News

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)
…

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.
…

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.
…

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.
…

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.
…

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.
…

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.
…

The Macau SAR Government is concerned about VIVA Macau’s suspension of flight service due to operational problems and has taken emergency measures to assist over 300 immediately affected passengers. Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) was notified by the Macau International Airport that VIVA Macau, who failed to settle its fuel charge, has delayed and cancelled respectively its services to Jakarta and Tokyo today, causing over 300 passengers to be stranded at the airport. The SAR Government is very concerned about the impact this incident has on the passengers as well as the aviation and tourism sectors, and has taken immediate measures to assist the affected passengers. Tourism Crisis Management Office (GGCT) and CAA held a press conference regarding VIVA Macau’s suspension of flight service to announce the government’s contingency measures and the latest development of the incident to the public. President of the Civil Aviation Authority Chan Weng Hong expressed that the SAR Government has activated the emergency response mechanism and coordinated related departments, Macau International Airport and relevant entities for urgent arrangements. Chan Weng Hong pointed out that in order to offer timely assistance to passengers immediately affected by the incident, the SAR Government has coordinated with the fuel company to enable the flight which was scheduled to depart for Jakarta this afternoon (26) to take off at 10pm. Regarding the flight scheduled to depart for Tokyo this afternoon, the SAR Government has demanded VIVA Macau to fulfill its commercial obligation and VIVA Macau has promised to provide hotel accommodation for the stranded passengers. 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. Chan expressed that the SAR Government will closely monitor the development of the situation and continue to provide assistance to affected passengers through the emergency response mechanism. If necessary, resolute measures will be taken when appropriate to assist affected passengers. Chan emphasized that, as a responsible commercial entity, it is compulsory to cater well for its passengers. The SAR Government is deeply disappointed and expresses regret with VIVA Macau’s suspension of flight service due to operational problems having affected a large number of passengers. Updated information about the incident will be released on Tourism Crisis Management Office’s website: www.ggct.gov.mo
…

The Government has offered 60 million Renminbi for relief in the three most seriously drought affected provinces in the Mainland. Highly concerned with the gravity of the situation, it approved two million Renminbi each for Guizhou, Yunnan and Guangxi after having been given update information on the situation by the Central Government. The Government would maintain close contact with the Central Government and would fully support drought relief efforts.
…

The Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) released summary of the GDP for the fourth quarter and the whole year of 2009. The rates of change mentioned in the text refer to the year-on-year change, unless otherwise specified. GDP for the fourth quarter and the whole year of 2009 The global financial crisis remained severe in the first half of 2009, impelling countries to map out market rescue measures in order to withstand the damage to their economies; meanwhile, the international community has stepped up cooperation and dialogue in response to the tremendous impact of the world financial crisis. The preliminary effect has been achieved by the middle of the year, as the economies of Europe, the US and Japan turned stable basically while the Mainland economy returned to the state of high economic growth. The economy of Macao was unavoidably affected by the less favourable world economy. Gross domestic product (GDP) for the first half of the year contracted by 13.4% in real terms, attributable to decrease in gross gaming revenue, total visitor spending and gross fixed capital formation, as well as further decline in merchandise export. On account of the surge in exports of gaming services, the economy of Macao was back to the growth track in the third quarter and soared substantially by 27.4% in the fourth quarter, bringing the economy to expand by 17.9% in real terms in the second half of 2009. For the whole year of 2009, Macao’s GDP rose by 1.3% in real terms to MOP 169.34 billion, with per-capita GDP amounting to MOP 311,131 (US$ 38,968). Rate of economic growth for the second and third quarters was revised upward from -15.3% and 8.2% to -14.8% and 8.8% respectively in real terms. The favourable factors contributing to Macao’s economic growth in 2009 included: Ÿ gross gaming revenue (excluding gratuities) increased by 9.6% compared with 2008; Ÿ hotel guests increased by 2.7%; Ÿ rising value of retail sales and median monthly employment earnings;
…