MGTO Annual Marketing Meeting 2017 Discusses Marketing Plans for 2018

42 participating representatives attended the meeting to report on the progress of current projects and discuss marketing plans
Market representatives inspected new attractions and tourism facilities

Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) held its Annual Marketing Meeting 2017 in Macao from 19th to 23rd June. Some 42 participants comprising MGTO's market representatives and PR consultant as well as personnel of the Macao Special Administrative Region Delegations from around the world attended the meeting to report on the progress of current projects and discuss marketing plans.

During the meeting, MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes updated the representatives on Macao's current tourism situation and introduced major local events lined up in the latter half of 2017, including the 5th Macao International Travel (Industry) Expo, PATA Travel Mart, Global Tourism Economy Forum and the 43rd National Congress of the Portuguese Association of Travel and Tourism Agencies, among others.

The MGTO Director also elaborated upon the progress of two of the Office's main projects for this year; namely, the formulation of the Macao Tourism Industry Development Master Plan and the task of proceeding with Macao's application for designation as a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the field of gastronomy. She also encouraged all market representatives to initiate creative and novel ideas to promote Macao's gastronomy.

The representatives reviewed their work performance over the past year, reported on the progress of their current projects and preparatory work for the latter half of 2017 and discussed the marketing plans to be carried out in 2018. MGTO officials and market representatives shared their experience and exchanged perspectives on the upcoming projects. In order to effectively promote the diverse and current tourism projects of Macao, the market representatives conducted an inspection visit of the new attractions and tourism facilities during their stay in Macao, including Cinematheque・Passion, Taipa Village, Taipa Ferry Terminal, the 'Cultural Guildhall', Chong Sai Dispensary plus newly built hotels.

With the concerted efforts and collaboration of the market representatives, MGTO will continuously foster the diversification and internationalization of visitor source markets. This year, the Office will continue to adopt the theme 'Experience Macao Your Own Style' and reinforce online promotions, striving to attract more high-value visitors and prolong visitors' length of stay in line with the goal of building Macao into a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure.

In addition, from January to May this year, Macao welcomed over 13.1 million visitor arrivals, up 6.3 per cent year-on-year. Visitor arrivals from Greater China markets increased by 5.8 per cent whilst international visitor arrivals surged 10.6 per cent, indicating a record year-on-year increase for five consecutive months. In 2016, international visitor arrivals occupied 9.7 per cent of total visitor arrivals, while in the first five months of 2017 the proportion reached 10.2 per cent.

With regard to overnight stay visitors, the number surpassed same-day visitors for three consecutive months with more than 6.7 million registered in the first five months of this year, representing 51.2 per cent of total visitors and a year-on-year increase of 13.7 per cent.