News

Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) has invited a delegation of local trade to participate together in the 22nd edition of Incentive Travel & Conventions, Meetings Asia (IT & CMA 2014) in Thailand and promote Macau as a business travel destination. IT & CMA 2014 is held in Bangkok from 30 September to 2 October. Being a leading business tourism tradeshow in the Asia-Pacific Region, IT & CMA provides an effective platform for industry partners to promote incentive travel. The event has incorporated luxury travel in its realm since 2012 and offered a wider variety of choices on its exhibition floor. The key program of IT & CMA 2014 features themed talks, seminars, forums, opening ceremony and welcome dinner as well. MGTO runs a booth after the theme "Touching Moments, Experience Macau" this year and partners with 40 delegates representing 30 local enterprises to spotlight Macau's convention & exhibition industry and present the destination's latest business tourism products and facilities to their Asian counterparts. The participating businesses include hotels, resorts, convention and exhibition companies, travel agencies, entertainment enterprises, airlines and ferry operators from Macau. The MGTO team also takes the opportunity to advertise its "Incentive Travel Stimulation Program" among incentive travel organizers. "Incentive Travel Stimulation Program" has been welcomed by local trade since MGTO launched it. During the period from this January to August, MGTO has received a total of nine subsidy applications from the Mainland which involved over 32,000 participants. According to the Statistics and Census Service, a total of 503 MICE events were held in Macau in the first half of 2014. The number of attendees sums to 827,000. This press release is available at: http://industry.macautourism.gov.mo
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To promote the development of Macao's fashion design industry and following the success of the 2013 Subsidy Programme for Fashion Design on Sample Making, the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) of the Macao SAR Government launched the same programme in June 2014. Among the 23 applications received, 21 were accepted, and two were disqualified due to insufficient documents. This year, 40% of the qualified candidates are new applicants, and half of them already have their fashion brands registered.
IC gathered a professional adjudicating panel comprising Ms. Terry Sio, member of the Committee of Cultural Industries of Macao; Ms. Vitoria Kuan, Senior Manager at the Macau Productivity and Technology Transfer Centre (CPTTM); Mr. José Tang Kuan Meng, Vice President of the Industrial Association of Macau; and Mr. Raymond Au and Mr. Robert Lai, consultants of Macao Fashion Gallery, to select the entries based on criteria as creativity and originality, market potential, quality, overall visual effect, feasibility and optimisation of the business plan, as well as budget rationale.
After the initial review, the entrants below were selected to the second review (names are listed in random order): on an individual basis, Leong Man Teng, Cheong Oi Leng, Leong Iok Pui, Wai Chin Seong, Cheang Chi Tat, Lei Wai Cheng, Cheang Man Cheng, Carmen Leng, Barbara Barreto Ian, Patricia Alexandra Ferreira Soares, Ng Sao Chan and Andrea Prado Marques. On a team basis, Wan Sio Tong and Wong Ha, Lo Ka Heng and Choi Wai Leng, Ana Claudia Dias Cardoso and Nair Alexandra Dias Cardoso. IC will notify these entrants by telephone and email. Each candidate selected for the second review will be reimbursed up to a maximum of MOP10,000 as compensation for the sample making and presentation costs, upon submission of the relevant expenses' invoices.
The second review will take place on 8 November, in a location to be announced. Entrants must produce a fashion sample based on one of the drawings submitted for the initial review, which must be presented to the adjudicating panel by a model with full make-up and hair dressing, to show the overall stylistic effect. Entrants will also be interviewed by the panel. A maximum of eight finalists will be selected as beneficiaries of the Programme, and each will receive a subsidy up to a maximum of MOP150,000. For details please visit www.icm.gov.mo/dpicc/sps/ or www.macaucci.com/en. For further enquiries, please call Ms. Lam or Ms. Lau through tel. (853) 2892 4040 during office hours.
