News

In order to speed up the registration processes of industrial property, shorten the time period for publication of the notices of application and enhance the development of intellectual property in Macao, the Economic Services will adjust the number of publication of the notices of protection of industrial property from once per month to twice per month, starting from 1 January 2010. At present, the notices of protection of industrial property will be published on the first Wednesday of every month, in the Series II of Official Gazette of the Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR). After the adjustment, they will be published on the first and the third Wednesday of every month, in the Series II of Official Gazette of the MSAR. In case of public holidays, it will be postponed to the next day. The above-mentioned adjustment will change the number of publication of industrial property notices from 12 times to 24 times per year. This will further shorten the time required between the processes of filing and publishing an application for registration of industrial property. This also helps to enhance the efficiency of examination and registration of industrial property, strengthen the protection of owner’s right of industrial property and ensure the public a better efficiency and quality service of registration. For details of the notices of protection of industrial property published in the Official Gazette of the MSAR, please visit the website of the Economic Services (website: www.economia.gov.mo, and click the “Intellectual Property – Official Gazette of the Macao SAR” link). Besides, for date details of publication of industrial property notices in next year, please click the “Intellectual Property – Time Table for Publication of Industrial Property Notices in 2010” link on the said website.
…

On the occasion of the European Incentive & Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition (EIBTM 2009) held in Barcelona between 1-3 December, the Macau Business Tourism Centre (MBTC) of the Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO), together with 5 representatives of event organizers, destination management companies (DMCs) and hotel from Macau, promoted the home city and its recent MICE development to the tradeshow participants. Held at Barcelona’s Fira Gran Via exhibition venue this year, the European Incentive & Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition is one of the leading global events for the meetings and incentive industry held in Europe annually. Every year it attracts over 3,000 international suppliers from over 100 countries across the globe to exhibit, network and do business. By exhibiting at the EIBTM 2009, it did not only help promote Macau’s new MICE products, but also increase its exposure in the European market as well as strengthening its image as a premier MICE destination of Asia. During the three day event, the Meeting Planners Guide, Macau Incentive Guide and the revised version of the “Strategic MICE Market Stimulation Program” were given out at the MGTO promotion booth, drawing lots of potential suppliers’ and buyers’ attention and requests for more information about having their events held in Macau. In recent years, Macau has been concentrating its efforts on developing the MICE industry. Under the supervision of MGTO, the Macau Business Tourism Centre was inaugurated in 2006. Its mission is to liaise with international associations, assist overseas organizations and meeting planners to organize MICE events in Macau as well as working in tandem with the local industry for concentrated efforts to develop and to build Macau as a premier MICE destination of Asia. In view of this, MBTC launched the Industry Partner Program in October 2008, with the purpose of encouraging Macau’ s MICE industry to support the initiatives of MGTO in promoting Macau and to help secure MICE business for the SAR. So far the program has successfully attracted over 160 key industry suppliers and their response to the program was very positive.
…

Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the value of retail sales for the third quarter of 2009 amounted to MOP5.56 billion. Retail sales of Watches, Clocks & Jewellery accounted for 21% of the total, at MOP1.19 billion, which was followed by sales of Goods in Department Stores (15%), Adults' Clothing (9%), Goods in Supermarkets (9%), Motor Vehicles (7%), Automotive Fuels (3%), Communication Equipment (3%), Cosmetics & Sanitary Articles (3%), Household Electric Appliances (3%) and Goods in Pharmacies (3%). Value of retail sales for the third quarter of 2009 rose by 17% from MOP4.75 billion a year earlier, with marked increase in sales of Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (+55%), Goods in Department Stores (+37%), Adults' Clothing (+30%) and Goods in Supermarkets (+15%); however, sales of Fuels for Household Use and Automotive Fuels decreased by 37% and 27% respectively. In comparison with the revised figure (MOP5.15 billion) in the second quarter, value of retail sales in the third quarter increased by 8%. In the first three quarters of 2009, the cumulative value of retail sales totalled MOP15.69 billion, up by 13% year-on-year. In the third quarter of 2009, about 53% of the retailers reported decrease of the sales volume from the second quarter, down by 12 percentage points quarter-to-quarter; 47% reported that the sales volume remained stable or showed increase. In terms of retail prices, about 53% reported that the prices were stable; 13% stated price increased and 34% reported price decreased. Compared with the third quarter of 2008, about 62% said that the stock level was normal in the third quarter of 2009, while 27% indicated that the stock level was low. Regarding the business prospect for the fourth quarter of 2009, about 80% expect the sales volume will increase or remain stable compared with the third quarter; 20% expect a decrease. Meanwhile, about 83% expect the retail prices will remain stable or increase, while 17% expect a decrease. Starting from the 3rd quarter of 2009, DSEC released the 2008-based retail sales value and volume indices to reflect the real changes of the local retail sector. After removing the effect of price changes, volume of retail sales for the third quarter of 2009 rose by 14.8% year-on-year, of which volume of sales of Watches, Clocks & Jewellery and Goods in Department Stores increased by 47.2% and 27.6% respectively. On the contrary, volume of sales of Fuels for Household Use and Automotive Fuels decreased by 17.1% and 4.8% year-on-year. Compared with the second quarter, total retail sales in the third quarter registered a 7.6% increase in volume.
…

The Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, is to lead a delegation of officials to Beijing tomorrow to attend a symposium on the Basic Law of Macao on Thursday. The symposium, themed ‘A decade of implementation of the Basic Law of Macao’, is to be opened at the Great Hall of the People on Friday. Representatives from Macao attending the symposium include the President of the Legislative Assembly, Mr Lau Cheok Va; the President of the Court of Final Appeal, Mr Sam Hou Fai; the Secretary for Administration and Justice, Ms Florinda Chan, and the Public Prosecutor-General, Mr Ho Chio Meng. The Secretary for Security, Mr Cheong Kuoc Va, will be Acting Chief Executive while Mr Ho is away.
…

Macao is at the crossroads with its image positioning and marketing in tourism. It is undeniable that gaming has become a leading economic pillar of Macao which is confirmed by current statistics, Macao people would still like the world to appreciate other aspects as a unique tourism destination, from Macao’s UNESCO World Heritage, international events, local cultural festivals, leisure and entertainment treats, to the culinary delights. Strategies in enhancing the image of Macao from a gaming destination to a multidimensional leisure and entertainment hub are desired. With this reason, having successfully organised various seminars and conferences jointly with Purdue University, USA, in the past few years, IFT continues to organise, with new co-organisers University of South Carolina, USA, and Sun Yat-sen University, PRC, the 3rd International Conference on “Destination Branding and Marketing”, 2-4 December, at the IFT. This conference is an outcome of a long-standing partnership among the four organisers, and is expected to touch on some imminent issues that Macao is facing, and generate useful ideas that can be further explored, and applied in other destinations undergoing or wishing to undergo transformation. The opening ceremony of the conference was hosted by Dr. Fanny Vong, President of IFT, Dr. Liping Cai, Associate Dean of School of Consumer and Family Science of Purdue University, USA, Dr. Brian Mihalik, Dean of College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management of University of South Carolina, USA and Professor Bao Jigang, Dean of School of Tourism Management and School of Geography and Planning, Sun Yat-sen University, PRC. Delegates from Australia, Bahrain, Brazil, Canada, Mainland China, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Nigeria, the Philippines, Romania, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Chinese Taiwan, the Netherlands, United Kingdom, United States, United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR; Participants from tourism and hospitality professionals, destination marketing practitioners, executives, researchers, academics, graduate students, convention and visitor's bureau executives, event planners and organisers, travel industry members, operators, and travel-related business owners and investors were invited to attend this conference. Aiming to create a forum and opportunity for the latest developments, trends, and research emerging in the area of destination branding and marketing, ideas are shared, discussed, and debated in the conference. Papers of both applied and conceptual orientation are presented on the following topics, along with other relevant concerns: - Strategic issues in destination branding and marketing development
- Measuring destination branding and marketing effectiveness
- Destination product innovation
- Cooperation, collaboration and competition in destination branding and marketing
- Success or failure stories, best practices and case studies in destination branding and marketing
- Consumer travel behavior, visitor segmentation and psychology in destination branding and marketing
- Branding for special interest tourism (nature, heritage and culture, events, conventions and gaming)
- The economics of destination branding and marketing
- Joint or regional destination branding, promotion and marketing
- Tourism distribution and online branding and marketing
- Hospitality and hotel management in a destination branding context Speakers include: - Prof. Bao Jigang
Dean, School of Tourism Management and School of Geography and Planning of Sun Yat-sen University, PRC - Dr. Liping A. Cai
Associate Dean, School of consumer and Family Science of Purdue University, USA - Dr. Jonathon Day
Department of Hospitality and Tourism of Purdue University, USA
Founder and President at Placemark Solutions, Inc - Jim Epperson
President/CEO, First Capitol Tourism Development Corporation
Executive Director, Harrison County Convention & Visitor Bureau - Prof. William C. Gartner
Professor of Applied Economics, University of Minnesota, USA - Dr. Rich Harrill
Director, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Travel & Tourism Industry Center and International Tourism Research Institute of University of South Carolina, USA - Dr. Nigel Morgan
The Welsh Centre for Tourism Research - Roger Pride
Director of Marketing, Welsh Assembly Government, UK - Dr. Annette Pritchard
Director, The Welsh Centre for Tourism Research, Cardiff School of Management, UWIC, UK - Prof. Haiyan Song
Associate Director, School of Hotel and Tourism Management of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR
…

Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that inward foreign direct investment (FDI) amounted to MOP 23.93 billion in 2008, up by 5.41 billion over 2007, with the investment in the Gaming Sector accounting for 69.1% of the total, at MOP 16.54 billion. Analyzed by investors’ place of usual residence, investment came mainly from Hong Kong (MOP 6.47 billion), the United States (MOP 5.96 billion) and Mainland China (MOP 5.62 billion). In addition to a disinvestment of MOP 744 million of outward FDI of local enterprises, Macao registered a net FDI inflow of MOP 24.67 billion in 2008. In 2008, income earned by investors from inward FDI totalled MOP 21.97 billion, a significant increase of MOP 10.80 billion year-on-year. On the other hand, Macao enterprises recorded a loss of MOP 245 million from outward FDI. At the end of 2008, stock of inward FDI to Macao reached MOP 88.43 billion, an increase of 15.69 billion from 2007. Analyzed by industry, the Gaming Sector took a dominant share of MOP 60.43 billion, up by MOP 11.92 billion year-on-year; meanwhile, stock of FDI of the Financial Sector (MOP 17.56 billion) and the Construction Sector (MOP 3.59 billion) rose by MOP 4.46 billion and MOP 141 million respectively. Stock of FDI from Hong Kong amounted to MOP 32.30 billion in 2008, down by MOP 1.50 billion year-on-year; however, stock of FDI from the United States (MOP 17.67 billion) and Mainland China (MOP 9.91 billion) increased by MOP4.30 billion and MOP3.24 billion respectively. Furthermore, stock of outward FDI made by Macao enterprises amounted to MOP 8.10 billion at the end of 2008, down by MOP 792 million from 2007. Outward FDI was mainly invested in the British Virgin Islands, Hong Kong and Mainland China. Direct Investment Statistics facilitate analysis of FDI profile between Macao and other economies. For statistical purposes, Macao and Mainland China are considered as two separate economies. Coverage of the Direct Investment Statistics included the major industries of Macao, namely Industrial Production; Construction; Wholesale & Retail; Hotels; Restaurants; Transport, Storage & Communications; Real Estate Agencies; Financial Services; Gaming; and Cultural, Recreational & Other Services. In 2008, Macao had 2,020 FDI enterprises, with 1,970 engaging in the Non-Financial Sector and 50 in the Financial Sector.
…

The Transportation Infrastructure Office (GIT) is pleased to present the call for tenders for the supply of Rolling Stock & Systems for the Phase 1 Macau LRT Project. Interested parties shall submit their tenders to GIT Headquarter by 5pm on 12 March 2010. The purpose of this Call for Tender is to seek the best offer from eligible Tenderers worldwide to supply Rolling Stock and Systems for the Phase 1 Macau LRT, and the Design and Build Turnkey solution for implementation of LRT in Sai Van Bridge (Basic Proposal). The Rolling Stock in the Basic Proposal shall suffice the initial operational capacity as defined in the Tender Document, with options at the discretion of the Awarding Entity for the supply of additional trains to increase the designated capacities. The design of systems and facilities shall be done in accordance with the ultimate system capacity, so that increase in operational capacity shall not bring any disruption to the services. In order to ensure the safety, reliability and integrity of the Macau LRT System, special attention will be given to the experience and record of the Supplier and the proposed Rolling Stock. Tenderers have to fulfill the eligibility requirement and entry requirement stipulated in the Tender Documents. They shall submit as part of the tender at least one similar project in Rolling Stock and one similar project in ATC with complete and successful implementation in the last 15 years. The similar project shall be an Unattended Train Operation (UTO) line with a minimum length of 5 km. It shall have been in revenue service for at least the last 18 months prior to the date of the Official Public Announcement, with availability of 98% in the last month of that period. The proposed Rolling Stock shall be in rubber-tyre wheels and has been fully proven in previous projects, with a minimum of 18 months of revenue service prior to Official Public Announcement. Interested parties can access and purchase the Tender Documents during office hours in GIT Headquarter located at Rua do Dr. Pedro José Lobo, Edifício Banco Luso Internacional, n.º 1-3, 26º andar, Macau. Tender shall be submitted by 5pm on 12 March 2010. Please feel free to refer to the Government of Macau Special Administrative Region Gazette (Boletim Oficial da Região Administrativa Especial de Macau) dated 2 December 2009, No. 48 Series II and our website: www.git.gov.mo for details.
…

