News

Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) participated at "Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2012" to expand the Middle East market source and to promote the positioning of Macau as a World Center of Tourism and Leisure.
Head of MGTO Advertising and Production Division Alice Coelho led the Macau delegation comprising representatives from local tour operator, hotels and resorts, convention and exhibition to the ATM 2012, held from April 30 to May 3 in Dubai.
MGTO has been striving to explore opportunities to expand the tourism market from the Middle East, a market with huge potential. The 50 square meter Macau booth at the event was dedicated to the theme "Touching Moments Experience Macau" showcased the latest updates and tourism products in Macau.
Last year, Macau welcomed over 10,000 visitors from the Middle East, a growth of 24.38%. In the first quarter of 2012, visitors from the Middle East registered a significant growth of 40.7%.
ATM is the leading travel and tourism exhibition in the Arabic world and the Middle East. According to organizer, the event attracted last year 2,236 exhibitors and 22,000 visitors. This press release is available at http://www.macautourism.gov.mo
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This was the core message delivered by Professor Greg Richards from University of Tilburg in the Netherlands who delivered a public seminar "Tourism, Culture and Creativity" at IFT on 24 April 2012 before a diverse audience made up of members of government agencies, professionals, scholars, students and local residents. The seminar was delivered as part of Prof Richards' visit to IFT from 23-25 April 2012. Prof. Richards is the author of "Eventful Cities" which aims to analyse the processes of cultural event development, management and marketing, and link these processes to their wider cultural, social and economic context. Events offer the potential to achieve economic, social, cultural and environmental aims within broader urban development strategies. He is a Professor of Leisure Studies at the University of Tilburg in the Netherlands. He has worked on projects for numerous national governments, national tourism organisations and municipalities, and he has extensive experience in tourism research and education. During the seminar, Prof. Richards discussed the rapidly developing relationship between tourism and creativity, and how "creative tourism", which enables tourists to discover local cultures through their own creative activities, is becoming a niche in its own right. "Creative place requires creative people. Creative people require creative place. Tourists are always looking for the 'secret corners' of the city. One of the best ways to attract tourists is to have good local lifestyle. People are not only here to visit as tourist but also as people in engaging the creativity in the community which generates income" said Prof. Richards at the seminar. Prof. Richards highlighted the case studies of Barcelona, Auckland, and Edinburg, etc. and their experiences of transforming into world creative cities. Examples such as gastronomy and souvenir contribute in this transformation. Tourists may learn Macanese Cuisine anywhere in the world, but the difference is the authentic Macanese Cuisine can only be learnt here in Macao and that would enable tourists to experience Macao. Souvenir is another way of making tourists involve in the city's creative works and remember the city. In concluding his lecture, Prof. Richards emphasised the immense opportunities that lie ahead for Macao to become a creative world city and to help shed its predominant image of merely a leisure and gambling centre.
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To prepare for 1st May festive holiday, Consumer Council, Economic Services Department (DSE), Macau Government Tourist Office (DST), Transport Bureau (DSAT), Judiciary Police (PJ), Public Security Police Force (PSP), Macao Custom Service and Provisional Municipal Council (IACM) met earlier to discuss measure on protecting consumer rights and combating 'unscrupulous shops'. In order to enhance the knowledge of 'Adherents' and 'Certified Shops' about intellectual property, and to improve professional knowledge and service quality of retail salespersons, Consumer Council and representative from Macao Custom Service reached a mutual agreement on the meeting to co-organize talks for 'Adherents' and 'Certified Shops' of the Council about regulations concerning intellectual property in Macao. Participating departments agreed to keep on strengthening communication and cooperation with one another, especially in protecting the interests of tourists in Macao, and to work closely and enhance their surveillance work during this peak shopping season. Further, business owners in all industries, especially restaurants, are called on to take note that price setting is regulated by law in Macao (Section 8, Article 3 of Decree Law No. 16/96/M), business owners should abide by this. Businesses, especially 'Certified Shops' and 'Adherents', should let customers well informed of the prices charged. Consumer Council will also assign its staff to receive consumers' phone calls during '1st May Golden Week' (11AM-18PM, 30th April to 1st May, office will resume service on 2nd May). For enquiry and complaint, please call 8988 9315.
