China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) and the Secretariat for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao SAR Government jointly held the first 'Exchange Seminar on Holistic Tourism and Tourist Police Between Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao' on 19^th March in Macao.

Representatives of various tourism entities and police authorities of the Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao exchanged their perspectives on holistic tourism development as well as the establishment and operation of tourist police. They also made a site inspection to learn more about the local tourism situation and on-site operation of tourist police in Macao.

CNTA: Macao a model city of holistic tourism

CNTA Chairman Li Jinzao said during the seminar that the Central Government attached great importance to the tourism industry and holistic tourism development, and elaborated upon the necessity to develop holistic tourism on the Mainland.

He believes Macao is a tourist city that manifests openness, which can be regarded as an exemplary city implementing holistic tourism. Chairman Li especially mentioned the Macao tourist police, who officially assumed their duties in Macao on 5^th March, enabling an exchange of ideas and learning between tourist police and tourism market management on the Mainland and in Macao.

Chief of Office of the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Ip Peng Kin, remarked that the tourism department of the Macao SAR Government has been actively and progressively undertaking different tasks and projects to enhance the long-term tourism development of Macao. In recent years, holistic tourism has been a highly regarded model of tourism development promoted by the country. The seminar enables tourism stakeholders to gain a deeper understanding of the development course and the experience of holistic tourism whilst advancing the development of the Macao tourism industry by shedding light on its future direction in parallel with national tourism development.

In addition, he believes that by launching the practice of tourist police, various tasks can be executed effectively including crowd management and the maintenance of public security and order at tourist attractions, which will contribute significantly to Macao's development as a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure.

Tourism and Police department visit for exchange in Mainland planned

During the exchange session, Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes stated that regarding future development of holistic tourism Macao lays more stress on how to optimize planning and policies for industry development, as well as how the tourism industry can benefit society at large.

In the process of formulation by MGTO the Macao Tourism Industry Development Master Plan has set four overall goals for Macao to attain in order to realize the vision of becoming a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure. Each overall goal includes different strategies and measures that parallel the development of holistic tourism and extend its concept; the final version of the Master Plan will be launched this year. MGTO will follow the overall goals set by the Master Plan to conduct different strategies and measures.

Moreover, in the summary section, Senna Fernandes remarked that the authorities can consider leading local tourism and police departments to visiting various provinces, regions in the Mainland, and municipalities for exchange opportunities and learning from others' experiences. Due to the convenience of transportation infrastructure and the development opportunities arising from 'tourism +' it will steer co-operation towards a deeper and wider level of development.

Over 100 participants attended the seminar - including the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR, the Secretariat for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao SAR Government, Macao Government Tourism Office, the Public Security Police Force of the Macao SAR Government, the Tourism Commission of the Government of the Hong Kong SAR plus representatives of the tourism industry from Hong Kong and Macao.

Tourism committees, tourism authorities and tourism police teams (and sub-teams) from eleven provinces, regions and municipalities joined the activities. Other attendees included tourism experts from the Mainland and representatives of the related departments and offices of CNTA.

Participants inspect Macao's tourist sites and on-site operation of tourist police

On the day before the exchange seminar was held, CNTA Chairman, accompanied by MGTO Director, inspected various points of interest in the city including Macao Museum, Mount Fortress, the Ruins of St. Paul's, MGTO's Tourist Information counters, and the Public Security Police Force (PSP) Headquarters.

The superintendent of PSP, Cheong Sio Iam, elaborated upon the operating situation of tourist police on duty at the Ruins of St. Paul's. Representatives of tourism and police authorities from the Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao also paid a site inspection to learn about local tourism development and the on-site operations of Macao's tourist police.