News

Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that total spending (excluding gaming expenses) of visitors in the fourth quarter of 2015 amounted to MOP 13.05 billion, down by 7.1% from MOP 14.05 billion in the same quarter of 2014 and up by 4.7% from MOP 12.47 billion in the third quarter of 2015. For the whole year of 2015, total spending of visitors was MOP 51.13 billion, down by 17.2% from MOP 61.75 billion in 2014, marking the first decline since the data was first released in 2010; total spending of overnight visitors (MOP 40.17 billion) decreased by 21.1% while that of same-day visitors (MOP 10.96 billion) increased by 0.9%. In the fourth quarter of 2015, per-capita spending of visitors was MOP 1,660, down by 5.5% year-on-year and yet up by 7.8% from the third quarter (MOP 1,540). Per-capita spending of visitors from Mainland China decreased by 4.9% year-on-year to MOP 1,938, with spending of those travelling under the Individual Visit Scheme (IVS) dropping by 10.3% to MOP 2,349. Meanwhile, per-capita spending of visitors from Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan registered year-on-year decrease. Among the long-haul visitors, per-capita spending of those from Australia increased by 1.0% year-on-year, while that from the United Kingdom and the United States decreased. In 2015, per-capita spending of visitors was MOP 1,665, down by 15.0% from MOP 1,959 in 2014. Visitors from Mainland China spent an average of MOP 1,965, down by 16.5% year-on-year; spending of those from Guangdong Province (MOP 1,565) rose by 1.1% while that from Fujian Province (MOP 1,535) fell by 23.2%; per-capita spending of IVS visitors dropped by 16.5%, at MOP 2,292. Meanwhile, per-capita spending of visitors from Singapore (MOP 1,726), Malaysia (MOP 1,556) and Japan (MOP 1,524) registered year-on-year decrease. As regards long-haul visitors, per-capita spending of those from Australia (MOP 1,375) and the United Kingdom (MOP 1,329) dropped year-on-year, while that from the United States (MOP 1,281) remained unchanged. In the fourth quarter of 2015, per-capita spending of overnight visitors and same-day visitors was MOP 2,733 and MOP 658 respectively, down by 11.3% and 3.2% year-on-year. For the whole year of 2015, per-capita spending of overnight visitors dropped by 19.6% year-on-year to MOP 2,807, while that of same-day visitors rose by 4.3% to MOP 668. Analysed by countries and places, per-capita spending of overnight visitors from Mainland China (MOP 3,360), Singapore (MOP 2,728), Malaysia (MOP 2,336), Japan (MOP 2,294), Thailand (MOP 2,108) and Taiwan (MOP 2,950) recorded double-digit decrease, while that of same-day visitors from Mainland China (MOP 812) and Singapore (MOP 510) saw increase. Analysed by consumption structure, visitors spent mainly on shopping (46.0%), accommodation (25.5%) and food & beverage (20.4%) in the fourth quarter of 2015, with per-capita shopping spending dropping by 3.9% year-on-year to MOP 764. The consumption structure of visitors in 2015 was similar to that in the fourth quarter, with shopping (45.8%) and accommodation (25.4%) predominating. In 2015, per-capita shopping spending of visitors decreased by 20.0% year-on-year to MOP 762, with local food products sharing 29.4%. Visitors from Mainland China spent an average of MOP 1,051 on shopping, with IVS visitors spending MOP 1,442, down by 20.1% and 17.1% respectively. Meanwhile, long-haul visitors spent primarily on accommodation and food & beverage. In the fourth quarter of 2015, visitors’ satisfaction towards various services declined compared with the third quarter. About 87.9% of the visitor-users were satisfied with the services and facilities of hotels, down slightly by 0.9 percentage points quarter-to-quarter, while those who complimented about the services of gaming establishments (83.0%) and retail shops (81.7%) dropped by 1.2 and 3.4 percentage points respectively. Moreover, 78.5% of the visitor-users expressed satisfaction with the services of travel agencies, down substantially by 7.5 percentage points quarter-to-quarter, while visitors who were satisfied with public transport services had the lowest percentage, at 67.8%, down by 4.7 percentage points. Visitors who commented that points of tourist attractions were adequate dropped by 2.7 percentage points to 42.4%, while those considered the services were inadequate rose by 1.6 percentage points to 15.0%.
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The Government has no immediate plans to revise the legal framework governing the private real estate market, said the Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Mr Raimundo do Rosário. He stated that the Government was not currently planning to introduce changes to the rules governing the sale of units in buildings under construction; or to other regulations related to the private real estate sector. Mr Rosário was speaking to the media on the sidelines of an event on Thursday (18 February). The local authorities would nonetheless continue to monitor closely the development of, and changes to, the local property market, he added. The Secretary also commented on the progress of the proposed urban renewal committee. He said the consultative body would be set up officially in the next few weeks, and its members would be appointed shortly. In response to comments relating to the Government’s administrative procedures in various areas of work, Mr Rosário explained such procedures were necessarily time consuming in order to be fair and effective. He added that he had instructed all public bodies under his portfolio to speed up administrative procedures where practicable.
