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Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that the total number of visitor arrivals decreased by 5% year-on-year to 21,752,751, with 4,648,188 arriving in package tours (21% of total), down by 5% year-on-year. The majority were coming from Mainland China (10,989,533), Hong Kong (6,727,822), Taiwan, China (1,292,551), Japan (379,241) and Malaysia (332,529). Besides, number of Mainland visitors travelling to Macao under the Individual Visit Scheme dropped 27% year-on-year to 4,809,878 that took up 44% of the total visitor arrivals from China. Same-day visitors (11,350,852) accounted for 52% of the total visitor arrivals. In 2009, number of Macao residents travelling outbound in package tours decreased by 10% year-on-year to 206,292; however, those travelling under individual arrangements using services of travel agencies increased notably by 23% to 464,302. At the end of 2009, there were 90 hotels and guest-houses, and the total number of available guest rooms rose by 10% year-on-year to 19,259. Total number of guests (6,714,413) increased by 3% from 2008 with an average length of stay of 1.5 nights (+0.1 night). While the number of available guest rooms grew faster than the increase of guests, the average occupancy rate of the hotel sector dropped by 2.9 percentage points year-on-year to 71.4%. The average occupancy rate of the 59 hotels stood at 72.1%, down by 2.9 percentage points compared with 2008. Per-capita spending of visitors dropped by 7% year-on-year to MOP 1,616 in 2009, with per-capita spending of tourists and same-day visitors amounting to MOP 2,328 and MOP 601 respectively. Meanwhile, per-capita spending of Mainland visitors was MOP 3,040. Per-capita non-shopping spending (excluding gaming expenses) of visitors was MOP 983, down by 4% year-on-year, with expenses on Accommodation and Food & Beverage accounting for 45% and 34% respectively of the per-capita non-shopping spending. In addition, per-capita shopping spending decreased by 10% year-on-year to MOP 633, with expenses on Local Food Products and Clothing sharing of 30% and 20% respectively of the per-capita shopping spending. Moreover, the per-capita non-shopping spending and shopping spending of Mainland visitors amounted to MOP 1,122 and MOP 1,918 respectively. Per-diem spending of visitors was similar to that of 2008, at MOP 1,507; the average length of stay of visitors remained unchanged at 1.1 days, with tourists staying an average of 1.6 days and same-day visitors staying 0.3 day. Analyzed by mode of transport, per-capita spending of visitors arriving by sea, by land and by air stood at MOP 1,363, MOP 2,025 and MOP 2,986 respectively in 2009.
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The Macao SAR Government continues to assist the passengers affected by the Viva Macau incident. The Tourism Crisis Management Office (GGCT) set up a designated counter at a hotel next to the Macau International Airport to register the personal information of the affected passengers. Staff of the Travel Industry Council of Macau would help visitors book tickets of return flights (and ferry tickets to Hong Kong if needed). The opening hours of the counter are from 09:00 to 18:00. Viva Macau passengers may call GGCT’s round-the-clock hotline (Tel: 853-28333088) for inquiries. Residents may also call the Tourism Hotline (Tel: 853-28333000) for assistance. GGCT will also post the latest information on its website: www.ggct.gov.mo. As of 18:00 today the Government had: - helped 427 visitors book tickets of return flights (37 were assisted in the past 24 hours) - helped 317 Macao residents returned home (56 were assisted in the past 24 hours) - received 981 inquiries and requests for assistance (79 were received in the past 24 hours) The Consumer Council had also received 419 inquiries and requests for assistance, of which 32 were received in the past 24 hours. GGCT had also set up hotlines (English) in the destinations of Viva Macau: Japan: 09032205564 (dialing from Japan) 81-9032205564 (dialing from Macao) Jakarta: 62-21 83705913 Australia: 61-2 82677212 (dialing from Macao) 02-82677212 (dialing from Melbourne) 82677212 (dialing from Sydney)
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Following the request made by the leasing company to the Civil Aviation Authority (AACM) to de-register the aircraft of VIVA Macau, AACM has started the de-registration process after having examined the legal documents according to the respective procedures. AACM will try to cope with the request of the leasing company to expedite the work. AACM reiterates that VIVA Macau does not have conditions to provide air services now. AACM received a notification on 29 March from the Macao legal representative of the leasing company of VIVA Macau which stated that due to the non-compliance with the provisions of the leasing contract by VIVA Macau, the leasing company has already terminated the contract with VIVA Macau and requested AACM to de-register the aircraft. In accordance with the contract, the leasing company has the full power to take such action. The SAR Government has always been providing assistance to the operation of the local airlines. The SAR Government is therefore disappointed at the fact and regrets to see that VIVA Macau cannot overcome its operational problems after the continuous support and aid rendered to them. In addition, the SAR Government emphasizes that the termination of the sub-concession contract and the revocation of the Air Operator Certificate comply with laws.
