News

Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) starts an opinion poll about the 3D Mapping Show "Icons‧Macau" to collect opinions from residents, business owners and visitors. MGTO will take the public suggestions into consideration as the Office introduces similar tourism products in the future. MGTO makes a great effort in promoting the Community Tourism project and designing more tourism products so as to boost the attractiveness of different local communities and encourage visitors to explore the lesser-known districts in Macau. MGTO introduced the first four walking tour routes under the theme "Step Out, Experience Macau's Communities" in 2013 and keeps enriching the variety of tourism products along the routes. The 3D Mapping Show "Icons‧Macau" is one of the new elements considered by the Office. In order to gain a deeper understanding about the degree of awareness, support and influence regarding the 3D Mapping Show among residents, businesses and visitors, MGTO is carrying out a street and online survey in the form of questionnaires at various stages between 13 August and 20 September. The street survey begins on 13 August. The districts around St. Lazarus Church and the historic site of Cheng Peng Theatre are chosen as the first two areas for the survey to take place. The staff will interview citizens, businesses and visitors in the two districts. The public are welcome to take part in the survey and voice their opinions. MGTO will carry out the online survey from 20 August to 20 September. During the mentioned period, citizens, business owners and visitors can log onto MGTO's website: http://industry.macautourism.gov.mo to fill in the questionnaire (Chinese/Portuguese/English). The questionnaire allows citizens, business owners and visitors to indicate their degree of understanding and support towards the 3D Mapping Show as well as its potential influence; citizens can also fill in their complementary opinions and suggestions. After the opinion poll is completed, MGTO will write a report for reference in the future when formulating relevant policies. Depending on the result of the opinion poll, the Office may consider staging the 3D Mapping Show at other locations as well. As one of the tourist attractions along the walking tour route "A Tour of Arts and Culture", Macau Fisherman's Wharf was chosen as the location for the premiere of the 3D Mapping Show for testing. The show was first launched as a trial in April for a period of 15 days and enjoyed positive feedback from the spectators.
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The Macao Orchestra (MO), under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, is set to begin yet another concert season, offering high quality performances by musicians of international level. The 2014-15 MO Concert Season opening concert will be held on 13 September featuring reputed American pianist Stephen Kovacevich, considered the "last classicist" of the 20th century, who will perform Mozart's magnificent and solemn Piano Concerto No. 24, under the baton of the orchestra's Music Director, Lü Jia. The new concert season feature over thirty concerts and the respective tickets are available from 10 August at the Macau Ticketing Network. In order to provide new experiences for music lovers, the Macao Orchestra specially conceived for the 2014/15 concert season the Shining Virtuosos and the Maestros with Charisma concert series inviting internationally renowned soloists and conductors to perform together. Besides eminent Stephen Kovacevich, the new concert season also includes performances by world-famous pianist Krystian Zimerman, most charming and talented contemporary violinist Sarah Chang, first prize winner of the International Tchaikovsky Competition, cellist Denis Shapovalov, 'the best Asian player of percussion music', Li Biao, prominent Swiss conductor Mischa Damev as well as outstanding Taiwanese conductor Lü Shao-chia. In conjunction with the Macao Orchestra, these music stars will sparkle, highlighting this concert season with splendid and appealing performances. The meticulously planned Special Productions series includes the soundtrack of the film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon by internationally renowned Chinese composer and conductor Tan Dun, Norma, an opera in two acts by Vincenzo Bellini performed in collaboration with Italy's Teatro Regio Torino and the Macao International Music Festival and Macau Soul, a work by Lam Bun-Ching (composer-in-residence of Macao Orchestra) to be presented in the Macao Arts Festival, as well as classic works by local composer Doming Lam and F. Áureo Castro Nunes, and others, must not be missed by music lovers!
Another highlight of this season – the Music for All series - will continue to encourage the promotion of music in local communities, whereby all residents can be in close contact with the Macao Orchestra. Musicians will travel from music halls to campuses, from theatres to institutions, expounding with music fans, and introducing everyone to the wonderful world of classical music with a diversified and innovative approach. The Macao Orchestra will also launch performance tours in Europe, Southeast Asia and other places, especially in Mainland China and in the Pearl River Delta region, showcasing the peculiar charm of Macao's music culture to music lovers with refined and classic presentations.
