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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that visitors on package tours totalled 1,190,000 in December 2014, up significantly by 35.8% year-on-year. Package tour visitors from Mainland China surged by 51.5% year-on-year to 991,000, with 328,000 coming from Guangdong Province, up by 17.4%. Those from Taiwan (57,000), Hong Kong (34,000) and the Republic of Korea (33,000) decreased by 6.3%, 23.2% and 8.6% respectively. For the whole year of 2014, visitors on package tours reached 12,347,000, up by 26.3% year-on-year. Outbound residents using services of travel agencies were 138,000 in December 2014, up by 5.7% year-on-year; those travelling on package tours totalled 53,000 and the main destination was Mainland China (80.4% of total), followed by Taiwan (6.5%) and the Republic of Korea (5.0%). For the whole year of 2014, outbound residents using services of travel agencies totalled 1,537,000, up by 6.2% year-on-year. There were 98 hotels and guesthouses operating at the end of December 2014, providing 28,000 guest rooms, up by 0.5% year-on-year; 5-star hotels accounted for 65.9% of the total supply, with 18,000 rooms. A total of 885,000 guests checked into hotels and guesthouses in December 2014, down by 8.4% year-on-year. Guests from Mainland China (559,000) decreased by 3.2%, while those from Hong Kong (107,000) tumbled by 26.2%. The average length of stay of guests held stable as December 2013, at 1.4 nights. The average occupancy rate of hotels and guesthouses decreased by 4.7 percentage points year-on-year to 85.1%, with 5-star hotels leading at 86.1%, down by 4.2 percentage points; meanwhile, the rate of 4-star hotels dropped by 6.8 percentage points to 85.9%. For the whole year of 2014, hotel guests increased slightly by 0.4% year-on-year to 10,713,000; the average occupancy rate stood at 86.5%, up by 3.4 percentage points. For the whole year of 2014, visitor-guests accounted for 68.8% of the total overnight visitors, down by 1.4 percentage points year-on-year.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that total merchandise export for December 2014 amounted to MOP984 million, up by 7.0% year-on-year; value of re-exports (MOP780 million) and domestic exports (MOP204 million) rose by 6.7% and 8.0% respectively. Total merchandise import expanded by 10.3% year-on-year to MOP8.99 billion, the highest single-month record since the statistics were first compiled, of which imports of Mobile phones increased by 55.5%. Merchandise trade deficit amounted to MOP8.01 billion. In the fourth quarter of 2014, total value of merchandise export (MOP2.63 billion) and merchandise import (MOP25.10 billion) grew by 11.3% and 10.8% respectively year-on-year, resulting in a trade deficit of MOP22.47 billion. For the whole year of 2014, total value of merchandise export increased by 9.0% year-on-year to MOP9.91 billion, of which value of re-exports (MOP7.89 billion) increased by 11.4%, and that of domestic exports (MOP2.02 billion) rose slightly by 0.7%. Total value of merchandise import grew by 11.0% year-on-year to a new record high of MOP89.95 billion. Merchandise trade deficit was MOP80.04 billion in 2014. Analysed by destination, merchandise export to Hong Kong (MOP5.81 billion) and the EU (MOP310 million) in 2014 increased by 19.7% and 10.3% year-on-year, while export to Mainland China (MOP1.55 billion) and the USA (MOP293 million) decreased by 3.2% and 19.6% respectively. In 2014, exports of Non-textiles increased by 10.7% year-on-year to MOP9.13 billion, of which value of Machines, apparatus & parts (MOP1.84 billion) and Clocks & watches (MOP872 million) rose by 21.5% and 85.2% respectively, but that of Electronic components (MOP658 million) dropped by 31.6%. Exports of Textiles & garments totalled MOP781 million, down by 7.7%. By country of origin, merchandise import from Mainland China (MOP29.84 billion) and the EU (MOP21.85 billion) in 2014 increased by 13.0% and 16.3% year-on-year. Imports of Consumer goods rose by 8.4% to MOP55.99 billion, with imports of Food & beverages (MOP11.67 billion) and Watches (MOP7.94 billion) increasing by 21.8% and 22.2% respectively. Moreover, imports of Mobile phones (MOP7.46 billion) and Construction materials (MOP3.47 billion) grew by 21.5% and 25.5% respectively. External merchandise trade reached MOP99.87 billion in 2014, up by 10.8% compared with MOP90.11 billion in 2013.
