The Quality Tourism Services Accreditation Scheme (QTSAS), launched by Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), will accept applications for the 2017 edition from the food and beverage industry and travel agency industry from 13^th March to 13^th April. The quotas of participating businesses are 30 for the travel agency sector this year, whereas no limit is applicable to the catering sector. MGTO has organized two seminars to encourage businesses from both sectors to join the Scheme.

MGTO Deputy Director Cheng Wai Tong remarked in a seminar that after putting QTSAS into practice for the last three years, MGTO had gained more experience and ideas from industry partners; he believed that the right time had come to evaluate the Scheme. Together with the QTSAS Assessment Committee and the technical support team, MGTO has evaluated the assessment system and operation of QTSAS, followed by suitable adjustments and optimization to simplify the application procedures in order to attract more applicants and encourage awarded merchants to keep joining the Scheme and enhancing their service quality.

The honour of the Star Merchant Award for the catering business was originally valid for three years. After adjustments and optimization of the Scheme, effective 2017, winners of the Star Merchant Award in the catering sector are no longer required to apply for entry to the Scheme every three years after their award expires. Instead, they need to go through annual supervision and appraisal. Those who meet the prescribed criteria and pass the appraisal can remain on the list of Star Merchant Award winners for the following year.

They can also freely choose whether to pit themselves against other qualified businesses for the Service Star Award. In addition, MGTO has raised the level of criteria catering businesses must meet before being considered for the Service Star Award, with the score for food quality accounting for a greater proportion of the overall assessment.

In terms of the travel agency sector, the Star Merchant Award is valid for two years as in the past. However, instead of allowing only the head offices of licensed travel agencies in Macao to participate, the Scheme is now open to any head office or branch office appointed by licensed travel agencies. The award system has also been adjusted for both sectors. For more information about participation in the QTSAS please visit: industry.macaotourism.gov.mo/en.

MGTO launched QTSAS in 2014 with the objective of not only establishing service quality standards for members of the tourism industry but for supporting and encouraging them to upgrade their service quality in order to develop Macao into a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure. The Scheme also seeks to recognize tourism businesses for their outstanding services and excellent service management. QTSAS awards two accolades - namely, the Star Merchant Award and the Service Star Award. With the catering industry achieving excellent results in the first two years of being rolled out the Office extended the Scheme to include travel agencies as well last year.

A total of 201 catering businesses and 28 travel agencies currently hold the Star Merchant Award. For details about awarded merchants, the public can obtain the Star Merchant Award - Restaurants and Eateries Guide and the Star Merchant Award - Travel Agency Industry brochure from any MGTO Tourist Information counter or visit the MGTO website: www.macaotourism.gov.mo.