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Consumer Council conducted its 'Supermarket price survey' for October on 24th October for the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12th June. Surveyed locations included 8 supermarkets in São Lázaro and São Lourenço Parishes. 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 Monetary Authority of Macao (AMCM) noted recent media report about personal RMB business in Macao and would like to state the relevant rules as follows: - 1. Since 2004, Macao banks have been carrying out the personal RMB business on the basis of the Clearing Agreement concluded between the People's Bank of China and the clearing bank in Macao for RMB business. 2. According to the Agreement, the limit on the value of RMB exchange in cash for each individual each time is RMB20,000 equivalent and RMB exchange through accounts for each individual is RMB20,000 equivalent per day. The AMCM, along with the Macao financial sector, has been endeavouring to promote the development of RMB business in Macao and will continue to discuss with the People's Bank of China to relax the restrictions and to expand the scope of RMB business. As of the end of September this year, RMB deposits in Macao reached RMB 62.3 billion and cross-border trade settlement amounted to RMB 108.9 billion.
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Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) joins China International Travel Mart 2013 in Kunming, Yunnan Province together with Macau industry partners for an occasion not only to strengthen the connections with their Mainland and international counterparts but also to highlight Macau events and the walking tour routes themed as "Step Out, Experience Macau's Communities" through promotion. China International Travel Mart (CITM) 2013 is held in Kunming International Convention & Exhibition Center from 24 – 27 October as a four-day event. MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes takes part in CITM this year along with travel industry delegates from 12 corporations including hotels and travel agencies. During the fair, Chairman of China National Tourism Administration (CNTA), Shao Qiwei visited MGTO's booth which occupies a floor area of 100 square meters under the theme "Touching Moments, Experience Macau". The Office takes the opportunity to promote Macau event highlights including the upcoming 60th Macau Grand Prix and the first four walking tour routes under the project "Step Out, Experience Macau's Communities" in order to attract visitors to Macau for a firsthand experience of the city's unique cultural cocktail of East and West. MGTO also distributes promotional leaflets to local citizens, while Macau industry delegates discuss business opportunities with their local and international counterparts. Ahead of CITM, CNTA Vice Chairman Du Jiang hosted a banquet for Hong Kong and Macau representatives including MGTO Director Senna Fernandes, the Commissioner for Tourism of the Hong Kong SAR Government, Philip Yung, as well as travel industry leaders from both destinations. A meeting was held among the above officials and industry delegates to exchange the latest tourism trends and ideas regarding tourism development and opportunities for enhanced cooperation. China International Travel Mart 2013 is jointly organized by CNTA, the People's Government of Yunnan Province and the Civil Aviation Administration of China as one of the largest professional travel marts in Asia. CITM serves as an important travel-fair platform for Macau tourism sector to sell and promote their tourism products to Mainland and global industry partners. As an annual event, CITM has been held in Shanghai and Kunming alternately since 2001. Covering a total exhibition floor of around 50,000 square meters, CITM 2013 features 2,359 booths in total managed by exhibitors from 102 countries and regions according to information provided.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that visitor arrivals increased by 7.9% year-on-year to 2,332,325 in September 2013; same-day visitors accounted for 50.5% of the total, at 1,178,340. In September 2013, visitors from Mainland China increased by 19.6% year-on-year to 1,502,723, coming primarily from Guangdong Province (585,027) and Zhejiang Province (62,990); Mainland visitors travelling under the Individual Visit Scheme totalled 589,667. Moreover, visitors from the Republic of Korea (37,776) increased by 15.9%, while those from Hong Kong (523,105); Taiwan, China (91,714) and Japan (25,516) decreased by 10.1%, 5.6% and 27.7%. Long-haul visitors from the UK (4,804) increased by 3.6% year-on-year, whereas those from the US (12,926), Australia (9,634) and Canada (5,379) decreased by 5.6%, 4.8% and 14.0% respectively. The average length of stay of visitors held stable from a year earlier, at 1.0 day in September 2013; overnight and same-day visitors stayed an average of 1.9 days and 0.2 day respectively. Visitor arrivals totalled 7,768,583 in the third quarter of 2013, up by 6.6% year-on-year. In the first three quarters of 2013, visitor arrivals totalled 21,910,823, an increase of 5.0% year-on-year. Visitors from Mainland China and the Republic of Korea increased by 12.0% and 5.8% respectively, while those from Hong Kong and Taiwan, China decreased by 4.5% and 9.5%. Long-haul visitors from the US (128,263), Australia (78,480) and Canada (52,409) saw year-on-year decline; on the contrary, those from the UK (43,597) registered year-on-year increase.