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The Government is determined to ban smoking in all public indoor areas to further protect the people from hazardous second-hand smoke, said the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Mr Tam Chon Weng. He said the Government did not want an increase in gaming revenue at the expense of the health of the people, casino employees and tourists. Speaking to reporters on 29 January, Mr Tam said the Government would submit the revisions on the New Regime on Tobacco Prevention and Control to the Legislative Assemble within the first half of this year, suggesting imposing a full smoking ban in all public indoor areas, including casinos. Currently, smoking is banned in major public areas in casinos, including the mass gaming floor. Having met with the representatives of the city's six gaming operators and associations, Mr Tam said they preferred to setup airport-style smoking lounges, but poll and study showed that the majority were in favour of a full ban and that the smoking lounges could not ensure satisfied air quality in casinos. Mr Tam said the Government would consider increasing the tobacco tax to 70 per cent of the retail price as suggested by the World Health Organization recommendation. The New Regime first became effective on 1 January 2012, banning smoking in public indoor areas such as schools, health institutes, workplaces and factories. Beginning this year, smoking is also banned in all bars, dancehalls, saunas and massage parlours. On the same day, the Government also launched a mobile application on the waiting time for medical services in the hospitals and the subsided clinics, giving the people better real-time information on the services in different institutions.
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Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) is promoting the city as a leisure and business tourism destination at India's main travel show, South Asia's Travel and Tourism Exchange (SATTE) 2015, which opened today (29) in New Delhi. On the eve of the opening of SATTE, MGTO also held an inauguration of its office at the Indian capital with a new representative. This year, MGTO is SATTE's solo "Feature Destination Partner", with MGTO Deputy Director Cecilia Tse addressing attendees at both the opening ceremony and welcome dinner of the leading travel show. At the opening ceremony held this morning, while introducing the city's appeal as a tourism destination, Cecilia Tse noted that "India is an important international visitor source-market for Macau and we are very glad to inform you that MGTO is stepping up its promotional efforts in the country and has appointed a new representative for the Indian market." SATTE's welcome dinner, co-hosted by MGTO, is taking place this evening with 700-travel trade, media and other guests expected to attend the event. Running on its twenty-second edition, SATTE, considered as South Asia's leading travel trade show, welcomed this year over 650 exhibitors from around 50 countries and territories. During the three day-long travel show, closing January 31, MGTO is promoting Macau at SATTE, with a booth inviting visitors to "Experience Macau", its cultural and historical heritage, new tourism infrastructures, festivities and events. MGTO held an inauguration of its new representative office on Wednesday, in New Delhi, to announce to Indian travel trade and media its opening and promotional plans for the country. A new representative office in Mumbai will also start operations soon. MGTO first opened a representative office in India in 2002. Following a new representative recruitment held in 2014, MGTO selected VFS Global to promote Macau in India. India is one of the most important potential international source markets for Macau. Following double-digit growth in previous years, the number of visitor arrivals from India has kept a good performance in 2014, totaling more than 167 thousand for the whole year, up by 4.5 per cent year-on-year, among which 80.1 per cent of visitors stayed overnight in Macau, 3.1 per cent more compare to the previous year.
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Since 2012, in an effort to provide more selling platforms for the local cultural and creative products and promote local creations, the Cultural Affairs Bureau of Macao S.A.R. Government (IC) has been selecting companies every year from its Database for Cultural and Creative Industries to present and sell their own creative products at the Mandarin's House Cultural Relics Info Centre and Gift Shop. The selection for 2015 has been made and a total of 21 cultural and creative entities are now entitled to show, promote and sell their products there throughout the year.
The Gift Shop is conveniently located, on the right side of the Mandarin's House entrance. It markets souvenirs themed on the Mandarin's House and Macao cultural heritage, publications and IC design items, as well as products of Macao's cultural and creative brands on consignment.
