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The 8th Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Tourism Ministerial Meeting (TMM8) closed this afternoon with the passage of the Macao Declaration, which sets out measures to create conditions for the development of a next-generation tourism industry in the Asia Pacific region. New initiatives including the facilitation of tourist travel, promotion of digital technologies in tourism management and the development of sustainable, low-carbon tourism destinations are outlined in the Macao Declaration. The Chairman of the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) Mr Shao Qiwei, who chaired today's meeting, told reporters at a press conference that TMM8 had also achieved eight consensuses. Firstly, APEC member economies acknowledge the important role played by the tourism industry in promoting trade co-operation and cultural exchanges. Secondly, APEC member economies will strive to meet the new target of 800 million tourists by 2025 and give priority to the development of the tourism industry. Thirdly, the APEC Tourism Strategic Plan will be rigorously implemented to encourage greater co-operation and market integration among the members. Fourthly, the convergence of the tourism sector with other industries will be enhanced to promote the transformation of the tourism industry and its sustainable growth. Fifthly, APEC member economies will be encouraged to bolster the development of 'smart tourism'. Sixthly, co-operation in the development of low carbon tourism destinations will be strengthened. Seventhly, it is agreed that the APEC Tourism Strategic Plan will be updated to include the seamless connection of tourist travellers and the linkages of the tourist sector in the Asia Pacific region. Finally, APEC member economies will press ahead with the Travel Facilitation Initiative. Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat, Dr Alan Esmond Bollard, concluded that today's meeting had allowed all the members to exchange ideas on their different growth mechanisms for the tourism sector. He told reporters that four topics discussed today were of particular significance, namely better mobility of tourists; what can be done at airports and transport infrastructure to improve border processes through initiatives like the Travel Facilitation Initiative; examples of the uses of smart technologies, green development, low impact tourism, low carbon transport and improved ways of waste management; as well as market integration and ways of co-ordinating travel mechanisms across economies. Mr Shao; Dr Bollard; the Vice Chairman of CNTA, Mr Du Jiang; Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Korea, Mr He Beom; and Mrs Mari Elka Pangestu, Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy of Indonesia, answered reporters' questions during the press conference.
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The 8th APEC Tourism Ministerial Meeting (TMM8) opened in Macao this morning with the theme "Exploration of Asia Pacific Tourism Cooperation and Future Development". Vice Premier, Mr Wang Yang; Vice Chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah; Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On; Chairman of the National Tourism Administration, Mr Shao Qiwei; and delegates of the Asia-Pacific Econonomic Cooperation member economies presided over the opening ceremony. In his opening address at the Macao International Convention Center at the Macao East Asian Games Dome, the Vice Premier said TMM8 was a significant platform for strengthening regional tourism co-operation. He put forward four hopes for the meeting. Firstly, he said he hoped this meeting could become a fresh starting point for tourism co-operation in the Asia Pacific region; secondly, that it could usher in a new era of tourism-led economic prosperity; thirdly that it could give new momentum to regional economic integration; and last but not least, he hoped it could yield more fruits for the upcoming APEC Leaders' Meeting. Mr Wang noted that the tourism industry was fast expanding in the Asia Pacific region, driving regional economic growth and expediting regional integration. He said that China and the Asia Pacific are interdependent in their development, stressing that China was willing to embark on multi-faceted tourism co-operation with all the APEC member economies and to play a more active role in promoting market integration. The Vice Premier pointed out that Macao enjoyed unique tourism resources, and the Central Government would fully support Macao's efforts in expanding tourism exchanges with other regions. The Chief Executive said Macao was very honoured to be the co-organiser of this event, which offered an opportunity for the delegates to learn more about Macao as a tourist destination. Mr Chui said he believed that today's meeting would allow delegates to pool together their ideas on the future development of the tourism sector in the Asia Pacific region. He added that the tourism sector was not only an economic growth engine, but also a bridge connecting peoples around the world. Speaking to the gathering on behalf of the 21 APEC members, Mrs Mari Elka Pangestu, Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy of Indonesia, said tourism development should work towards the goal of openness, sustainability and interconnection. She remarked that clear policies and roadmaps should be in place for the growth of the sector. Macao was a suitable venue for today's meeting as its tourism model was a good example for the APEC members to learn from, adding that she believed this meeting would turn a new page for regional tourism co-operation, she said. A total of 300 guests attended this morning's opening ceremony.
