destination promotion: the Office plans to enhance the promotion of Macao by further participating and fostering the development of leisure tourism landmarks such as Anim'Arte NAM VAN. It will continue to develop smart tourism for the territory via high-tech means and increase online promotion for Macao tourism. MGTO will also refresh the promotional video 'Experience Macao Your Own Style' and produce a new promotional video sub-themed 'Events' in addition to expanding the diversity of international source markets and srengthening promotional efforts in mid-haul markets such as Malaysia, and attracting high-value visitors - not to mention increasing their length of stay in Macao. MGTO will also continue to construct the platform of Macao Tourism News plus, inviting members of the local travel trade to upload press materials to 'Macao Tourism News plus' as well.
Fourthly, Strengthen multilateral co-operation mechanism, actively participate in international organizations: the Office will appoint organizers to select Macao as the destination of choice for large-scale international tourism conventions and exhibitions. It will also apply to become a UNESCO Creative Cities Network member in the field of gastronomy; organize the International Gastronomy Forum to promote sustainable development of the local cultural gastronomy industry; and facilitate and promote co-operation with Portuguese-speaking countries regarding various aspects of tourism.
In addition, MGTO will engage in the work of the Joint Working Committee on Tourism to support Macao's aspirations as a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure; strengthen co-operation throughout the Pan-Pearl River Delta - namely, between Hong Kong, Macao, Guangdong and Fujian - whilst capitalizing on the opportunities presented by the Belt and Road Initiative to promote multi-destination tourism products.
It will advance tourism via the Guangdong-Macao Co-operation Framework Agreement; consider the development of diversified travel itineraries with partner tourism entities in the region; organize promotional activities for multi-destination travel across the Mainland and overseas, while expanding the geographic scope of partnership for multi-destination travel; and actively join hands with other members of the China Maritime Silk Road Tourism Promotion Alliance to develop new tourism products and further promote the destination.Almost 31 million visitations recorded in 2016
Macao's total visitor arrivals in 2016 hit 30.9 million, up 0.8 per cent from a year earlier. In addition, the number of overnight-stay visitors outweighed that of same-day visitors for the first time for a decade, posting a year-on-year increase of nearly 10 per cent.
Statistics and Census Service data reveals that international and total visitor arrivals in Macao both registered a year-on-year increase, as did the sum of visitors from the Greater China markets. Close to 28 million visitors came from Greater China, up 0.1 per cent, whilst international visitor arrivals surged 7.9 per cent.
The Mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan region remained the top three visitor markets to Macao. The MSAR welcomed over 20 million Mainland visitors last year, up 0.2 per cent, while an increase of 8.8 per cent was recorded for the Taiwan region, with Hong Kong visitor arrivals down 1.8 per cent.
With regard to international markets, Korea still ranked first, contributing over 662,000 visitors to Macao last year, posting a robust growth of nearly 20 per cent. Southeast Asian markets also performed well, with visitor numbers from Thailand growing in excess of 30 per cent among the top ten source markets.
The number of visitors from Indonesia and the Philippines increased 11.7 per cent and 3.7 per cent, respectively, whilst Japanese visitor arrivals surged 6.5 per cent. Some 4.6 per cent growth was also registered in the number of visitors from the United States.
Overnight-stay visitors in 2016 exceeded 15.7 million, up 9.8 per cent, accounting for 50.7 per cent of total visitor arrivals. In addition, overnight-stayers exceeded same-day visitor arrivals last year for seven consecutive months since last June. Throughout the year, the average length of stay of overnight-stay visitors stood at 2.1 days, while that of visitors in general was 1.2 days (an increase of 0.1 days).
The number of overnight hotel guests in 2016 increased by 13.6 per cent to a record of 12 million last year. The average hotel occupancy rate in Macao in 2016 stood at 83.3 per cent in 2016, a year-on-year increase of 1.8 percentage points, with the average room rate of 3 to 5-star hotels last year some US$161.1, down 12.7 per cent.
As at the end of 2016, the 113 hotel establishments in Macao supplied a total of 37,634 rooms, a year-on-year increase of nearly 14 per cent. Of these, 47 establishments offered budget accommodation for some 1,513 rooms.
Last year, MGTO tourist information counters handled over 1.45 million visitor enquiries, material requests and suggestions. With regard to measures combating illegal accommodation, the Office conducted 1,082 apartment inspections, sealing 164 throughout the year, while the interdepartmental task force conducted 415 joint actions. The Office also conducted other inspections including over 2,300 inspections of business establishments and over 1,400 inspections at ports and tourist spots.
Also, in 2016 MGTO increased and optimized the number of communication forums, including launching the online news database 'Macao Tourism News plus' (Beta version) and 'Group Tour Online Complaint System.' In addition, MGTO optimized the features of 'Macao Tourism Data plus' by introducing new statistical indicators on the hotel industry, subscription service, user manual and so on.