• Chief Executive said that the Macao SAR Government will encourage gaming operators to invest more in non-gaming elements while deepening the integration of tourism and leisure (Photo courtesy of Government Information Bureau)
  • Macao SAR Chief Executive Chui Sai On delivered the Policy Address for Fiscal Year 2019 to the Legislative Assembly on 15th November (Photo courtesy of Government Information Bureau)
  • The Macao SAR Government will fully utilise the advantages of Macao’s geographic location and policies, and research and explore new maritime routes in addition to supporting initiatives associated with maritime tourism
  • The renovation of the Grand Prix Museum is expected to be finished next year (Photo courtesy of Government Information Bureau)

CE: Enhance Tourism City Construction, Discover Coastal Cultural Tourism

LISTEN STOP Your browser does not support this feature

Macao SAR Chief Executive Chui Sai On delivered his Policy Address for Fiscal Year 2019 - entitled 'Seize Opportunities for Balanced Development' - on 15th November, outlining four main focuses for next year's policy blueprint; namely, improving people's livelihoods, deepening urban development, promoting economic growth, and striving for sound social governance. In the tourism area, a string of policy orientations and new projects have been outlined, presenting new opportunities for the industry as Macao paves its way to transforming the city into a world centre of tourism and leisure.

Deepening Bay Area co-operation, exploring coastal cultural tourism

The Policy Address highlighted 'Consolidation of the bases of the dominant sector and construction of a city with optimal conditions for tourism and leisure', which includes: encouraging gaming operators to invest more in non-gaming elements; deepening the integration of tourism and leisure; promoting the construction of budget hotels, original theme parks, integrated shopping centres, and so forth; and completing the renovation of the Grand Prix Museum next year.

The Policy Address also incorporated ideas to promote local culinary culture in a bid to enhance Macao's influence as one of the UNESCO Creative Cities of Gastronomy under the UNESCO Creative Cities Network; stepping up promotion of Macao in countries and regions covered by the 'Belt and Road' initiative; launching more routes under a 'multi-destination travel' model; expanding the number of destinations within the Bay Area under the facilitated travel for pleasure craft scheme, including exploring opportunities with other Bay Area cities in the marine industrial sector and other high-end service industries; utilising the advantages of Macao's geographic location and policies, researching and exploring new maritime routes; supporting initiatives associated with maritime tourism and water sports, as well as exploring opportunities for regional co-operation in maritime travel, and creating a maritime, cultural and ecological tourism system in order to promote a recreational space for residents and a space for aquatic experiences.

Cultural city credentials, discovering neighbourhood characteristics

On developing Macao as a world renowned multicultural city, the Policy Address pledged that the government would continue promoting cultural succession education, commence research and publicity on culture and history; popularise cultural and arts education; and complete construction of the Xian Xing Hai Memorial Centre and Seac Pai Van Library next year. It would also enhance regional cultural co-operation, and broaden international cultural interaction; perfect the mechanism for relics identification and monitoring; and accelerate the formulation of the Plan for Protection and Management of the Historic Centre of Macao.

In addition, a Community Cultural and Creative Production Subsidy Scheme is to be launched next year to promote the integrated development of traditional industries and cultural and creative industries; strengthen support for 'Made in Macao' brands; and promote an initiative known as the 'Scheme to Assist the Re-branding of Time-honoured Local Shops' in order to improve product competitiveness and increase brand value.

Optimising infrastructure, integrating regional and country development

In addition to enhancing residents' and visitors' convenience and travel comfort, the Macao SAR will launch the Macau Light Rapid Transit (LRT) Taipa Line next year in addition to linking Taipa and Macao Peninsula Barra Station and related public transport interchanges; Taipa and Seac Pai Van Line are in progress; while research will be conducted on linking New Urban Zone Area A, the artificial island of the HKZM Bridge and Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal.

The Policy Address also spoke of furthering Macao's integration into the country's overall development, engaging in regional co-operation; promoting the construction of new access between Guangdong and Macao; and transferring the Lotus Flower Bridge border checkpoint to Hengqin Island.

The 'Joint Inspection and One-time Release' principle currently applied to the HKZM Bridge will be applied to other new border checkpoints; the inter-city ticket payment method will be studied; and due to its participation in the Bay Area, the Macao SAR Government will conduct joint studies with the Bay Area cities to promote the possibility of integrating Macao into the High Speed Rail project on the west bank of the Pearl River Delta.

Printed copies and the booklet edition of the Policy Address for the Fiscal Year 2019, published in Chinese and Portuguese, are available for collection from the Government Head Office Auxiliary Bureau; the Government Information Bureau; the Government Printing Bureau; the Public Information Centre; the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau; the Central Library; and the Macao Post and Telecommunications Bureau.

The public can also review the full report on the Office of the Chief Executive website: www.gce.gov.mo.