The gardens in Suzhou, the temples of Kyoto, the mystical streets of Varanasi or the Cobbled walkways of Macao are examples of historic urban areas that have long captivated and charmed travelers. Although the benefits, impacts, implications and consequences of tourism on cultural heritage have been much discussed, there are both persistent and emerging gaps in our knowledge of particular issues involved in achieving meaningful and sustainable approaches to heritage tourism in historic urban areas. To further probe into these issues, the Institute For Tourism Studies (IFT) and the Asian Academy for Heritage Management (AAHM) jointly organised the “2nd Asian Academy for Heritage Management Conference”, themed “Urban Heritage and Tourism: Challenges and Opportunities”. The conference will also examine the relationship between the conservation and management of urban heritage and the development of cultural tourism. This conference is an outcome of a long-standing partnership between IFT and AAHM. The Asian Academy for Heritage Management was established for the purpose improving professional training and enhancing management capacity in fields related to culture heritage by UNESCO and the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM). IFT was invited to be one of the founding members in 2003. The 1st Asian Academy for Heritage Management Conference was held in Bangkok, Thailand in 2006 with the theme “Asian Approaches to Conservation”. It is the Institute’s honour to have this opportunity to co-host the conference with AAHM, which has not only provided a platform for scholars from around the world to share their findings and encourage academic exchange. With the various case studies done on Macao cultural tourism, valuable suggestions have been presented for the sustainable development of Macao urban heritage conservation and tourism. The opening ceremony was hosted by Dr. Fanny Vong, President of IFT, Dr. Timothy Curtis, Head of Culture Unit of UNESCO Bangkok and Dr. Gamini Wijesuriya, Project Manager (Sites Unit) of the ICCROM. Over 90 delegates from Australia, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Mainland China, Egypt, France, Germany, India, Italy, the Philippines, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Spain, Thailand, the Netherlands, United Kingdom, United States, Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR; Participants comes from different background including cultural unit executives, tourism and hospitality professionals, architects and urban planners, executives, researchers, academics and graduate students were invited to attend this conference. As a platform of discussion about urban heritage and tourism, ideas are shared, discussed, and debated in the conference. Papers of both applied and conceptual orientation are presented on the following four sub-themes within the contexts of historic urban areas: - Managing change in historic urban areas in the face of tourism development
- Adaptive re-use of urban heritage resources as hospitality venues
- Heritage interpretation: By whom? For whom?
- Heritage tourism’s contributions to host communities Specialist speakers include︰ - Dr. Richard A. Engelhardt
UNESCO Charge de Mission and Senior Advisor to the UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture - Prof. Mike Robinson
Chair of Tourism and Culture of Leeds Metropolitan University, UK - Prof. Christopher Ryan
Professor of University of Waikato, New Zealand
…

Institute For Tourism Studies (IFT) has the honour in inviting Executive Chef Marc Bonard, of the LE CORDON BLEU Japan Culinary Arts Schools to feature the “LE CORDON BLEU Master Chef Week at IFT”. LE CORDON BLEU, one of the leading school for teaching classical French cuisine, patisserie and boulangerie was established in Paris, France in 1895. Over the last century, LE CORDON BLEU has developed a reputation for maintain the highest standards of culinary excellence. Executive Chef Marc Bonard, originally from the town of Quillan in the Languedoc region of France, received B.E.P. in Cuisine from the Lycee Hotelier in Tain L’Hermitage. He was appointed as Chef de Cuisine of Le Cordon Bleu Brasserie in 2001 and joined LE CORDON BLEU TOKYO in 2007, expertise in teaching French culinary technique with Japanese ingredients. Executive Chef Marc Bonard will demonstrate the finest in classic French cuisine reinterpreted in a modern and innovative context, including a number of plate decoration arts. Chef Bonard aims to offer participants an exclusive gastronomic programme and to allow them to experience superb dishes tantalising their senses throughout this one week French Master Chef Programme. The International Culinary Academy @ IFT endeavours to bring in new culinary elements and exchange opportunities with international prestigious institutions to Macao. It is believed the local arts in culinary can be brought to a new horizon. The “LE CORDON BLEU Master Chef Week at IFT” will take place from 01 to 05 December with different topics on each day, including plate decoration art concept and execution, French and fusion cuisine demonstration.
…

The Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, congratulated the members of the next Executive Council, whose names were announced today by the Third-term Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On. In a statement released by the Chief Executive, Mr Ho said he believed members of the incoming Council would contribute to the policies of Mr Chui’s administration and to the sustainable development of Macao. Mr Ho also expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the members of the current Executive Council, the statement said. The composition of the new Executive Council was announced today in a statement released by Mr Chui’s office.
…