7^th MITE Launches Seven Key Initiatives

Supported by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China, organised by Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) and co-ordinated by Macau Travel Agency Association, the 7^th Macao International Travel (Industry) Expo (MITE) will be held in Halls D-E in the Cotai Expo of The Venetian Macao from 26^th to 28^th April.

The three-day event will highlight seven key initiatives; namely, the Pavilion in Celebration of the 20^th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region; fostering tourism partnerships under the Belt and Road Initiative; developing multi-destination itineraries in the Greater Bay Area; the exchange platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries; exploring gastronomy and sustainable development; strengthening interaction and integration of culture and tourism, as well as establishing a pre-scheduled appointment system to facilitate business matching in order to bring about more productive results and to create a greater impact as an international travel fair and sales exhibition platform.

MGTO and Macau Travel Agency Association held a press conference on 9^th April to unveil this year’s event programme. During the conference, MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes drew particular attention to the fact that 2019 celebrates both the 70^th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China and the 20^th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region.

Held in this year of dual celebrations, the 7^th edition of MITE will strive for a new level of excellence, innovation and higher accomplishments. The Director also announced that this edition of MITE introduces a pre-scheduled appointment system enabling autonomous invitations and precise matching for a full day of business appointments arranged in advance, leading to more effective, quality interactions. 

The scale of the event has been expanded this year as well. The exhibition floor has been doubled to 22000 square metres, accommodating 800 standard booths in total, reinforcing Macao’s unique positioning and functions with regard to its participation in the Belt and Road Initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development.

The seven key initiatives are as follows:

1)    Pavilion in Celebration of the 20^th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region: Encompassing a total of seven chapters, the exhibition will, from various angles and perspectives, demonstrate Macao’s continuous endeavours to enrich the diversity of tourism resources and products under the successful implementation of the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ policy. The exhibition will also highlight the travel destination’s colourful image and the progress of the city’s transformation into a world centre of tourism and leisure;

2)    Foster tourism partnerships under the Belt and Road Initiative: An approximately 1000 square metre ‘Belt and Road Pavilion’ will bring together some 130 tourism entities/enterprises from 35 countries along the Belt and Road for the opportunity to explore and deepen co-operation on diversified tourism products along the Belt and Road;

3)    Develop multi-destination itineraries in the Greater Bay Area: The ‘Greater Bay Pavilion’ will provide the latest tourism information about multi-destination travel in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area; and establish the new zones of Zhongshan Street, Guangzhou Street and Zhuhai Street for sales of respective cultural and tourism products;

During MITE, MGTO will arrange industry delegations from Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines, the United States and Taiwan Region to pay multi-destination familiarisation visits to Guangzhou, Zhaoqing, Jiangmen, Macao and Hong Kong; meanwhile, the Alliance for Developing Macao into the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Tourism Education and Training Base will host two panel sessions at MITE entitled "Greater Bay Area Attractions’ CEO Exchange" and ‘Building Successful Careers in the Greater Bay Area’;

4)    Exchange platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries: The ‘China and Portuguese-Speaking Countries Pavilion’ will deepen the cultural and tourism exchange between China and Portuguese-speaking countries by presenting products from Portuguese-speaking countries, Chinese tea art performances and so forth; in addition, a series of ‘Promotion Sessions of the Tourism Products of Portuguese-speaking Countries’ will be organised to introduce tourist spots, resources and products in Portugal, Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, São Tomé and Príncipe and East Timor in order to strengthen tourism co-operation and exchanges between various destinations;

5)    Explore gastronomy and sustainable development: An educational session will be held in partnership with National Geographic to explore how Macau is driving a shift towards a more sustainable and creative food industry across Asia;

6)    Strengthen interaction and integration of culture and tourism: The ‘Cultural and Creative Pavilion’ will encompass a variety of interactive cultural and creative experiences to extend the added value of cultural tourism via the organic integration of culture, handicrafts, gastronomy and creativity;

7)    Establish a pre-scheduled appointment system to facilitate business matching: A pre-scheduled appointment system to enable precise matching and business appointments scheduled between exhibitors and buyers in advance will be inaugurated, leading to more effective outcomes.

The 7^th MITE will be open from 9:00am to 6:00pm on 26^th April (for industry professionals) and from 10:00am to 8:00pm on 27^th and 28^th April (for the public). Free admission tickets will be distributed on-site at the entrance of Hall D, in the Cotai Expo of The Venetian Macao. Free parking will be available to local residents at Hall C, in the Cotai Expo of The Venetian Macao during the Expo, while a free shuttle bus service for four routes will be provided between the venue and various pick-up and drop-off points in Macao and Taipa.

For more information, please visit: www.mitexpo.mo.