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Consumer Council published its issue no. 224 of Consumer Report. In the current issue, the assessment mechanism for evaluating 'Certified Shop' is introduced, and an interview with the owners of 'Certified Shops' awarded Class A in 2012 is featured. Last year, Consumer Council reviewed and renewed its assessment mechanism for evaluating 'Certified Shop' which had been using for ten years and adopted the new mechanism featuring classes. 'Certified Shops' are classified according to their scores into six classes; those which acquire the highest class are publicly announced and awarded while those which fail the assessment lose their entitlement as 'Certified Shops'. Consumer Council believes that the new mechanism helps better the work of monitoring 'Certified Shops' and encourages 'Certified Shops' to improve by awarding them or ceasing their qualifications as 'Certified Shops'. The assessment mechanism for evaluating 'Certified Shop' is introduced in the latest issue of Consumer Report to let consumers and business owners informed of its contents, an interview with the owners of two Class A 'Certified Shops' is also featured in the magazine. The latest Consumer Report also covers an article on 'Electricity Subsidy Scheme', stating the rights and responsibilities of consumers. Recent activities of the Council, worldwide information about consumer rights, and other articles are also covered. Consumer Report is now available free of charge at the office of Consumer Council (Rua Inácio Baptista, Nº 6-6A Edificio Seaview Garden R/C), and the service counter of Consumer Council at Macao SAR Government Service Centre (Rua Nova da Areia Preta, Nº52), Public Information Centre at Vicky Plaza and libraries. Consumers may also access the resources online at the Council's official website (http://www.consumer.gov.mo). For enquiries, please call 8988 9315.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that total merchandise export for March 2012 amounted to MOP704 million, up by 15.8% year-on-year; value of re-exports (MOP503 million) increased by 24.4%, but that of domestic exports (MOP200 million) decreased by 1.2%. Total merchandise import amounted to MOP6.02 billion, up by 26.1% year-on-year. Merchandise trade deficit amounted to MOP5.32 billion in March 2012. In the first quarter of 2012, total value of merchandise export increased by 22.1% year-on-year to MOP1.98 billion, of which value of re-exports and domestic exports rose by 33.2% and 1.4% respectively; meanwhile, total value of merchandise import increased by 32.1% to MOP17.35 billion. Merchandise trade deficit for the first quarter of 2012 widened by 33.6% year-on-year to MOP15.37 billion. Merchandise export to Hong Kong (MOP1.02 billion) and Mainland China (MOP283 million) in the first quarter of 2012 increased by 40.7% and 21.9% respectively year-on-year. Exports of Non-textile (MOP1.69 billion) expanded by 32.0%, of which exports of Machines & apparatus, parts & accessories thereof (MOP294 million) and Articles for casino (MOP73 million) surged by 152.5% and 247.1% respectively; however, exports of Textile & garment declined by 15.5% to MOP285 million. In the first quarter of 2012, merchandise import from Mainland China (MOP5.39 billion) and the EU (MOP4.09 billion) expanded by 39.2% and 21.4% respectively year-on-year. Imports of Consumer goods rose by 32.2% to MOP10.63 billion, with imports of Gold jewellery (MOP1.66 billion), Watches (MOP1.15 billion) and Handbags & wallets (MOP1.02 billion) increasing by 57.5%, 49.4% and 49.8% respectively. Moreover, imports of Capital goods (MOP3.34 billion) registered year-on-year increase of 38.9%. In the first quarter of 2012, total value of external merchandise trade amounted to MOP19.32 billion, up by 31.0% compared with MOP14.75 billion a year earlier.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that favourable situation of the job market prevailed. The unemployment rate for January-March 2012 was 2.0%, down by 0.1 percentage point over the previous period (December 2011-February 2012); the underemployment rate held stable as the previous period, at 0.8%. Total labour force was 347,000 and the labour force participation rate stood at 72.9%. Total employment reached 340,000, an increase of 1,100 over the previous period. Analyzed by industry, employment of Hotels, Restaurants & Similar Activities and the Construction Sector saw increase. Number of the unemployed decreased by 300 from the previous period to 6,800, with 12.4% being fresh labour force entrants searching for their first job, up by 0.5 percentage point. In the first quarter of 2012, the unemployment rate of local residents was 2.5%, down by 0.3 percentage point quarter-to-quarter; the overall unemployment rate also decreased by 0.2 percentage point. Total labour force registered an increase of 2,500 in the first quarter of 2012, with total employment increasing by 3,300, while number of the unemployed decreasing by 800. Analysed by industry, 25.8% of the employed were working in Recreational, Cultural, Gaming & Other Services; and 15.1% in Hotels, Restaurants & Similar Activities. Median monthly employment earnings of the employed stood at MOP11,000 and that of local residents amounted to MOP13,000 in the first quarter of 2012, up by MOP700 and MOP1,000 respectively quarter-to-quarter.