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Another 109 Macao residents who were stranded overseas by the suspension of Viva Macau flights, have returned home today through alternative arrangements made by the Government, making a total of 236. At the same time, six foreign visitors stranded in Macao have also returned home. The Tourism Crisis Management Office (GGCT) has set up a special counter in a hotel next to the Macao International Airport, to register the personal information of affected passengers and helped them find alternative flights. The counter is open from 9 am to 6 pm. Up to noon today, another: - 109 Macao residents returned home, a total of 236 since the suspension, six visitors left, making a total of 237; 117 enquiries and requests for assistance were received, making a total of 543. The Executive Committee of the Consumer Council received another 30 requests for information and assistance, making a total of 368. A 24-hour hotline (28333088) has been activated to answer enquiries and offer update information to passengers. Details are also posted on the www.ggct.gov.mo website. GGCT had also set up English-speaking hotlines in the following countries:- Japan: 09032205564 (from Japan) 81-9032205564 (from Macao) Jakarta: 62-2183705913 Australia: 61-282677212 (from Macao) 02-82677212 (from Melbourne) 82677212 (from Sydney)
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Upon the request of the SAR Government, Air Macau has terminated their sub-concession contract with VIVA Macau. The Civil Aviation Authority (AACM) has revoked the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) of the company accordingly. The SAR Government takes this opportunity to emphasize that such decision and all actions taken comply with laws. AACM received a notification today from the Macao legal representative of the aircraft leasing company of VIVA Macau that they have already terminated the leasing contract with VIVA Macau and requested AACM to de-register the aircraft. AACM will carry out the de-registration according to the respective procedures. The SAR Government hopes that VIVA Macau will handle the incident in an appropriate manner and cooperate with the relevant entities to provide proper assistance to affected passengers.
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To protect the public interest, the Macao SAR Government had requested for and obtained Air Macau’s consent to terminate its sub-concession contract with Viva Macau. This was announced today at a press conference held by the Tourism Crisis Management Office (GGCT), with the Civil Aviation Authority (AACM), the Consumer Council and related departments. The President of the Civil Aviation Authority, Mr Chan Weng Hong, said the Government was greatly concerned with the negative impacts of the Viva Macau incident towards passengers and the community. Since the Viva Macau flight failed to operate due to fuel payment issues on 26 March (Friday) the Government had tried to contact the airline and urge it to fulfill its commercial responsibilities and obligations to passengers, he said. The Government had tried its utmost to urge Viva Macau to co-operate in order to find a solution that meets with the satisfaction of the parties involved, but by noon today the carrier had not co-operated. Mr Chan said Viva Macau had been extremely unco-operative: it did not provide the necessary information when the Government tried to assist stranded passengers, such as the name list of passengers, which resulted in the slow progress in helping the affected passengers. Due to Viva Macau’s failure in fulfilling its commercial responsibilities and repeatedly infringement of public interests, the Macao SAR Government, after very careful consideration of the negative impact to Macao’s tourism industry, requested Air Macau to terminate the sub-concession contract with Viva Macau in order to protect public interests. Air Macau consented to the request of the Government. Following the termination of the sub-concession contract of VIVA Macau by Air Macau, VIVA Macau is no longer compliant with the basic requirements for public air transport services. In consequence of this, the Civil Aviation Authority revoked its Air Operator Certificate. The Government would also, through legal means, follow up on the 200 million pacatas loan it had granted to Viva Macau between 2008 and 2009. The Co-ordinator of Tourism Crisis Management Office, Mr João Manuel Costa Antunes, said the Government would continue to help Macao residents stranded overseas and foreign visitors stranded in Macao. For those in transit, the public security authority would extent the period of stay of their visa for them to arrange alternative flights -- 15 days for People’s Republic of China passport holders and 30 days for holders of foreign passports. The President of the Executive Committee of the Consumer Council, Mr Wong Hon Neng, said as the incident involved consumers, the Council would do its utmost to assist those affected. The Council had dispatched its officers to the information desk of Macau Government Tourist Office at Macau International Airport and to follow up on complaints and inquiries of the affected visitors, said Mr Wong.
