A successful “Macao Week in Shanghai” promotional event held in June has helped raise Macao’s profile as a healthy, safe and quality destination.
The “Macao Week in Shanghai” roadshow attracted about 300,000 spectators on site while related livestreams conducted by key opinion leaders (KOLs) engaged more than 44.36 million views. The hashtag “#Macao Week in Shanghai#” received more than 40 million pageviews on Weibo. The roadshow was also covered by media from Macao and the Mainland.
Strengthening cooperation
Secretary for Economy and Finance of the Macao SAR Government, Lei Wai Nong, remarked at the opening of “Macao Week in Shanghai” that as one of the core cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Macao was oriented towards becoming “one centre, one platform and one base”.
He encouraged residents of Shanghai and eastern China to visit Macao, and he expressed a hope that Shanghai and Macao can consolidate and extend their cooperation.
At the same event, Vice Mayor of Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, Chen Tong, said that Shanghai and Macao have maintained a close collaborative relationship. It was the hope that both cities would strengthen cooperation in cultural tourism, and share their strengths for mutual success and concerted development, in pursuit of a better future for the people in both cities.
Splendid Roadshow
Macao SAR Government entities joined hands with organisations and businesses to set up 40 booths on Yuanmingyuan Road Pedestrian Street at Waitanyuan, Huangpu District from 3 to 7 June to showcase Macao’s tourism, trade and commerce, culture and creativity, sports, entertainment and colourful “tourism +” offers.
Themes included an overview about Macao and tourism events, Macao’s World Heritage and Intangible Cultural Heritage, Macao Good Shop, MAK MAK Shop, Macao’s sport events, trade and commerce, and a showcase of Macao’s tourism industry presented by tourism enterprises and an airline.
The roadshow presented 117 sessions of spectacular artistic and cultural performances including Dragon Dance, Lion Dance, Portuguese Folk Dance and Wing Chun Martial Arts. Singers enlivened the roadshow with original songs, while MAK MAK performed street dance. Band Tuna Macanese also performed at the event.
Mapping shows were projected upon the façade of the Union Church, drawing passers-by to enjoy a feast for the eyes, with images of MAK MAK and Macao’s East-and-West cultural symphony.
The event prepared more than RMB110 million in special travel offers on air tickets, hotel accommodation, dining and other tourism products for sale at the roadshow and relevant platforms.
A couple from Inner Mongolia said while visiting the event that they like Macao very much, and have plans to visit the city with their children in the future. “Macao people are friendly,” said the couple at the “Macao Week in Shanghai”. They were in Shanghai because their flight to Macao was cancelled due to bad weather.
Xu Hua, Marketing Director of Tongcheng International Travel Service Co. Ltd., said in an interview that the roadshow at the “Macao Week in Shanghai” allowed the group to get to know the latest travel news and local tourism products in Macao, which will help to make future promotion plans. The event also offered the possibility to interact with representatives from the Macao hotel industry, with the aim to explore future cooperation and discuss fresh tourism development opportunities.
Extensive online campaign
An extensive promotional campaign for “Macao Week in Shanghai” rolled out both on and offline. As part of the campaign, 16 KOLs with specialties in travel, lifestyle, culture, gastronomy and other fields conducted 13 live streams or posted short videos, photos and articles about the event highlights on platforms such as Yizhibo and Trip.com.
Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) actively publicised information about the “Macao Week in Shanghai” via its official accounts on WeChat, Weibo, Xiaohongshu and Douyin, as well as through television and newspaper advertisements, travel Apps and so forth.
“Tourism + MICE” prospects
MGTO and the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) jointly organised the Macao Tourism and MICE Presentation Seminar on 4 June to present the strengths of Macao’s tourism and meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) industries.
Featuring a business matching and networking session, the seminar engaged around 150 participants including tourism and MICE industry delegates from Shanghai and Macao.
At the seminar, MGTO Deputy Director Cheng Wai Tong expressed that Shanghai is a major visitor source for Macao and currently ranks as the third largest contributor of Mainland visitors to Macao.
Taste of Macao
Jointly organised by MGTO, Bellagio by MGM Shanghai and MGM Macau, “Macao Week in Shanghai – Taste of Macao Food Promotion” presented 12 signature Macanese and Portuguese delicacies at Café Bellagio of the hotel Bellagio by MGM Shanghai from 4 to 17 June.
The menu was designed by Head Chefs Tiago Reis and Lou Kam Meng from MGM Macau to promote the gastronomic culture of Macao as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy.
Chef Lou also joined KOLs for a culinary presentation via interactive live broadcast in Shanghai on 4 June to introduce Macanese and Portuguese dishes.
The “Macao Week in Shanghai” on Yuanmingyuan Road Pedestrian Street was launched on 3 June 
Mapping shows during “Macao Week in Shanghai” helped attract about 300,000 spectators on site, while the “#Macao Week in Shanghai#” hashtag received more than 40 million page views on Weibo 
Portuguese folk dances were among the performances showcasing Macao’s culture and creativity, sports, entertainment and colourful “tourism +” offers 
A business matching and networking session engaged about 150 members of the travel trade 
Promotions at the event proved to be popular, as passers-by moved through the 40 booths at the site in Shanghai 
Live cooking demonstrations during the “Macao Week in Shanghai – Taste of Macao Food Promotion” presented 12 signature Macanese and Portuguese delicacies