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At the Eleventh Macao Inter-Tertiary Debate Competition (English Debates), which was held at the Macao Polytechnic Institute from 18 October to 20 October, the University of Macau (UM) won the championship and all individual awards, including the Best Debater Award in the grand final, as well as five Best Debater Awards in the preliminary rounds. This is the sixth consecutive year UM's English Debating Team has won the championship at this competition. Two teams from UM went straight to the grand final for their excellent performance. Organised by the Tertiary Education Services Office of Macao SAR, the competition attracted debating teams from UM, the Macao Polytechnic Institute, the Macau University of Science and Technology, the Institute for Tourism Studies, the University of Saint Joseph, and the City University of Macau. The competition aims to stimulate university students' interest in a diverse range of topics to help them achieve well-rounded development. It also hopes to help participants improve critical thinking and spoken English proficiency. UM's English Debating Team will participate in the 17th FLTRP Cup National English Debating Competition to be held later this month.
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Consumer Council conducted its 'Supermarket price survey' for October on 22 nd October for the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12th June. Surveyed locations included supermarkets at Lam Mau, Patane and San Kio 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 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 27th Macao International Music Festival (MIMF) proceeds this weekend with a diversified programme for all tastes. On October 24, Thursday, at 8pm, the Macao Cultural Centre Grand Auditorium receives one of the leading violinists in the world today, Kyung-Wha Chung, who rose to international fame on the heels of her win at the prestigious Leventritt Competition, in 1967 and has since garnered global recognition of the very highest stature. The South-Korean violinist will interpret works by Beethoven, Grieg and Franck, accompanied by pianist Kevin Kenner. The Violin Recital by Kyung-wha Chung is certainly a highlight of this MIMF season and a concert not to be missed! From October 24 to 26, at 8pm, Fado and Cantonese Naamyam (Narrative Songs) meet in a unique concert combining western and eastern folk music expressions surrounded by the intimate atmosphere of the century old Mandarin's House, inscribed in the World Heritage List. Fado was recognised Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2011 while the Cantonese Naamyam were inscribed on the Tentative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage Items of the Macao S.A.R. in 2009 and on the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2011. The Macao Chinese Orchestra (MCHO) brings Chinese Music for Television and Film to this year's MIMF, on October 26, Saturday, at 8pm, at the Macao Cultural Centre Grand Auditorium. Under the baton of its Music Director and Principal Conductor, Pang Ka Pang, the MCHO joins award-winning erhu player and renowned singer Cui Rui to present well-known Chinese TV and film themes, taking the public on a journey to revisit the past decades. The Dresden Philarmonic, one of Germany's most renowned orchestras, and its Music Director, Michael Sanderling, will perform the last symphonic concert of the 27th MIMF, on October 27, Sunday, at 8pm, at the Macao Cultural Centre Grand Auditorium. Since its establishment in 1870, the Dresden Philharmonic has been a major driving force in its home city's musical culture, attracting the collaboration of great conductors and outstanding musicians. In this concert, they are joined by German violinist Julia Fischer, recognised worldwide as an uncommonly talented and exceptionally gifted artist, for an unforgettable concert. Tickets for the 27th Macao International Music Festival can be purchased at all Kong Seng Ticketing outlets, by telephone and through online booking. For more information related to the 27th MIMF, please visit the Festival's website at: www.icm.gov.mo/fimm.