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The Government would spare no effort in striving to find new sources for tourists, stabilise the growth of international visitors and make them stay longer, said the Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On. In the annual meeting at Government Headquarters with marketing representatives of the Macao Government Tourist Office on 19 January to review the tourism situations and plan ahead for the coming year, Mr Chui said the strategies were to enhance Macao's international positioning, promote tourism products in various media networks and introduce special tours to attract different markets. The Government would also take effective measures to promote quality and integrated tourism, and strengthen regional co-operation in developing multi-destination tourism routes to fulfil its position as a world centre for tourism and leisure, and a commercial and trade co-operation service platform between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries. Last year saw an increase in the number of visitors despite the gaming sector having experienced a downward adjustment, he said, reflecting a successful beginning in the development of non-gaming attractions. Officials who also attended the meeting included Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Mr Tam Chon Weng, and Chief of his office, Mr Lai Ieng Kit; Chief-of-Office of the Chief Executive's Office, Ms O Lam; Director of the Macao Government Tourist Office, Ms Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, and Deputy Director Ms Tse Heng Sai and Mr Cheng Wai Tong, together with other 17 market representatives stationed aboard.
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Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) has appointed a new representative office to promote the city in India. MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes signed today (20) a contract with the newly appointed General Manager of MGTO representative office in India, Arzan Khambatta. Following a new representative recruitment launched in 2014, MGTO selected VFS Global to carry on the work of promoting Macau in India. The contract is effective from January 2015. On January 28, MGTO will hold an inauguration in New Delhi to announce to Indian travel trade and media the new representative office for Macau along with the promotional activities planned for India. MGTO Deputy Director Cecilia Tse will be at the Indian capital to chair the inauguration, which is will be held on the eve of the opening of India's major travel and tourism trade exhibition SATTE, running January 29 to 31, where MGTO will also promote Macau. MGTO first opened a representative office in India in 2002. Throughout the years, MGTO has been rolling out promotional activities in India, including multi-destination promotions with Hong Kong, while at the same time it has benefited from the attention brought by high profile Bollywood events hosted in the city, which all together have contributed to increase the interest among Indians to visit Macau. 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, according with preliminary figures.
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The Consumer Council releases a few reports in the latest issue of Consumer Report no. 257, including a comparative test on the sanitary napkins and a test on the hygienic condition and quality of bottled water. The current issue also includes a survey on the after-sales service of domestic vacuum cleaners. Free copies of the latest issue of Consumer Report are available at over 10 spots. Consumers can also visit our official website for details.
Sanitary napkin is a disposable commodity, and a bare necessity for women. 10 samples of sanitary napkins, both day use and night use types, were randomly chosen by the Council for their quality assurance and hygiene tests. The samples were tested and compared with the deviation indexes, pH values and absorption rate, etc., and all samples met the national standard. The result showed that the absorption rate varied for different samples. The Council, in collaboration with Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau (ICAM), conducted a test on the hygienic condition and quality of bottled water. 12 samples of bottled water, with sample volume from 330 ml to 1000 ml, were collected and all the tested samples met the safety requirement of bottled water.
Details on the abovementioned reports can be found in the latest issue of Consumer Report no. 257.
It is common for consumers to purchase domestic vacuum cleaners and since the prices may vary by brands and models, after-sales service, including free warranty period and the warranty coverage, becomes a concern for consumers when making a purchase. The Council conducted a survey of 10 brands of domestic vacuum cleaners on their after-sales service. A few dozen models were compared for their details on after-sales service, and the result showed that the models of most of the brands surveyed would provide one year warranty, and all the brands that responded to the Council's survey did not include warranty renewal policy. Consumers can therefore refer to the survey and make a comparison on terms of the after-sales service of different brands before making any purchase.
Answers to the 3rd Chinese crossword puzzle are published in the current issue of Consumer Report and 20 winners will be drawn and the list will be uploaded on the Council's website, winners will be notified separately.
Consumer Report is now available free of charge at the Consumer Council (Av. Horta e Costa, N.º 24-A, Edf. Cheung Heng, R/C), and the service counter of the Council at Macao SAR Government Service Centre (Rua Nova da Areia Preta, Nº52), Public Information Centre at Vicky Plaza, libraries and bookstores. Consumers may also access the magazine online on the Council's official website (http://www.consumer.gov.mo). For enquiries, please call 8988 9315.
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Consumer Council conducted its fifth 'Supermarket price survey' in January on 19 January for the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12 June. Surveyed locations included supermarkets near Horte e Costa, Avenida do Ouvidor Arriaga and Rua da Emenda areas in Santo António 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 over 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 Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, said the Government would continue to work together with the people to fulfil the increasing demands on a more liveable city. He said he already asked the related departments to speed up construction in the new reclamation area to promptly respond to the people's demands for housing. Mr Chui said this when inspected the new reclamation area (zone A) on 17 January to get a better understanding of the construction progress where he added that a comprehensive master plan in the area was of great importance, especially in the part dealing with building public housing. The Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Mr Raimundo Rosário, who was also in the visit, said he planned to form an inter-departmental team to co-ordinate work on the transportation system. Officials who also accompanied Mr Chui on his visit included Chief-of-office of the Chief Executive's Office, Ms O Lam; Chief of Office of the Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Ms Cheong Chui Ling; and consultant of the Secretary for Transport and Public Works.
