The Macao SAR Government will strive to expedite recovery and development of the tourism industry in 2022, and to deepen the crossover effects of the “tourism +” initiatives, with the aim of spurring economic revitalisation.
Chief Executive of the Macao SAR Ho Iat Seng announced these efforts as part of the nine major strands (more details available here) of his Policy Address for the Fiscal Year 2022. The document, “Making Concerted Efforts to Open Up New Horizons”, was unveiled in the Legislative Assembly on 16 November.
The Chief Executive said he hoped that there could be an orderly relaxation of travel restrictions in 2022.
In order to create the necessary conditions for resuming normal boundary crossing activity between Macao and the mainland, Hong Kong, and other places, Macao will continue to closely adhere to the strategic principle of “preventing imported cases and a rebound of the epidemic”, while working to increase the overall vaccination rate among the Macao population.
Major tasks for the Macao SAR Government in 2022 will be implementation of the Second Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Macao SAR, spanning 2021 to 2025, and of the Master Plan of the Development of the Guangdong-Macao Intensive Cooperation Zone in Hengqin.
Local authorities will actively participate in the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area by leveraging cooperation in several sectors, including finance and tourism.
The Chief Executive said Macao authorities would foster and develop various industries to expedite the city’s adequate economic diversification. The Macao SAR Government would also dedicate continuous effort to enriching the offerings of Macao as a world centre of tourism and leisure, and promoting the quality development of the integrated tourism and leisure industry.
The administration will encourage the development of new growth points for the city’s nascent industries, including cultural tourism, meetings and conventions, sports, modern financial services, high and new technology industries, and “big health” industry. That would be complemented by deepening the crossover effects of the “tourism +” policy, with an aim to expedite recovery of the tourism industry.
Tourism policies
In the Policy Address for the Fiscal Year 2022, the Macao SAR Government has proposed to continue to give full play to the leading function of integrated tourism as the pillar industry and its key role in promoting the city’s economy recovery. It would make efforts to expand tourist sources through multiple channels, covering an array of promotions, both online and offline, along with the launch of themed tourism products, and more.
The goal is to promote Macao as a healthy, safe and quality destination, to attract more visitors, while enhancing Macao’s “tourism +” cross-sector integration initiatives, including “tourism + MICE”, “tourism + culture and creativity”, “tourism + e-commerce”, and “tourism + sports”.
In 2022, precision marketing promotions will continue to be carried out in collaboration with leading online travel platforms, encouraging the city’s travel trade to create diverse and attractive offerings.
Macao will also leverage on its designation as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, and on the promotion of the Historic Centre of Macao as part of UNESCO’s World Heritage List, in conjunction with its world class tourism infrastructures to promote a diversified image in order to attract more tourists to the city. The city will take further advantage of big data, smart and other information technologies, in order to conduct precision marketing to deliver messages to visitors.
Macao-Hengqin integrated development
To integrate further with national development, the Macao SAR Government will continue to expedite tourism collaboration with neighbouring Hengqin Island, under the Master Plan of the Development of the Guangdong-Macao Intensive Cooperation Zone in Hengqin.
The two sides will continue to collaborate in the joint development of tourism products, by encouraging the city’s travel trade to promote further tourism activities between Macao and Hengqin, to enhance the use of tourism resources on peripheral islands and develop tourism products related to health preservation with the use of traditional Chinese medicine, and other themes.
The Macao SAR Government will study the possibility of expanding the “Travel Stimulation Programme” to include groups going to Hengqin for meetings and conventions, incentive tourism or sports events within the scope of application, and invite the Hengqin side to organise teams to join Macao iconic events.
Macao will also strengthen initiatives to develop multi-destination tourism itineraries within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, with the cooperation from leading online tourism platforms. That could lead to the creation of a Greater Bay Area tourism brand, offering diversified themed tours.
Community tourism activities
The Macao authorities will continue to support community tourism activities with the aim of energising the business environment and attracting greater visitor numbers to local communities.
The Macao SAR Government has been collaborating with community organisations to roll out events such as the “Tour Macao FUN Fair” events (read more here), to draw more residents and visitors into local neighbourhoods.
The administration also recently launched specific financial support programmes for activities to be organised from 2022, to boost community tourism activities, and encourage local community associations to make better use of the city’s culture, history and tourism resources.
The Macao SAR Government will continue to promote the city’s “Distinctive Shops” such as eateries, confectionaries and bakeries, souvenir shops, retailers and handicraft businesses, to encourage spending in local communities. It will also encourage further promotion of “Distinctive Shops + MICE industry”, to attract a greater number of visitors and spending in the city.
Regarding other matters, the development of Macao as a base for tourism education and training for the Greater Bay Area will continue to be a priority for the Macao SAR Government, as will the cultivation of qualified professionals for the tourism industry.
Work to expand Macau International Airport, which includes a plan to remodel part of Taipa Ferry Terminal as a second passenger terminal to serve the neighbouring airport, will also be expedited next year.
For more information on the Policy Address for the Fiscal Year 2022, please visit www.policyaddress.gov.mo.
| Strengthening MITE’s role in tourism promotion To mark the 10th anniversary of the Macao International Travel (Industry) Expo (MITE) in 2022, the event was accredited by the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI) in November, with the purpose of increasing its international influence and professionalism. The next edition of MITE will be expanded, with the creation of a dedicated wedding tourism and celebration themed exhibition area, to further support the development of the city’s tourism related industries. Each year, MITE brings together exhibitions with highlights to support members of the tourism and related industries to deepen cooperation and navigate business opportunities. The event is supported by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China, organised by Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) and coordinated by Macau Travel Agency Association. |
Chief Executive of the Macao SAR Ho Iat Seng delivers the Policy Address for the Fiscal Year 2022 (Photo courtesy of Macao SAR Government Information Bureau) 
Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng answers questions from legislators on the Policy Address (Photo courtesy of Macao SAR Government Information Bureau)