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Spanning a week during 1 – 7 October, the 1st October Golden Week will begin on 1 October officially. Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) has adopted vigorously a range of measures to prepare for the peak period from food guide publication, activation of tourism notification system to more scrupulous inspections at designated points. The Office again operates an online system for hotels and guest houses to declare their room rates for regular release on its webpage. Through a series of measures, MGTO is dedicated to optimizing tourism service quality in Macau. MGTO and Tourism Administration of Guangdong Province will put the tourism notification system for the 1st October Golden Week into operation officially from 27 September until 8 October. MGTO will release relevant information on the online platform including the updated numbers of Mainland and overall visitor arrivals at various local ports of entry each previous day. The highest room rates of different hotels during the Golden Week will also be available online. Both tourism authorities will keep close contact with each other during the aforementioned period. MGTO regularly publishes the room rates of different room categories reported by hotels and guest houses in Macau on its webpage. Local residents and visitors can browse MGTO's website for room rates and more information of local hotels and guest houses. The Office has also introduced an online room-rate declaration system for the trade to update their room rates on the Internet in order to enhance the system efficiency and enable visitors to obtain the latest information. MGTO has published the "Macau Food Guide for 1st October Vacation" (Chinese version only) together with General Union of the Macau Neighborhood Association, The United Association of Food and Beverage Merchants of Macau, The Industry and Commerce Association of Macau Northern District as well as The Industry and Commerce Federation of Islands of Macau. Offering a contact list of restaurants and eatery outlets open during the 1st October Golden Week, the handy food guide familiarizes visitors with the restaurants' operation information. Visitors can download the food guide from MGTO's website: http://www.macautourism.gov.mo or acquire printed copies for free from the Office's Tourist Information counters. MGTO will advise Mainland visitors via WeChat and mobile messages to make room reservation in advance and check local room rates on its website if needed; in addition, the Office will encourage visitors to download travel information online before their trip or acquire the printed materials at MGTO's Tourist Information counters upon arrival so that they can travel with more useful information in hand. Meanwhile, MGTO will carry out more scrupulous inspections at various tourist attractions, ports and districts in Macau whilst increasing the manpower at Tourist Information counters based on practical demands. MGTO's Tourism Hotline 2833 3000 will maintain its 24-hour operator service as usual whereas inspectors will stand by round the clock. Visitors can also go to MGTO's website for travel tips and related information. Besides the above measures, the Office has sent out a reminder to the trade about various concerns including health and hygiene, food safety, fire safety, opening hours, occupational guidelines for tour group operators, requirements for hotel room-rate declaration and so forth. MGTO regularly communicates and exchanges information with other governmental entities including Consumer Council, Public Security Police Force, Macau Customs Service, Marine and Water Bureau as well as Transport Bureau. From the "Real-Time Information Platform of Border Ports" operated by Public Security Police Force, visitors can check the real-time border-crossing images at the arrival & departure halls and traffic lanes of Border Gate, Outer Harbour and Cotai Frontier Post by visiting the platform webpage: www.fsm.gov.mo/psp/pspmonitor on phone or computer. Visitors can hence choose a suitable timing to leave or arrive in Macau more flexibly. MGTO's website has offered a direct link to Public Security Police Force's webpage "Real-Time Information Platform of Border Ports" as well. This year MGTO has assigned staff and the five Macau Tourism Ambassadors to station at ten major tourist spots including Senado Square, St. Dominic's Square and Ruins of St. Paul's during 1 – 5 October, where they will provide enquiry and attraction-guiding service for visitors. They will also give out brochures which recommend visitors and citizens to explore the walking tour routes under the theme "Step Out, Experience Macau's Communities".
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that visitor arrivals in package tour surged by 30% year-on-year to 1,267,000 during the summer holidays in August 2014. Visitors from Mainland China increased by 36% to 1,050,000, with 396,000 coming from Guangdong Province. Visitors from Taiwan (71,000), Hong Kong (41,000), the Republic of Korea (36,000) and Japan (14,000) increased by 13%, 7%, 11% and 20% respectively, while those from Thailand (11,000) decreased by 31%. In the first eight months of 2014, visitor arrivals in package tour reached 7,810,000, up by 21% year-on-year. Outbound residents using services of travel agencies were 155,000 in August, up by 15% year-on-year; those travelling in package tour totalled 54,000 and the main destinations were Mainland China (72% of total), Taiwan (7%) and the Republic of Korea (7%). In the first eight months of 2014, outbound residents totalled 1,021,000, up by 7% year-on-year. There were 98 hotels and guesthouses operating at the end of August 2014, providing 28,000 guest rooms, up by 1% year-on-year; 5-star hotels accounted for 66% of the total supply, with 18,000 rooms. Number of guests checking into hotels and guesthouses dropped by 3% year-on-year to 965,000 in August, due to a notable decrease in guests from Hong Kong (125,000) and Taiwan (32,000); meanwhile guests from Mainland China increased by 9 % to 639,000. The average length of stay of guests was 1.4 nights, up by 0.1 night year-on-year. The average occupancy rate of hotels and guesthouses dropped slightly by 0.2 percentage points year-on-year to 90%, with 4-star hotels leading at 92%. In the first eight months of 2014, hotel guests totalled 7,214,000, up by 1% year-on-year; the average occupancy rate stood at 87%, an increase of 5 percentage points. In the first eight months of 2014, visitor-guests accounted for 69% of the total overnight visitors, down by 1 percentage point year-on-year.
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The CCAC has detected a case of document forgery and fraud allegedly committed by a police officer of the Public Security Police Force, who defrauded salary from the government by using fake attendance records. The CCAC has already referred the case to the Public Prosecutions Office. The CCAC discovered in the investigation that between 2012 and 2014, the police officer, for many times, went to work late, got off work early, was absent and even left Macao when he/she was on duty. To conceal his/her unreasonable absence from the department, the suspect used false attendance records for around 100 times. The amount deceived totalled more than MOP50,000. The police officer has allegedly committed offences of fraud and document forgery. Under the Penal Code, fraud and document forgery committed by a public servant shall be liable to an imprisonment of up to five years.