The 21 selected entities for this year are: Absolute Friends Club, Tumbler Ville, Crazy Craft Macau, Macau Association of Composers, Macau Authors & Publishers, JE HANDCRAFTS CO., LTD., Nam Fan Lou Chinese Fans Specialty Shop, See Space, Soda Panda Product Design, Chan Chi On, Chan Kam Lun, Chinese Language Media & Culture Association, Wong Lai Kuan, Dream Project Association, Chiu Man Sin, Associação de Ciências Humanas de Macau, Macao Daily News Limited, Macau Creations Limited, 100 Plus Music Limited, Associacao da Literatura Moderna de Macau, Chinese Cultural Industries Association of Macao, and Leathership Creation Limited Company.
The creative products on consignment are very diversified, including leather products, handmade accessories and decorative items, pop music CDs, books and publications. The Gift Shop now offers a free music trial service, make the customers' choice easier.
The Gift Shop is yet another window and sales platform provided by IC, aiming to popularise and support local creative products in order to develop Macao's cultural and creative industries. For enquiries, please contact Mr. Ho or Ms. Choi through tel. 2892 4040 during office hours.
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The Secretary for Security, Mr Wong Sio Chak, led a delegation to Beijing to discussed public security issues with the mainland authorities to strengthen mutual co-operation. Meeting with the Vice Minister of the Public Security, Mr Chen Zhiming, in the 18th co-operation meeting, Mr Wong thanked the Ministry for its support in the large-scale events held in Macao in the past year. With regards to the extended Macao-Zhuhai crossing hours, Mr Wong said they had reached consensus on issues such as security checks, passenger flow control and cargo inspection. They also explored issues such as public safety, investigation, customs affairs, measures against drug trafficking and terrorism, organised crime and fire service, and reached agreements on the prevention and action against scam on telephone and internet, and cyber bullying. During Mr Wong's visit to Beijing, he also met with the member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Secretary of the Central Politics and Law Commission, Mr Meng Jianzhu, and the State Councillor and the Minister of Public Security, Mr Guo Shengkun. Mr Wong's delegation included the Commissioner General of the Unitary Police Service, Mr Ma Io Kun; the Director-General of the Macao Customs Service, Ms Lai Man Wa; the Chief of Office of the Secretary for Security, Ms Cheong Ioc Ieng; the Commissioner of the Fire Services Bureau, Mr Ma Io Weng; the Director of the Academy of Public Security Forces, Mr Hoi Soi Iong; the Co-ordination of the Security Forces Co-ordination Office, Mr Cheang Seng Chio; the Director of the Judiciary Police, Mr Chau Wai Kuong; the Commissioner of the Public Security Police Force, Mr Leong Man Cheong; and consultants of Mr Wong's office.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the Tourist Price Index (TPI) for the fourth quarter of 2014 increased by 2.43% year-on-year to 145.71, attributable to rising charges for restaurant services and dearer prices of local food products. Notable increase was observed in the price index of Restaurant Services (+8.48%); Food, Alcoholic Drinks & Tobacco (+6.22%); Entertainment & Cultural Activities (+5.28%); and Clothing & Footwear (+4.42%). On the contrary, price index of Hotel Accommodation decreased by 2.65% year-on-year. TPI for the fourth quarter of 2014 increased by 7.82% quarter-to-quarter. Soaring hotel room rates during the National Day holidays, the Macao Grand Prix and Christmas holidays pushed the price index of Accommodation up significantly by 24.43%. Price index of Clothing & Footwear; and Transport & Communications rose by 6.33% and 5.51% respectively upon new arrival of winter clothing, higher prices of ferry tickets to/from Hong Kong, and increased taxi fares. On the other hand, price index of Miscellaneous Goods; and Medicine & Personal Goods decreased by 1.67% and 0.45% respectively quarter-to-quarter. The average TPI for the whole year of 2014 (139.60) increased by 5.15% year-on-year, with marked increase being recorded in the price index of Accommodation (+8.73%); Restaurant Services (+6.37%); Clothing & Footwear (+5.73%); and Food, Alcoholic Drinks & Tobacco (+5.22%). Meanwhile, price index of Transport & Communications; and Miscellaneous Goods decreased by 0.82% and 0.57% respectively year-on-year. The 2009/2010-based TPI reflects the price change of goods and services purchased by visitors. Sections of TPI goods and services are selected according to the consumption pattern of visitors, namely Food, Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco; Clothing & Footwear; Accommodation; Restaurant Services; Transport & Communications; Medicine & Personal Goods; Entertainment & Cultural Activities; and Miscellaneous Goods.