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The Macao Special Administrative Region Government tonight hosted the 'Macao Night' welcome dinner for the Vice Premier, Mr Wang Yang, who arrived this morning for the Eighth APEC Tourism Ministerial Meeting (TMM8), as well as the delegates of the 21 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation member economies. Speaking to the guests, the Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, said organising TMM8 had special meaning to Macao as it reflected the Central Government's enormous support for and trust in the MSAR Government. The Chief Executive noted that by organising TMM8, Macao could further promote its development into a world tourism and leisure centre. In his speech, he gave thanks to the Central Government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) for their assistance in helping Macao prepare for the meeting. "Through organising the Tourism Ministerial Meeting, we hope that you will find Macao as an ideal networking platform while we will also take this opportunity to present Macao to the world," Mr Chui told delegates of the APEC member economies. He pointed out that with Macao's favourable geographical conditions and unique advantages endowed by the principle of "one country, two systems", Macao could play an active role in international tourism co-operation. Mr Shao Qiwei, Chairman of CNTA, told the gathering that CNTA would fully support Macao's efforts in promoting the development of integrated tourism and help Macao enhance co-operation with the global tourism community. He added that as the Asia Pacific region has become the biggest aviation market and the number one tourist destination in the world, the tourism industry is also becoming a strategic pillar industry in China as a series of measures introduced by the State Council has created a sound legal environment for the future development of the tourism sector in China. Guests at the welcome dinner were entertained with cultural performances that highlighted Macao's unique status as a meeting point between the East and the West. The Eighth APEC Tourism Ministerial Meeting will open at the Macao International Convention Centre in the Macao East Asian Games Dome tomorrow morning. The theme of this year's meeting is "Exploration of Asia Pacific Tourism Co-operation and Future Development" and the meeting will conclude with the "Macao Declaration". This year marks the 25th anniversary of APEC.
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Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, today thanked the National Tourism Administration (CNTA) for strongly supporting Macao in organising the Eighth APEC Tourism Ministerial Meeting (TMM8) as he met with CNTA Chairman, Mr Shao Qiwei, at Government House. Mr Chui also exchanged ideas with the CNTA Chairman on tourism co-operation and development between Macao and the Mainland. The hosting of TMM8 on the eve of the 15th anniversary of Macao's return to China symbolises the Central Government's great support for Macao, said Mr Chui. He said the Macao SAR Government would continue to develop the city into a world tourism and leisure hub as it pressed ahead with economic diversification. The Chief Executive also thanked the Foreign Ministry and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council for their assistance in organising TMM8. In response, Mr Shao Qiwei said the Macao SAR Government had made great efforts in ensuring the success of TMM8. He pointed out that the hard work of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Macao Organising Committee had prepared Macao well for tomorrow's ministerial meeting. The Director of the Office of the Chief Executive, Mr Tam Chon Weng, who is also Secretary General of the APEC Macao Organising Committee, thanked the National Tourism Administration for giving them their precious opinions in preparing for TMM8.
