The Tourism Development Committee (CDT) convened the first Plenary Meeting of 2022 last month, which was presided over by Secretary for Economy and Finance and Committee Chairperson, Lei Wai Nong. At the meeting, Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) introduced the latest overview of Macao’s tourism industry, unveiled its work plan for the second half of this year and listened to CDT members’ opinions on Macao’s tourism development and the plan for tourism economic recovery.

In the first four months of this year, Macao registered 2.48 million visitor arrivals and an average hotel occupancy rate of 38%, while the average length of overnight stay visitors’ climbed to 3.4 days. The single-day record of inbound visitors even peaked to about 42,000 on 30^th April (during the Labour Day holidays), an all-time high for the year so far.

In order to expedite a revival in the city’s tourism industry, MGTO has planned for an array of major events and activities to unfold in the latter half of this year, such as the 10^th Macao International Travel (Industry) Expo and Macao Light Festival 2022. The Office is also actively gearing up to launch a brand new event - the Food Festival for the Five Creative Cities of Gastronomy of China.

In terms of promotion, MGTO has not only launched the “Experience Macao, Unlimited” promotional campaign that features a monthly myriad of wonderful city highlights but will also carry out the mega “Macao Week” roadshows, a touring caravan in the Greater Bay Area and flash roadshows in shopping malls. MGTO has been also rolling out various promotional initiatives via platforms, travel influencers and news websites in Mainland China. In addition, MGTO has launched its Tiktok account where promotional videos are shared with viewers from potential international markets. A range of special offers on travel, hotels and air tickets are launched on different platforms to draw visitors, entourage tourism spending and inspire holidaymakers to extend their length of stay in Macao.

Different CDT members raised perspectives and suggestions on the following topics at the first Plenary Meeting of 2022: Mainland group travel, Hong Kong and international markets, TV travelogues and e-marketing, arrangements for medical observation, the Mainland’s measures on border crossing, community tourism and economy, and tourism personnel training.