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Strengthening co-operation with regions in the Pan-Pearl River Delta is the most important feature in the Macao Special Administrative Government's proposals for the country's 13th five-year plan, according to the Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On. In the social and economic development blueprint for 2016-2020, the Government would press ahead on the collaboration projects with Nansha in Guangzhou and Hengqin in Zhuhai, he said. The Government was awaiting approval from the Central Government for further moves in the establishment of the Guangdong-Macao co-operation display zone, together with the Zhongshan government. Mr Chui, who is leading an official delegation on a four-day visit to Beijing, disclosed this today in a press briefing after visiting the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Commerce and the State Administration of the Traditional Chinese Medicine, and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council. Earlier today, Mr Chui met with the Vice Minister of the National Development and Reform Commission, Mr Xu Xianping, and discussed issues on the development of the free trade zone in Guangdong. They also shared views on how to make best use of the country's initiatives, such as the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) and its supplementary agreements, trade liberalisation and structural reforms, to further expand business network with Macao's small- and medium-sized enterprises. In the next five years, the Government would step up efforts to turn Macao into a world centre for tourism and leisure and a commercial and trade co-operation service platform between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries, to bring in more innovative ideas to the projects. Mr Chui said he would meet with the officials of the Guangdong government soon to discuss issues on developing Hengqin and Nansha and the country's development direction. In a meeting with Mr Chui yesterday, officials of the Ministry of Commerce said Macao could strengthen its role as a platform between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries by not only fostering co-operations in commercial and trade services but also in the exchanges of cultural affairs. Later in the day, the delegation met with officials of the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Mr Chui said he was pleased to see Central Government giving full support in Macao's efforts in diversifying the economy, such as offering professional education for the training of more personnel to meet the development needs in the emerging traditional Chinese medicine industry. When asked, Mr Chui said the Government had been studying its capacity to accommodate more visitors, adding it would strengthen the management of cross-boundary checkpoints, increase the number of hotel rooms, and enhance the transport networks and measures of crowd control on holidays. Officials of the delegation visiting Beijing with Mr Chui are the Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Leong Vai Tac; the Chief-of-Office of the Chief Executive's Office, Ms O Lam; the Chief of Office of the Secretary for Economy and Finance, Ms Lok Kit Sim and the Director of the Government Information Bureau, Mr Chan Chi Ping.
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In ensuring the good use and discipline of purchasers on the issue date of the Label Stamp "Lunar Year of the Goat", apart from the automatic stamp vending machines located at the Macao Post Headquarters, the Maritime Ferry Terminal Post Office, the Red Market (Almirante Lacerda) Post Office, the Mong Ha Post Office, and the Communications Museum have new arrangement for using the vending machine within 10 minutes for each queuing customer, the automatic stamp vending machines located in the following locations will also have new arrangement: * Please find the attached file Thank you very much.
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The Heritage Foundation released today its 2015 Report on the Index of Economic Freedom, rating Macao's economy as "mostly free" for the seventh consecutive year. The SAR's overall score of economic freedom is 70.3, well above the world and regional averages, making its economy the 34th freest among 178 economies. In the Asia-Pacific region, Macao is ranked 9th out of 42 economies, just behind Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Chinese Taiwan, Japan, South Korea and Malaysia. Based on 10 attributes, the Report assesses the degree of economic freedom of individual economies around the world. Macao receives relatively high score in attributes such as government spending, trade freedom, investment freedom, monetary freedom, and fiscal freedom. The Foundation's 2015 Report says that Macao's long-standing history as a free port city and its openness to international trade and investment provide strong foundations for economic freedom. The judiciary largely respects property rights, and the government has stepped up anti–money laundering enforcement efforts. Taxes are low, and government spending is prudent. According to the Heritage Foundation, a higher level of economic freedom is not only associated with a higher level of per capita income but also promotes economic and social progress.
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