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The 28th Macao International Music Festival (MIMF), organised by the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC, from the Portuguese acronym), will be held from 3 October to 1 November. Tickets for the event have been highly sought after, with 90% of tickets already sold. The public is advised to purchase their tickets as soon as possible. Seats for the pre-shows talks, part of the MIMF Outreach Programme, are also limited, but registration is still available to all interested patrons. After a lengthy absence, the Coro Gulbenkian (Portugal) returns to Macao to present the charm of Portuguese music in the concert Portuguese Music from the 17th and 20th Centuries to be held on 16 October, under the baton of maestro Jorge Matta. The Macao Orchestra celebrates the 150th anniversary of the birth of Richard Strauss by performing two of the composer's most popular symphonic poems in collaboration with brilliant cellist Denis Shapovalov and violist Sviatoslav Belonogov, in the concert Meditator, to be held on 18 October. The Taipei Chinese Orchestra takes to the stage on 19 October with the concert Dazzling Brilliance, redefining the meaning of Chinese music in an innovative way through a diverse programme, and developing a unique style and artistic path by incorporating not only Chinese music but also musical elements from Turkey, Western classical music, the Middle East and Xinjiang, among others. The North-American a cappella choir Anonymous 4, possessing extraordinary skills and a refined style, will enchant the audience with their flawless voices on 28 October in the concert Anthology, through works of different genres, such as conductus, songs and hymns. Additionally, the MIMF organises several pre-show talks for which it has invited Hong Kong music critic Dennis Wu, the Chief Conductor of the Jiangsu Province Performing Arts Group, Wang Aikang, Artistic Director Zhu Changyao, national class one composer Gu Guanren, and the Director and Conductor of the Chinese University of Hong Kong's Chorus Leon Chu, aiming at deepening the public's understanding of musical styles and features, performance styles of the musicians and appreciation methods, and thereby enriching their musical experience. Talks take place on the day of each respective performance and include: Russian Romanticism on 14 October, Tales from Russia on 15 October and Anthology on 28 October, all to be held at the Macao Cultural Centre Conference Room; and also Jiangnan Sizhu, held from 17 to 19 October at the Mandarin's House. The 28th Macao International Music Festival offers a variety of discounts and ticket buyers can benefit from 30% reductions under certain conditions. For more information, please refer to the MIMF Booking Guide available at www.icm.gov.mo/fimm. Ticketing hotline in Macao: 2855 5555; online reservations through www.macauticket.net. Pre-show talks seating reservation hotline: 8399 6699 (during office hours).
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Consumer Council conducted its third 'Supermarket price survey' in September on 11 September for the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12 June. Surveyed locations included 8 supermarkets in Toi San, Ilha Verde and Fai Chi Kei areas in N. Sra. de Fátima Parish. The latest 'Supermarket Price Survey' is now available on Consumer Council's website (www.consumer.gov.mo), and the 'Supermarket Price Information Platform' iPhone and Android apps. The survey is also available free of charge at the offices of Consumer Council, IACM's Iao Hon and S. Domingos Markets, bookstores and libraries. Consumers may also access the resources through WAP channels on their mobile phones. With reference to the local six parishes and the number of supermarkets in each parish, the Council has divided around 100 supermarkets into 8 areas for price collection. The Council collects prices from these supermarkets for the provision of a more comprehensive database for consumers to check price discrepancies and make price comparisons according to their desired locations. For inquiry, please call 8988 9315.
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The Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) released results of Survey on Participation of Residents in Cultural Activities conducted in the second quarter of 2014. This Survey aims to collect data on individuals aged 16 and above, regarding their participation in cultural activities such as going to cinema, visiting museum or World Heritage site, going to library, and attending performance and art exhibition, in the six months prior to the date of interview. Excluding those who participate in such activities due to work or learning. In the second quarter of 2014, a total of 284,000 individuals participated in cultural activities and the cultural activity participation rate (percentage of those participate in cultural activities to the population aged 16 and above) was 53.6%, down by 3.1 percentage points compared with the second quarter of 2013. Analysed by type of cultural activity, there were 173,000 individuals going to cinema, up by 6.2% year-on-year; those aged 25-34 increased by 23.1% to 73,000. As regards visiting museums or World Heritage sites, those visiting World Heritage sites decreased by 21.0% to 88,000 while those visiting museums increased by 19.7% to 81,000. Those attending performances totalled 110,000, up by 6.0% year-on-year. Those aged 55 and above had the highest average attendance of 3.5 per participant, and 72.0% of them attended theatre performances. Meanwhile, those aged 16-24 and 25-34 had lower average attendance, both at 2.1, with the majority attending music or dance performances, at 76.3% and 90.9% respectively. There were 40,000 individuals attending art exhibitions, down by 2.9% year-on-year; 95.6% of those attending art exhibitions also took part in other types of cultural activities, up by 0.9 percentage points year-on-year. Those going to libraries totalled 119,000, up by 2.1% year-on-year. The participation rate of students (64.5%) was higher than that of non-students (18.2%), with the difference between the two narrowing from 50.0 percentage points in the same quarter of 2013 to 46.3 percentage points.
