Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) launched a number of measures for the seven-day-long Spring Festival Golden Week spanning 27^thJanuary to 2^nd February. The measures include the activation of a tourism notification system; more scrupulous inspections; reminders to traders about conduct; allocation of staff at different locations to provide tourism information for visitors; food guide publication; plus numerous mega celebrations during Chinese New Year and more for the greater enjoyment of Chinese New Year Holiday in Macao.

Tourism Notification System activated

The Tourism Administration of Guangdong Province and MGTO will operate the Tourism Notification System for Spring Festival Golden Week from 24^th January to 3^rd February. During the period of system operation, MGTO will release relevant information on the Macao Tourism Industry website (http://industry.macaotourism.gov.mo/en/index.php) and post daily updated figures of Mainland and total visitor arrivals at various ports of entry as at the previous day. The MGTO website also regularly posts the room rates of different room categories reported by hotels and guesthouses in Macao, and advises visitors via its WeChat ID to arrange their accommodation and itinerary in advance of their trips to Macao.

MGTO will conduct more scrupulous inspections at tourist attractions, ports of entry and various districts, taking concerted action with police authorities to tackle illegal accommodation. MGTO inspectors will be on stand-by around the clock, while manpower will be increased at Tourist Information counters.

Reminders to traders to assist in crowd management

MGTO has already sent out letters calling for the local trade's attention to hygiene, fire safety, guest capacity, opening hours, and occupational guidelines on receiving tour groups, requirement for hotels and catering establishments to declare price lists as well as for hotels to record hotel guest information upon check-in, hotel swimming-pool management guidelines, and so forth. In addition, to facilitate enforcement of the Transport Bureau's restriction measures allowing only guests alighting on Rua de D. Belchior Carneiro and reserve Rua do Volong partly as a pedestrian zone during prescribed time periods, MGTO has sent letters informing and advising local travel agencies to co-ordinate with tour guides for corresponding itinerary arrangement and crowd diversion.

Via mobile text message, MGTO also advises visitors to visit popular attractions during off-peak hours in order to divert visitors from crowded areas and lessen the impact on traffic and neighborhoods near tourist sites, thus helping Macao maintain a positive destination image. In addition, MGTO will arrange staff at ten different tourist points to provide tourism information and guidance for visitors and assist in crowd management.

Visitors can visit the Public Security Police Force website: (www.fsm.gov.mo/psp/pspmonitor) via phone or computer to check real-time border-crossing images at the arrival/departure halls and traffic lanes of Barrier Gate, Outer Harbour and Cotai Frontier Post on the 'Real-Time Information Platform of Border Ports'. Hence, visitors can flexibly choose to leave or enter Macao at suitable times. The MGTO website offers a direct link to the Public Security Police Force webpage of the 'Real-Time Information Platform of Border Ports.'

Handy information for an enjoyable trip

Visitors can download MGTO's mobile app 'What's On, Macao' and conveniently browse monthly highlights including events and festivals, performances, exhibitions, activities as well as the newest attractions in town for itinerary planning. They can also download mobile apps 'Experience Macao' and 'Step out, Macao' to acquire more local travel tips. Visitors can also follow MGTO's WeChat ID 'mgtoweixin' to get more information about travelling to Macao.

In addition, MGTO has published the Macao Food Guide during Spring Festival (Chinese version only) together with a number of commercial associations. Offering a contact list of restaurants and eateries open during Chinese New Year, the handy food guide familiarizes visitors with relevant restaurants' operation information. Visitors can also find award-winning businesses listed in the Star Merchant Award - Restaurants and Eateries Guide publication and Star Merchant Award - Travel Agency Industry brochure.

The schedule for activities during the Chinese New Year and aforementioned guidelines can be downloaded from the MGTO website (http://en.macaotourism.gov.mo/index.php) or obtained from any MGTO Tourist Information counter.