Tickets for the 2014-15 Macao Orchestra Concert Season are available at the Macau Ticketing Network since 10 August; except for the concerts Triple Concerto, Zimerman and the Macao Orchestra, 2014-15 Season Closing Concert–Finlandia and the shows of Macao Arts Festival in 2015, all of which selling dates will be announced later. OM offers a 40% off early bird discount between 10 and 20 August when purchasing four or more tickets for the 2014-15 Season Opening Concert. Reserve now through tel. no. 2855 5555. For enquiries, please visit OM's website on www.icm.gov.mo/om.
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Consumer Council conducted its third 'Supermarket price survey' in August on 11 August 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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Applications for the 2014 Subsidy Programme for Fashion Design on Sample Making, launched by the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) in June will close on Friday, 22 August. All interested parties are welcome to take this chance to apply for the Programme. Aiming to promote the development of the fashion design industry in Macao, IC launched the Subsidy Programme for Fashion Design on Sample Making in 2013, which aroused an enthusiastic response. This year, IC continues to hold this programme, aimed at supporting local fashion designers in the production of fashion design samples and promotional catalogues, as well as to encouraging the industry to be involved in commercial activities and to participate in local and international fashion marketing activities, enhancing the level of local fashion design and promoting Macao's fashion design products. The maximum quota of the Subsidy Programme is eight beneficiaries. Eligible applicants will be granted subsidies up to a maximum of MOP150,000 each. The Programme's application rules and forms can be downloaded from IC's website (www.icm.gov.mo/dpicc/sps/defaultE.aspx) and from the Macao Cultural and Creative Industries website (www.macaucci.com/en/). For enquiries, please contact Ms. Lam or Ms. Lau through tel. (853) 2892 4040 during office hours.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the total population was 624,000 as at end-June 2014, up by 9,500 quarter-to-quarter due to an increase in non-resident workers; female population totalled 316,800, accounting for 50.8% of the total. There were 1,666 live births delivered in the second quarter of 2014, an increase of 29 or 1.8% quarter-to-quarter. Male babies totalled 867 and the gender ratio of the newborn stood at 108.5, corresponding to 108.5 male babies per 100 female babies. In the first half year of 2014, a total of 3,303 live births were recorded, up by 170 year-on-year. Meanwhile, there were 473 mortality cases, a decrease of 76 quarter-to-quarter; the top three underlying causes of death were Neoplasms (157 cases), Diseases of the Circulatory System (116 cases) and Diseases of the Respiratory System (85 cases). In the first half year of 2014, mortality cases went up by 84 year-on-year to 1,022. In the second quarter of 2014, there were 788 Chinese immigrants, down by 13 quarter-to-quarter. Individuals granted right of abode registered a net inflow of 184, up by 26 quarter-to-quarter. Non-resident workers totalled 155,310 at the end of the second quarter, an increase of 9,618 over the previous quarter. A total of 945 cases of marriage registration were recorded in the second quarter, down by 222 quarter-to-quarter. In the first half year of 2014, there were 2,112 cases of marriage registration, down by 106 year-on-year.
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The Worldwide Chinese Life Insurance Congress and the International Dragon Award Annual Conference were founded by groups of insurance and financial service professionals in 1996 and 1998, respectively, with the objective of uniting the Chinese insurance professionals from all over the world, by building an international and professional exchange platform. To date, many countries and regions, including Mainland China, Australia, Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, Malaysia and etc. have hosted these two ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association) approved events. The 10th Worldwide Chinese Life Insurance Congress and the 2014 International Dragon Annual Conference (IDA 2014) took place on August 7 to 10, 2014 at the Xiamen International Conference and Exhibition Centre. At the "Future Engagement" conference session on 8 August, the Chair of the 2016 edition, Ms. Yin Shu Ming announced that the 11th Worldwide Chinese Life Insurance Congress and the 2016 International Dragon Annual Conference will take place in Macao. At the invitation of the organizers, the Executive Director of Macao Trade and Promotion Institute (IPIM), Mrs. Irene V. K. Lau, made an presentation about Macao and warmly invited the 7000 participants to visit Macao on the occasion of the next edition of the said events, in 2016. The said events are expected to attract to Macao over 5000 Chinese elites from insurance industry all over the world. A previous edition of the IDA Annual Conference was successfully held in Macao in 2001 and attracted over 1000 ethnic Chinese insurance professionals. The organizing committee of the above-mentioned congress and annual conference made a site visit to Macao recently, to make an in-depth study of Macao´s convention and exhibition environment and the supporting measures offered by local government agencies and organizations. Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) presented the "One-Stop Service" for MICE Bidding and Support in Macao and has especially appointed staff to provide them with the necessary assistance. As a result, it was announced in early July this year that Macao has been chosen as the venue for the 11th Worldwide Chinese Life Insurance Congress and the 2016 International Dragon Award Annual Conference.