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The Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) will have all of its enumerators on duty to wear standard uniform starting this October. The standard uniform - navy blue polo shirt with orange-hemmed short sleeves and neckline - has the DSEC logo printed on the upper left; besides, the uniform is matched with a navy blue long-sleeved windbreaker with DSEC printed on the back. DSEC states that the system of official statistics undergoes regular reviews and improvement on the data collection process, to ensure strict compliance with stipulations of statistical confidentiality. While the community has increasing concern on protection of personal data, DSEC trusts that such measure will enable the responding households and businesses to identify DSEC's enumerators in an easier manner, to secure safety of their personal and business data; meanwhile, respondents' confidence in official statistics is conducive to increase cooperation of the public and the quality of data. DSEC reiterates, apart from standard uniform, all the enumerators also carry valid Enumerator Identity Card and satchel bearing the DSEC logo. Therefore, the respondents should verify the identity of the visiting enumerator before providing personal or business information.
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For the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12 June, Consumer Council conducted its specific price surveys on household cleansing products and shampoo & shower gels on 26 September. Results of the mentioned 2 surveys have been uploaded to the Council's website (www.consumer.gov.mo) and are available in the Council's 'Supermarket Price Information Platform' iPhone and Android apps. For inquiry, please call the Council's hotline: 8988 9315.
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As 1 October is approaching, a large number of tourists are expected to visit Macao. Retailers from all industries, especially the 'Adherents' and 'Certified Shops' of Consumer Council, are called upon to provide consumers with good-quality products and satisfactory services to safeguard consumers' legal rights, and to help promote the positive image of Macao as an international city of tourism and leisure. Further, all related law enforcing departments will keep contact with each other closely during National Day holidays for the provision of a safe and happy shopping environment for local citizens and inbound tourists. Consumer Council reminds consumers that if anyone finds his or her consumer rights being infringed, he or she should file a complaint at the Council or other departments and provide all necessary detailed information. The Council will also assign its staff to provide services to consumers through its hotline during 11AM to 6PM from 1 October to 5 October. Consumer Council hotline: 8988 9315.
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Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) received the lucky tourists and organized the traditional tray race and evening banquet today (27 September) to celebrate the World Tourism Day concurrently with its counterparts around the world. The theme of World Tourism Day is "Tourism and Community Development" this year. MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes remarked, "Tourism is people-oriented economically and goes hand in hand with community development. While tourism can foster a society to flourish, community's involvement is the key drive for the sustainable development of tourism industry. Through communication and partnership, the government can make concerted efforts with trade and citizens to build the tourism industry into an economic drive, and what's more, to show to the world the unique dimensions of Macau's community. Together we can boost our destination's profile internationally." MGTO Director Senna Fernandes together with Deputy Directors Cecilia Tse and Cheng Wai Tong arrived at Macau Ferry Terminal this morning to present welcome souvenirs to the lucky tourists today. Souvenirs were also given out to visitors at MGTO's Tourist Information counters throughout the day. Coming from Russia, the lucky tourist of this year's World Tourism Day visited Macau with three friends to experience the East meets West cultural atmosphere of the city. The traditional tray race was held in the afternoon with participants competing in the run from the Ruins of St Paul's to Senado Square. The race was divided into men's and women's categories and attracted over 230 participants representing several hotels and restaurants in Macau. The first-prize winner of the men's category is Li Wei Jian on behalf of Grand Emperor Hotel, whereas Jennifer Leong Mei Foong from Galaxy Macau won the first prize in the women's category. The Best Costume Awards were awarded to Simon Yang and Zhang Lulu, representing Grand Hyatt Macau and The Landmark Macau respectively. During the 3rd session of its General Assembly in Spain in 1979, World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) decided to designate 27 September as the annual "World Tourism Day". This is the 35th year since the celebrations commenced in 1980. The main purpose of founding "World Tourism Day" is to foster awareness about the importance of tourism and especially its social, cultural, political and economic values in the international community. World Tourism Organization shares a theme message to commemorate "World Tourism Day" every year. Over the past 34 years, a different theme was chosen for each annual World Tourism Day. This year welcomes the 35th anniversary of World Tourism Day under the theme "Tourism and Community Development". The official celebrations of World Tourism Day 2014 are launched on 27 September in Guadalajara, Mexico, with over 100 countries/regions carrying out celebrations around the world on the same day. For details, please visit: http://wtd.unwto.org/en. This press release is available at: http://industry.macautourism.gov.mo/en/pressroom/
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The Science and Technology Development Fund of Macao SAR has released the name list of the recipients of the Macao Science and Technology Awards 2014. The University of Macau (UM) became the first research institution in Macao to win most prizes at the award twice in a row. Of the 14 prizes presented this year, UM scholars won all the prizes in the Technological Invention Award category, two second prizes and two third prizes in the Natural Science Award category. Some members of the evaluation committee noted that UM has reached international level in research in Chinese medicine and microelectronics, with some good results in environmental protection research as well. The evaluation committee conducted strict evaluation of 41 projects in accordance with the Regulations on Awards for the Development of Science and Technology. And after a voting process, the evaluation committee suggested that 14 prizes should be awarded this year, including three second prizes and three third prizes in the Natural Science Award category, three second prizes and three third prizes in the Technological Invention Award category, as well as one second prize and one third prize in the Science and Technology Progress Award. Below are UM recipients of the Macao Science and Technology Awards and their projects: (* please find the attched file)
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