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The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 8th Tourism Ministerial Meeting (TMM8), will open in Macao on 13 September, the first time this event is held in China. As the organizer of the TMM8, the Macao Special Administrative Region Government attaches great importance to the preparation for the event, especially on conference facilitation, venue decoration, human resources allocation and security. With China being the host country, it helps to broaden and enhance China tourism's international influence, and at the same time, promote future co-operation and development between Macao and other economies, which benefits Macao's promotion as a worldwide tourism and leisure center. To take up the important responsibility of organizer, the Macao SAR Government -- with the engagement of the Macao Government Tourist Office, the Public Security Police, the Government Information Bureau and the Protocol, Public Relations and External Affairs Office -- has made its best efforts to ensure smooth and stable progress in the preparation and coordination works. The organization committee has also recruited 66 student volunteers from four local tertiary education institutions who are fluent in a numbere of foreign languages and have received special training on the knowledge of Macao and service etiquette. The Macao SAR Government will host the "Macao Night" – Welcome Dinner for the participating delegates from APEC economies and guests. To demonstrate Macao's unique integration of Chinese and western cultures to the delegates from around the world, they will be greeted by a performance of Chinese-Portuguese drum ensemble. Booths will also be set up to showcase Chinese traditional handicrafts. During the dinner, a grand light show with famous tourist attractions of various APEC economies will be staged. An electrical lift podium is used for the TMM8, which can sense the heights and standing postures of the speakers, and automatically compute and adjust the level of the podium through an electrical system. Some 300 journalists representing 63 media organizations from 10 countries and regions have also registered to cover the TMM8. The organizer has set up a Media Center at the Conference Center of the Holiday Inn Macao Cotai Central, Cotai Strip, which is equipped with 160 working seats for the journalists. The Media Center also provides a media conference area and interview rooms for their convenience.
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The Vice Premier, Mr Wang Yang, will visit Macao on 12-13 September to attend the Eighth APEC Tourism Ministerial Meeting (TMM8).
On the evening of 12 September, Mr Wang will attend the welcome dinner hosted by the Macao Government. The following day, he will attend the opening ceremony of the TMM8. Mr Wang will also meet with the Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, and the delegates before he returns to Beijing on the same day.
A total of 152 attendees, including the tourism ministers or representatives of 21 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperatioin (APEC) economies, delegates from the APEC Secretariat, the United Nation World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), the Asia Pacific Travel Association (PATA), and the APEC Center for International Sustainable Tourism, have registered for the event.
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To promote the development of Macao's music industry, the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) launches the 2014 Subsidy Programme for the Production of Original Song Albums. Each subsidised song album will be granted a subsidy up to a maximum of MOP200,000. Applications are accepted from 29 September to 27 November 2014. Along with the development of Macao's cultural and creative industries, and with the far-reaching power of the internet, original Macao music has become more recognised in recent years and different genres of music have started revealing their appeal. This Subsidy Programme seeks to provide more opportunities for local music creators and producers to release their works and launch more quality works in the market. Applicants for the Programme must hold a valid Macao S.A.R. Permanent Resident Identity Card. S/he must assume the role of album producer of the project on behalf of individuals, co-producers or groups, being the person-in-charge of the subsidised project and executive music producer of the album. Applicants must have produced a specific amount of publicly published music or must have acquired experience as album producers. The applied album can be a solo, group or band album. The subsidy is granted to cover the production, cover design, marketing and promotion expenses. The run of the completed album should not be less than 500 copies and the album must have been published by at least one commercial digital music platform. Interested applicants must submit three "sample songs", proposals and related documents for selection which will be evaluated by an Adjudicating Panel including local and foreign professionals in music circles and which will select a maximum of eight applicants. The Programme's information, application rules and forms can be downloaded at the Cultural Affairs Bureau website (www.icm.gov.mo) and at the Macao Cultural and Creative Industries website (www.macaucci.com/en). Applicants should submit all required documents and music information to: Cultural Affairs Bureau - Department for the Promotion of Cultural and Creative Industries (No. 567, Av. da Praia Grande, Edif. BNU, 12th floor A-D, Macao) during office hours. For enquiries, please contact Mr. Ho or Ms. Lao through tel. (853) 2892 4040 during office hours.
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