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Following the termination of the sub-concession contract of VIVA Macau by Air Macau, VIVA Macau is no longer compliant with the basic requirements for public air transport services. In consequence of this, the Civil Aviation Authority (AACM) has revoked its Air Operator Certificate. In addition, AACM has urged VIVA Macau to terminate its commercial activities including online ticket sales.
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The Macao SAR Government, after evaluating the operational situation of VIVA Macau, considered the company incapable of maintaining normal flight service. In consideration of public interest and to protect Macao’s image as a tourism city, the SAR Government this afternoon (27 March) activated the tourism crisis response mechanism and decided to sponsor the returning flight fare for Macao residents stranded abroad and foreign visitors stranded in Macao because of the incident. The SAR Government would also assist passengers holding VIVA Macau tickets who have not yet embarked on their journey to rebook on other flights with a special fare. Due to fuel payment issues, VIVA Macau’s flight scheduled for Jakarta at 14:20 today failed to depart, and the 121 passengers sought assistance from the SAR Government. Meanwhile, the SAR Government had also been notified by the fuel supplier that they have officially informed VIVA Macau that no further fuel will be supplied to their aircrafts. Thus, the SAR Government decided to activate the Tourism Crisis Response Mechanism. The Tourism Crisis Management Office had discussed with representatives of relevant departments, the Macau International Airport, other airlines and tourism operators on contingency arrangements. The SAR Government decided to sponsor the returning flight fare for Macao residents stranded abroad. The SAR Government will also coordinated with travel agencies to follow up the arrangements for tour groups which had booked VIVA Macau tickets through Macau travel agencies and are stranded abroad. The SAR Government will sponsor the returning flight fare for foreign visitors stranded in Macao because of the incident. The SAR Government had also coordinated with other airlines to assist passengers holding VIVA Macau tickets who have not yet embarked on their journey to rebook on other flights with a special fare. The SAR Government urges all passengers to contact the airlines which have agreed to offer assistance for detailed information before heading to the airport. The SAR Government is deeply disappointed and expresses regret that, having provided various assistance and support, VIVA Macau was still not able to overcome operational problems affecting a large number of passengers. As VIVA Macau’s ticketing system is still in operation, the SAR Government appeals to all residents to fully assess all possible risks before purchasing. Tourism Crisis Management Office (GGCT) has set up a dedicated hotline 28333088 in Macau for inquiries. VIVA Macau passengers outside Macau can also contact hotlines at VIVA Macau’s destinations for assistance. The overseas hotlines are: Japan: 09032205564 (in Japan) and (81) 9032205564 (from Macau); Jakarta, Indonesia: (62) 21 83705913; Australia: (61) 2 82677212 (from Macau), 0282677212 (from Melbourne) and 82677212 (from Sydney). Overseas hotlines are operated in English. In order to have more accurate understanding of the number of passengers affected, Macau residents are advised to notify their relatives and friends who are holding VIVA Macau tickets at the above destinations to call the respective hotlines to register with GGCT. In addition, GGCT will also send out SMS messages to inform Macau mobile phone users with roaming service the related information and hotline numbers. Latest information will continue to be uploaded to GGCT’s website: www.ggct.gov.mo The tourism hotline 28333000 will maintain normal operation.
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The Tourism Crisis Management Office (GGCT) has the following updates on the VIVA Macau incident: The Tourism Crisis Management Office (GGCT) has assisted 90 stranded foreign passengers from the flights scheduled to depart for Hanoi (57) and Melbourne (33) today (March 27) to check in two local hotels. As there is no information indicating that the issue concerning fuel payment had been settled and the airlines’ future flight services remain uncertain, the SAR Government urges all passengers to check the latest information before heading to the airport. As VIVA Macau’s ticketing system is still in operation, the SAR Government also appeals to all residents to fully assess all possible risks before purchasing.
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The Macao SAR Civil Aviation Authority has the following updates on the VIVA Macau Flight Service incident: The Flight scheduled to leave yesterday for Tokyo had taken off this morning( 27 March) at 08:44 The Flight scheduled to leave for Ho Chi Minh City had taken off this morning at 07:05 The SAR Government urges all passengers holding VIVA Macau tickets who have not yet embarked on their journey to check on the latest situation before heading to the airport.
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