Macao Tourism Industry Development Master Plan Released by MGTO
MGTO unveils the content of the final Master Plan
The final Master Plan was unveiled at a press conference
After two years of studies and formulation work of the Macao Tourism Industry Development Master Plan (referred to as the 'Master Plan'), Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) delivered the final version of the Master Plan on 28th September, flourishing a blueprint for the development of the Macao tourism industry for the next 15 years and a relevant guideline for future action.
The Master Plan seeks to steer the progress of the Macao tourism industry towards a parallel direction with the development policies of the country and the Macao Special Administrative Region Government at all levels. Following the release of the Master Plan, a cross-departmental Master Plan Steering Group has been established, led by Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Alexis Tam.
MGTO held a press conference to unveil the content of the final Master Plan to the public attended by MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes and Deputy Directors Cecilia Tse and Cheng Wai Tong.
The country's Belt and Road Initiative and the Macao SAR Government's vision to build Macao into a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure have opened up a new horizon of possibilities for the Macao tourism industry on its road towards advancement. In 2015, MGTO began studying and formulating the Master Plan to devise systematic plans on building and managing the tourism economy.
Guided by the goals of the Five-Year Development Plan (2016-2020) of the Macao Special Administrative Region, the Office formulated a blueprint to guide the future development of the Macao tourism industry of the next 15 years in tandem with the city's commitment to becoming a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure.
During the formulation process, MGTO conducted a range of studies in different forms such as international forums, questionnaire surveys, site visits, interviews and benchmark analyses to explore and analyze the current situation, strengths, challenges and potential of Macao's tourism industry in depth in order to develop a feasible proposal and plan with concrete details.
MGTO rolled out a two-month public consultation for the Master Plan from 23rd May to 22nd July 2016 to solicit a wide spectrum of opinions from the local community, the travel trade and non-governmental organisations via different channels, with the objective of producing a Master Plan that would resonate profoundly with the demand of the local tourism industry along its development course.
Following the consultation, MGTO announced and published a compilation report of public opinions on the Macao Tourism Industry Development Master Plan this January.
After two years of effort, MGTO completed the final Master Plan in 2017, distilling the collective wisdom of tourism experts, the governmental entities concerned, industry operators and professional organisations as well as different strata of society. The Master Plan proposes eight key objectives, 33 strategies and 91 action plans for short, medium and long-term implementation, encompassing an inclusive blueprint for tourism industry development at all levels, with relevant guide for future actions.
Following the release of the Master Plan, a cross-departmental Master Plan Steering Group will be established and led by the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, who will lead collaboration across departments and oversee the implementation progress of the action plans, such that various relevant departments of the Macao SAR Government can progressively forge ahead with related tasks and projects according to the goals and action plans set by the Master Plan, in strenuous pursuit of diversified and sustainable tourism development in Macao.
In consideration of the ever-changing surroundings and the latest tourism prospects, MGTO will re-evaluate the Master Plan to keep pace with the progress of Macao's transformation into a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure.
The Macao Tourism Industry Development Master Plan - Comprehensive Report (Chinese, English and Portuguese versions) and the Macao Tourism Industry Development Master Plan - Summary Report; (Chinese, English and Portuguese versions) are now available for download from this link: masterplan.macaotourism.gov.mo/home-en/index.html.
For environmental reasons, MGTO has printed limited hard copies of the Macao Tourism Industry Development Master Plan - Summary Report for the public to obtain from MGTO's reception counters on the 12th and 18th floor of the Hotline Building, as well as the Public Information Centre, the Service Centre of the Macao SAR and public libraries.
In early 2015, MGTO called for public tenders for the Macao Tourism Industry Development Master Plan Service Provision to propose an inclusive development plan for the Macao tourism industry in the short, medium and long-term, with the aim of devising a comprehensive Macao Tourism Industry Development Master Plan that would lay the foundation and direction for the future tourism development of Macao for the next 15 years.
The formulation work of the Master Plan proceeded in three phases. In the first phase, data was collected followed by an analysis of the current tourism situation. As a result, a preliminary draft of the Master Plan was prepared by the end of 2015.
Second-phase tasks mainly involved the launch of a public consultation and preparation of an in-depth version of the Master Plan completed in 2016.
In the third phase, the final version of the Master Plan was produced following a process of amendment and consolidation. After two years of formulation work, the final Master Plan was recently completed in 2017 for official release.