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Developing non-gaming attractions, fulfilling corporate social responsibilities and realising promises in the concessions were the major elements for consideration in the mid-term review on gaming, according to Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Leong Vai Tac. The Government would also evaluate if the concessionaires helped the industry expand healthily, their roles in helping Macao become a world centre of tourism and leisure, as well as enhance its international competitiveness. Mr Leong, who made these comments after a meeting with local media on 18 January: he said the review on gaming concessions was of high on priority list of tasks for this year. The Government has commissioned higher education institutes to carry out the related work, he said. Licences for the three existing concessionaires together with their three sub-concessionaires would expire in early 2020. Mr Leong said any adjustment on the gaming tax rate and regulation would be considered only after the mid-term evaluation. The rumours of increasing the tax was just rumours and nothing has been decided, he added. In the meeting with media representatives, Mr Leong said the press was an important conduit for promoting government policies and new developments of Macao, giving the people better knowledge of the emerging situation in the gaming sector.
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In order to facilitate application process for identity card and passport for Macao citizens, the Identification Services Bureau installed additional self-service kiosks for permanent resident identity card renewal and Special Administrative Region Passport (hereinafter referred as SAR Passport) application at the Government Services Centre in Areia Preta. Eligible applicants can lodge their applications with the above-mentioned kiosks. Eligible Macao SAR Permanent Resident Identity Card holders who are at the age of 18 or above can renew their resident identity card with the self-service kiosk within 6 months prior to the expiry date of their document. Besides, eligible Macao SAR Permanent Resident Identity Card holders who are Chinese nationals and at the age of 18 or above can use the self-service kiosk to submit their first-time application for SAR Passport, or renew their SAR Passport within 9 months prior to the expiry date of their document. Moreover, the Identification Services Bureau had also installed self-service kiosks for Certificate of Criminal Record Application and Contact Information Modification at the above-mentioned location and welcomes citizens to use these kiosks. In addition to self-service kiosks, the Identification Services Bureau had also set up traditional service counters for citizens to apply for the Certificate of Criminal Record and the Certificate of Association at the Government Services Centre. Applicants (including kiosks users) who have completed their applications at the above-mentioned location can collect their documents in the same place. If citizens need other application services, they may proceed to the Identification Services Bureau at the China Plaza in "Avenida de Praia Grande". For further enquiries, please call the service hotlines (28370777 or 28370888) or visit the official website (www.dsi.gov.mo) of the Identification Services Bureau.
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Organized by the China Council for Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI), International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) and Society of Independent Show Organizers (SISO), the 11th China Expo Forum for International Cooperation (CECFO2015) was successfully held in Kunming, capital of Yunnan Province, from January 15 to 17. CECFO aims to be an exchange and cooperation platform for the domestic and foreign convention and exhibition industry, serving as a starting point for the MICE industry to explore common benefits and development. The 2015 edition of CEFCO has attracted over 600 elites from the MICE industry, as well as academics and government officials from home and abroad. CAECFO is currently the world´s third largest professional fair for the convention and exhibition industry, both in terms of scale and the number of participants. IPIM´s Executive Director Irene Va Kuan Lau, participated in the respective Forum and was one of its principal guest speakers, to explore with the experts from Mainland China, Taiwan, South Korea and the United States the new industries and new technologies derived from the new global economic climate, by debating around the theme "Value Innovation – New Business Models for the Convention and Exhibition Industry". Mrs. Irene Va Kuan Lau also shared with the participants her valuable experience on how Macao´s convention and exhibition industry are dealing with the business opportunities derived from regional cooperation and also took the opportunity to promote the advantages and facilities of Macao´s convention and exhibition sector and the "one-stop service" offered by IPIM for MICE Bidding and Respective Support in Macao. During the CECFO period, IPIM´s Executive Director Irene Va Kuan Lau accompanied by Mr. Kou Ming, Deputy Director of the Economic Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People´s Government in Macao SAR met with the Vice Chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), Mr. Wang Jinzhen. Both IPIM and the afore-mentioned Liaison Office have unanimously expressed their intention to compete for the holding in Macau of the China Expo Forum for International Cooperation (CEFCO). Vice-Chairman Wang Jinzhen expressed his positive response. Both parties unanimously consented to start up the application process of CEFCO respectively. If successful, would propel Macao´s MICE industry to converge with international standards, apart from elevating the prestige of city´s convention and exhibition industry in the relevant international professional fields.
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The Cultural Affairs Bureau is undertaking a water drainage project at the tourist information post at Guia Fortress, including the original tourist information post, the main entrance and some of the routes along the garden. These works are expected to be completed by the end of March. During this period, metallic barriers will be set up in some places, but this will not affect the normal opening and use of the facilities. Additionally, in order to reduce the impact of these works towards residents and tourists, the related works will be suspended during Chinese New Year (from 16 to 27 February), when the normal use of the affected spaces will be resumed. For more information, please contact through tel. no. 8399 6699 during office hours.
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Consumer Council conducted its fourth 'Supermarket price survey' in January on 15 January for the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12 June. Surveyed locations included supermarkets near Horte e Costa, Avenida do Ouvidor Arriaga and Rua da Emenda areas in Santo António 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 over 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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