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The Government expects a public consultation relating to the revision of the Legislative Assembly Election Law would be held some time between March and April. The Government would strive to submit to the Legislative Assembly a bill for revision of the Legislative Assembly Election Law in July, said the Secretary for Administration and Justice, Ms Chan Hoi Fan, on Thursday (18 February), after a committee meeting at the Legislative Assembly. Suggested revisions would be based on findings contained in a report – published last December – on the fifth Legislative Assembly Election, said Ms Chan. In particular, the suggested revisions would cover issues regarding how to enhance the competitiveness of the electoral process for those Legislative Assembly seats assigned to the indirect election system; and how to increase the overall fairness of the electoral process. Ms Chan said the work on revision of the Legislative Assembly Election Law had to be concluded by the end of this year, given that the next election of the Legislative Assembly would be held in 2017. Ms Chan also commented to reporters about a bill on Macao’s regional judicial cooperation with the mainland and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The bill took into account the principle of double jeopardy; and also the need to respect Macao’s own legislation when handling requests for judicial cooperation from other jurisdictions, she said. The Secretary said adherence to the principle of “One country, two systems” was an essential foundation of the judicial cooperation bill, a measure submitted to the Legislative Assembly last December. Ms Chan also commented on the Government’s liaison with the committees of the Legislative Assembly regarding the analysis of proposed legislation. She said that the schedule for such work was dependent on rounds of discussion both with members of the Legislative Assembly’s relevant committees and with legal advisors. She added it was important that the Government made a thorough analysis of such matters. The Government would maintain its effort to communicate effectively with the Legislative Assembly regarding legislative matters, she added.
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Please be informed that the stamp issue plan for the current year will be revised as follow: Alteration The stamp issue “Rio 2016 Olympic Games”, issue on 29 July will be renamed as “Games 2016”. Besides, the stamp issue “Traditional Chinese Culture”, issue on 9 October will be renamed as “Chinese Landscape Painting”. Insertion Macao Post will launch an additional stamp issue named “Paintings of Macao’s Famous Artists” on 25 August.
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To facilitate the public and philatelists for ordering new philatelic products, please note the followings: (* please find the attached file)
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Since the first issue of "Literature and its Characters – The Outlaws of the Marsh" released by Macao Post in 2003, the second issue of the series was released in 2014. “The Outlaws of the Marsh” is based on a peasant uprising during the Song Dynasty. Within this framework, the novel features the spirit of freedom and rebellion against unrighteousness and injustice. The work is characterized by its vivid and sinuous plots as well as its individualized characterization. It is a well-received masterpiece known to everyone, with the aim of transmitting the knowledge of Chinese tales to the next generations. Macao Post will launch the thematic pack "Literature and its Characters – The Outlaws of the Marsh" on 1st March 2016. This exquisite pack with the two stamp issues dedicated to Chinese Literature will certainly be a collectable item at reasonable price. The thematic pack is priced at MOP180.00. It will be available for sale at the Philatelic Shop of Macao Post Headquarters, Rua do Campo Post Office, Maritime Ferry Terminal Post Office, Airport Post Office and the Communications Museum. Get the opportunity to add value to your collection!
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To celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Communications Museum, Macao Post announces that a Temporary Post Counter will be set up at our Philately Shop located at Macao Post Headquarters and Communications Museum, from 9:00 to 17:30 on 1st March 2016 to provide the commemorative postmark cancellation service for the “10th Anniversary of Communications Museum”. Welcome to visit and collect Macao Stamps!
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Coincides with the Macao Museum of Art, which holding the exhibition themed “Ink Wash of the Forbidden City – Paintings by Charles Chauderlot”, Macao Post will held the Issuing Ceremony and Stamp’s Designer Autograph Session of the stamp issue “Scenery of the Imperial Palace in Beijing”, at 12:30 on 1st March 2016 at 3rd floor, Macao Museum of Art. The artist, also the designer of this stamp issue, Charles Chauderlot will be present for Autograph Session scheduled at 12:45 to 14:00. The philatelic products of this stamp issue will be available for sale at the on-site special counter during 12:00 to 15:00.
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To celebrate the 132nd Anniversary of Macao Post, Macao Post announces that a Temporary Post Counter will be set up at our Philately Shop located at Macao Post Headquarters and Communications Museum, from 9:00 to 17:30 on 1st March 2016 to provide the commemorative postmark cancellation service for the “132nd Anniversary of Macao Post”. A commemorative envelope will be distributed to public. Welcome to visit and collect Macao Stamps!
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Please be informed that starting from 9:00a.m. on 22nd February, (Monday) 2016, the new label stamps “Lunar Year of the Monkey” will be available for sale at the designated automatic stamp vending machines as below: (* please find the attached file) The service of the relevant machines will be temporarily suspended for the installation of the new label stamps from 3:00p.m. on 21st February 2016. And the service will be resumed one after another on the next day starting from 9:00a.m. *Each customer of stamp vending machine is limited to 10 minutes for every purchase of stamp on the first day of issue at the above address.
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