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that there were 100 hotels and guesthouses operating in 2012, an increase of 5 year-on-year, comprising 67 hotels and 33 guesthouses. Due to the opening of several new hotels, number of persons engaged increased by 20% year-on-year to 39,647 at the end of 2012, with 31,695 (80% of total) working in 5-star hotels; meanwhile, the guesthouses had only 178 workers, less than 1% of the total. Rising number of hotels and guests drove up Receipts of the hotel industry to MOP 21.93 billion in 2012, up by 16% year-on-year. Room Sales, the major source of receipts, increased by 20% to MOP 10.25 billion, with 5-star hotels accounting for 78% of the total. Receipts from Food & Beverages (MOP 4.91 billion) and Rental of Space (MOP 3.83 billion) also registered year-on-year increase of 21% and 25% respectively. Expenditure of the hotel industry amounted to MOP 19.45 billion in 2012, up by 26% year-on-year, of which Non-operating Expenses (including depreciation of fixed assets, interest paid, etc.) increased by 31% to MOP 7.17 billion. Operating Expenses (MOP 8.97 billion) and Compensation of Employees (MOP 7.76 billion) together shared 86% of the total, up by 23% and 36% respectively year-on-year. Gross Value Added that measures the sectoral contribution to the economy was MOP 10.34 billion, up by 11% year-on-year. With the new hotels coming into operation, Gross Fixed Capital Formation tumbled by 50% year-on-year to MOP 8.24 billion in 2012.
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The Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT)'s Bachelor Degree Programme emphasises on the balance between theory and practice. Students are required to complete certain hours of practical tasks related to their majors every year. One of the tasks given to the Tourism Business Management students is to provide free guided tour to tourists and local residents. The activity, with the theme of "Tour around Macao with IFT Students", is organised by year two students of Tourism Business Management Degree Programme. With the assistance from the instructors, five different itineraries have been designed and each lasts about one hour and thirty minutes. This free guided tour service will be provided to all tourists and local residents on Saturday and Sunday, from 26 October – 17 November. The main objectives of the activity: I. It allows the students to put what they have learnt about tourism into practice. The whole project, from itinerary design to time control to the actual tour guiding, is planned by the students themselves with assistance from instructors. By coordinating the activity, their communication skills can also be enhanced. II. To promote Macao to the tourists by offering the free guiding service at the city centre and tourist attractions. Residents will also be made aware of the importance of tourism to Macao. IFT is the only public higher education institution in Macao that cultivates talents for tourism and service industry. It endeavours to promote Macao through various activities and to leave a good impression to everyone who visits the place.
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Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) attended the third edition of World Tourism Conference, an event jointly organized by World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the Government of Malaysia in Malacca, Malaysia from 21-23 October 2013. The theme of World Tourism Conference 2013 is "Global Tourism: Game Changers and Pace Setters". The opening ceremony was officiated by Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, YAB Tan Sri Dato' Haji Muhyiddin Bin Mohd Yassin; Minister of Tourism and Culture, Malaysia, YB Dato' Seri Mohamed Nazri bin Abdul Aziz and the representative of Secretary General of UNWTO, Zoltan Somogyi, etc. MGTO Deputy Director Manuel Pires and Head of Communication and External Relations Department, Kathy Iong attended the opening ceremony and a series of panel discussions. World Tourism Conference serves as an exchange platform for UNWTO members. Various tourism ministers, officials and industry delegates came from worldwide to join the event. The conference hosted 13 panel discussions in 4 key areas. The sessions not only elaborated successful stories of different travel destinations and tourism organizations but also welcomed attendees to express their own perspectives. Official delegates and industry partners from different destinations also shared their tourism planning, development and marketing strategies with each other during panel discussions. The 4 key areas for discussion include Beyond Mass Tourism, Innovative Marketing, New Directions for Tourism Product Development as well as Tourism Debate: Boon or Bane of the Tourism Sector.
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