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The fourth co-ordination meeting for the Eighth APEC Tourism Ministerial Meeting (TMM8) was held today in Macao, to discuss the details of arrangements and work to be done by each party. The co-ordination meeting was held between the working group led by the Director General of the Department of Tourism Promotion and International Communications of the National Tourism Administration (CNTA), Mr Li Shihong, and Macao's TMM8 organising committee.
At the meeting, the Chief-of-Cabinet of the Chief Executive's Office and Secretary-General of the Organising Committee for the Eighth APEC Tourism Ministerial Meeting, Mr Alexis Tam, expressed his gratitude to the CNTA for supporting Macao in organising the event. He emphasised that every session of the working meeting had achieved effective communication and understanding.
Mr Li Shihong said both parties had achieved progress in depth and detail under the original framework, after the previous co-ordination meeting held in Zhuhai.
During the meeting, both parties reached fruitful results as anticipated, through consultations and discussions on programme schedules, activity planning, protocol, touring routes and media arrangements. Afterwards, the group also made site visits to the venues for the TMM8.
The TMM8, hosted by the CNTA and organised by the Macao SAR Government, will be held in Macao on 12 and 13 September this year. Media registration started on 11 July, and will close on 11 August.
Macao officials attending today's meeting included Director of the Macau Government Tourist Office, Ms Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes; ActingDirector of the Government Information Bureau, Mr Louie Wong; Director of the Protocol, Public Relations and External Affairs Office, Mr Fung Sio Weng;Advisor to the Secretariat for Social Affairs and Culture, Mr Ng Peng In;Deputy Commissioner of the Public Security Police, Mr Lai Kam Kun; and Deputy Director of the Macau Government Tourist Office, Ms Cecilia Tse.
Working group delegates at the meeting included the Director General of the Liaison Department of the HKMAO, Mr Qian Yibing; Deputy Director of Economic Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR, Mr Kou Ming; Director of General Affairs Department of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Macao SAR, Mr Li Zhenhua; Deputy Director of the Department of Tourism Promotion and International Communications of the CNTA, Ms Zhang Xinhong; Director of Zhuhai Municipal Bureau of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Zhang Meisheng; and Deputy Director of Asia Tourism Exchange Center, Ms Ma Jie.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, met today with a working group from the National Tourism Administration (CNTA) led by the Director General of the Department of Tourism Promotion and International Communications, Mr Li Shihong, when they updated each other on the preparations for and exchanged views on the Eighth Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Tourism Ministerial Meeting (TMM8), to ensure a successful event in Macao next month. The Chief Executive again thanked the Central People's Government for offering Macao the honour of engaging in organising the first ever APEC Tourism Ministerial Meeting to be held in Macao. As usual, the Macao SAR Government will contribute its best efforts in preparing for the event. Mr Chui expressed his gratitude to the CNTA, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council (HKMAO), the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR (LOCPG Macao), and the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Macao SAR (FMCOPRC Macao), for their support and co-operation through forming a special working group to conduct co-ordination meetings with the team led by the Chief-of-Cabinet of the Office of the Chief Executive and Secretary-General of the TMM8 Organizing Committee, Mr Alexis Tam, to facilitate effective arrangements for the event. According to Mr Li Shihong, with the high concern from central government leaders and the leadership of the Chief Executive, all parties involved attached great importance to the ministerial meeting. A special delegation has been formed with representatives from the CNTA, the HKMAO, the FMCOPRC Macao and the LOCPG Macao to attend working meetings, conduct co-ordination work and detailed arrangements in Macao. Thanks to the co-operation between the working groups, all preparations for program schedule, activity planning, protocol, touring routes and media arrangements are progressing smoothly. Mr Li stated that through consultation and discussion with APEC members, the APEC Secretariat and the Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO), the main theme of the TMM8 is set as "Exploration of Asia Pacific Tourism Cooperation and Future Development". Under the main theme, the tourism ministerial meeting will focus on exchanges between and discussions concerning integration of Asia Pacific tourism markets, facilitating transformation and growth of the tourism industry, promoting intelligent tourism with modern technology and interconnection of Asia Pacific travel, and encouraging low-carbon development and co-operation between tourism operators. The ministerial meeting will conclude with a discussion to pass the "Macao Declaration". The Director General of the Liaison Department of the HKMAO, Mr Qian Yibing, said the HKMAO actively engaged in preparing the event with the aim of realising two goals -- to make this international event a great success to project a positive image of the nation; and to promote Macao as a world tourism and leisure centre. Mr Alexis Tam said the organising committee's working group has been actively engaged in preparation work for more than six months under the leadership of the Chief Executive. He is confident the TMM8 will proceed smoothly and achieve great success. Other delegation members attending today's meeting included Deputy Director of Economic Department of the LOCPG Macao, Mr Kou Ming; Director of General Affairs Department of the FMCOPRC Macao, Mr Li Zhenhua; Deputy Director of Asia Tourism Exchange Center, Ms Ma Jie; and officials from the CNTA. Members of Macao's organising committee and working group attending today's meeting included Director of the Macau Government Tourist Office, Ms Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes; Acting Director of the Government Information Bureau, Mr Louie Wong; Director of the Protocol, Public Relations and External Affairs Office, Mr Fung Sio Weng; and Deputy Commissioner of the Public Security Police, Mr Lai Kam Kun.
