Last month, the Chief Executive (CE) of the Macao SAR, Chui Sai On, announced various initiatives in the Policy Address for Fiscal Year 2018 under the umbrella 'Be pragmatic yet enterprising, and share the fruits of development'. The Policy Address was divided into four parts; namely, 'Continue Perfecting the Five Long-term Mechanisms for People's Wellbeing'; 'Expedite Urban Development'; 'Continue Promoting Stable Economic Development'; 'Deepen Public Administration Reform'.

Consolidate pillars of economy

Regarding sustainable economic development, the government will continue to drive implementation of the Five-Year Development Plan (2016-2020) of the Macao SAR whilst fulfilling the goals established by the Macao Tourism Industry Development Master Plan. The plan seeks to optimise the monitoring and assessment of tourism carrying capacity and enhance venue management of tourist attractions whilst further developing smart tourism to improve the tourist experience of Macao. The plan also calls for strengthening links with international cities, enhancing regional tourism co-operation plus identifying and consolidating tourist source markets. Sustainable and family-friendly tourism offerings remain a priority.

In addition, the MSAR Government will continue advocating the development of budget hotels, theme parks with distinctive features, and integrated shopping malls. Macao's diverse culture will be fully nurtured, with further culture related tourism products included. With Macao's successful designation as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, the MSAR Government will enhance promotion of the gastronomic culture of the city with the aid of the community and local SMEs.

The Macao SAR Government would continuously encourage gaming operators to develop non-gaming elements, integrate more leisure tourism into the trade, and promote interactive development between gaming enterprises and local SMEs, traditional local shops and the cultural and creative industries.

Cultivating multiculturalism, economic diversification

In order to strengthen the city's competitiveness, the MSAR Government will implement a new development strategy embracing 'Cultural Macao'. It will increase practical training for appropriate professions whilst increasing the protection of the city's heritage. This will be achieved by compiling the List of Macao Intangible Cultural Heritage, establishing a heritage monitoring mechanism, and commencing the formulation of the Plan for Protection and Management of the Historic Centre of Macao by-law. Culture popularisation projects and art education projects will be implemented to encourage original creativity, enhanced cultural connections and the showcasing of the uniqueness of Macao's diversified culture, enriching, in parallel, the cultural life of local residents.

In addition to nurturing the cultural and creative industry, the MSAR Government will increase regional connections and co-operation with related industries whilst strengthening training for professionals and managerial talent. To this end, the Cultural Industries Fund (FIC) will provide new financial substance especially for SMEs in the fields of fashion design, cultural exhibitions, and cultural and creative brands.

Assisting and nurturing the fast-growing MICE industry will be another priority via the strategy of 'Elevating Macao into a City of Events', whereby the MSAR Government aspires to increase the number of professional and international branding conventions to be held in Macao, thus helping round out Macao's MICE industry. It will encourage convention organizers to hold community docents, and attract high-end conventions participation, with the added objective of creating synergistic benefits for local SMEs and related industries.

The full Policy Address for Fiscal Year 2018 and summary pamphlets in Chinese and Portuguese are available from the following locations: Government Head Office Auxiliary Bureau; Government Information Bureau; Government Printing Bureau; Public Information Centre; Headquarters of the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau; Macao Central Library; and from the offices of Macao Post and Telecommunications Bureau.

Materials are also available for download from the Chief Executive's Office (www.gce.gov.mo)