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In order to provide our customers more choices with good quality of service in sending EMS items to United Kingdom and Canada, customers can choose either TNT or postal operators (Royal Mail and Canada Post) as the delivery agents in sending EMS items to United Kingdom or Canada with effective from 2nd May 2012. Moreover, starting from 2nd May 2012 to 31st July 2012, customers can enjoy a discount for sending items to United Kingdom or Canada via postal operators if the weight of item reaches 5 kg, 10 kg or 30 kg. The highest discount rate is up to 24 % off. Please contact our service hotline for more information at 8396-8521. Thank you for your attention.
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The Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) organized the annual "Meet-in-Macau" in Malaysia and Singapore respectively, held on 24th and 26th April, as an effort to promote Macau's business tourism. The "Meet-in-Macau" programmes in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore both included a seminar and mini mart, as well as a corporate networking luncheon. There were 70 participants from the Malaysia trade and 70 participants from the Singapore trade attended the seminars and mini marts, while there were 40 participants comprising Malaysia corporate clients and media partners, as well as 30 participants comprising Singapore corporate clients and media partners attended the networking luncheons. The promotional activities held in the two markets aimed to network and update key business tourism planners, travel agents, corporate clients and airline partners about the latest tourism developments and incentive programmes in Macau, while encouraging more international companies to choose Macau as their desired destination for business tourism events in Asia. A delegation of 14 with MGTO staffs and Macau trade organizations comprising representatives from shipping company, airline, hotels and resorts, convention and exhibition, attractions, entertainment and tour operators participated in the event. Feedback from both guests and Macau trade partners indicated that the event was both fruitful and informative. The MGTO Representative Office in Malaysia and Singapore also had an influx of enquiries from meeting planners after the event. Last year, the MGTO Representative Office in Malaysia and Singapore has successfully assisted and brought 21 and 69 meeting, exhibition and incentive events to Macau respectively.
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Owing to the electronic communication system breakdown in Romania, Macao Post announced that mail delivery services (including Correspondence, Printed Matters, Small Packet and Parcel) from Macao to Romania are subject to delay until further notice.
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The Government would formulate 10-year plans for public health, social security and education this year to enhance people's livelihood through long-term schemes, the Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, said today. Mr Chui disclosed this when he attended a plenary session of the Legislative Assembly, his first this year, to answer questions raised by the legislators on his governance and social issues. The Government had accumulated a surplus every year since the establishment of the Macao SAR and the figure has amounted to almost 290 billion patacas since the new financial reserve law went into effect earlier this year, he said. Aided by such stable financial conditions, the Government could further enhance and even introduce more long-term mechanisms that could benefit the public. Mr Chui said to guarantee the stable functioning of the Social Security Fund, the Government would inject 4 billion patacas this year and could reserve 10 billion patacas for the fund between 2013 and 2014. He revealed that the Government would review the amount of non-mandatory contributions and premiums based on an actuarial report to be completed this year in view of enhancing the sustainability of the fund. As for the Central Provident Fund systems, a savings scheme initiated by the Government, Mr Chui reiterated that it would inject funds into the accounts of individuals depending on public financial conditions. On public health policies, he said the Government would continue to allocate resources to enhance the public health network, such as the continued training and education of local medical talents. He stressed that the Government would carry on the policies of 15-year free non-tertiary education and would provide scholarships and loans to support higher education students and future students. Speaking on housing policies, the Chief Executive said the Government would consider the possibility of accepting new applications for public housing at the end of this year or early next year. In addition to the 19,000 public housing units in the pipeline, Mr Chui said the Government had been planning some 6,300 units, of which more than 3,000 units were awaiting tender procedure. Mr Chui also dealt with questions about population, tourism, constitutional development, labour rights and other issues.
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