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The Monetary Authority of Macao released today the credit card statistics for the second quarter of 2014. The total number of personal credit cards in circulation was 796,855 at the end of June 2014, equivalent to an increase of 3.8% over a quarter earlier. The numbers of Pataca (MOP) cards, Hong Kong Dollar (HKD) cards and Renminbi (RMB) cards were 566,883, 81,173 and 148,799 respectively. MOP cards, HKD cards and RMB cards witnessed respective growth of 4.3%, 1.1% and 3.4% quarter-to-quarter. Compared with a year ago, MOP cards and HKD cards rose 13.8% and 9.5% respectively, while RMB cards registered an upsurge of 22.7% mainly driven by a 22.7% growth of MOP/RMB dual-currency cards. As at end-June 2014, credit card credit limit granted by banks in Macao reached MOP15.7 billion, up 7.3% from end-March 2014. Credit card receivables amounted to MOP1.9 billion while the rollover amount totalled MOP546.9 million, accounting for 28.8% of credit card receivables. The delinquency ratio, i.e. the ratio of delinquent amount overdue for more than three months to credit card receivables, edged up to 0.87%. For the second quarter of 2014, the credit card turnover increased 1.5% quarter-to-quarter to MOP3.9 billion. The cash advance turnover was MOP201.7 million, accounting for 5.2% of total credit card turnover. Credit card repayments, in which payments for interest and fees are included, went down 9.2% from the previous quarter to MOP3.7 billion.
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In order to provide diversified training opportunities for Macao's local hotel industry professionals and enhance their management skills, Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT) and Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL), Switzerland co-orgainsed a two-day Executive Development Programme on Customer Relationship Management on 6 and 7 August. The programme will focus on how hoteliers could touch individual customer's heart, and their hotel becomes that customer's one and only hotel choice. The programme attracted 30 professionals of local hotels and mega resorts to participate. IFT has the honour of inviting Dr. Meng-Mei Chen, assistant professor in Marketing at Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne, to be the facilitator of this programme. Her research interests are online consumer behaviour, customer relationship management, channel management, and the hotel industry. She has worked in Taiwan, the US, Puerto Rico, and has been in Switzerland for the past 12 years. Her hospitality industry experiences include various positions in travel agencies, hotels, and a casino. Her understanding of finance and hotel operations brings rigors to her marketing thinking. She leverages her sense and sensitivity from her cross cultural experiences to deliver unique insights. Programme topics include: Knowledge
 Recognise the urgency to implement a CRM strategy to stay competitive.
 Identify critical success factors and value drivers for a successful CRM programme.
 Identify the key performance indicators to monitor CRM performance. Competencies
 Assess the current situation in the company to optimise a CRM programme.  Develop goals and identify priority of implementing a CRM programme.  Serve as a CRM champion in the company. Mindset
 Shift mindset from transactional marketing to relational marketing.
 Get ready to face the era of the segment of one. As the tourism and hospitality industry is growing swiftly in Macao, the demand for knowledgeable professionals is increasing and thus hotel management needs to upgrade constantly to cope with the changing market trends. This module addresses how hoteliers could start by turning guest history and transaction data into customer intelligence. Based on customer intelligence and updated information found on platforms such as social media, hoteliers could provide truly personalised service to customers. Personalised service strengthens attitudinal loyalty and customer engagement. IFT is always striving to enhance its research and teaching so as to contribute to the society. By organising diversified seminars and workshops, IFT constantly shares with the industry the most updated information and research findings to support the sustainable development of Macao's tourism industry.
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