News

The Tourism Crisis Management Office (GGCT) has been monitoring the tense situation between North and South Korea and maintaining close contact with the tourism associations and travel industry, as well as the overseas representative of the Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) in South Korea in order to follow up the situation in South Korea. According to the information provided by the travel industry, no tours to South Korea have been cancelled and they will continue according to schedule. Despite the situation has stabilized, the Office will continue to monitor the situation and its effects on tourists. Until now, GGCT has not received any request for assistance regarding this case. Macao residents in Korea may call the 24 hour Tourism Hotline (853)2833 3000 for assistance.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that the number of visitor and non-resident arrivals totalled 2,764,508 in October 2010. Total visitor arrivals rose by 7.5% year-on-year to 2,092,343. Same-day visitors (1,143,513) accounted for 54.7% of the total visitor arrivals, with 627,649 coming from Mainland China. Analyzed by place of residence, visitors from Mainland China increased by 6.7% year-on-year to 1,124,061 (53.7% of total), with 479,516 travelling to Macao under the Individual Visit Scheme, up by 3.9% from October 2009. Visitors from Hong Kong (629,233), Malaysia (27,454) and Republic of Korea (21,931) grew by 14.0%, 5.9% and 59.8% respectively, while visitor arrivals from Japan (29,637) held stable as October 2009; however, those from Taiwan, China (98,674) decreased by 6.8%. Total visitor arrivals reached 20,680,922 in the first ten months of 2010, up by 16.0% year-on-year. The majority of visitors were from Mainland China (10,931,869); Hong Kong (6,237,149); Taiwan, China (1,090,555); Japan (341,558); Republic of Korea (271,161) and Malaysia (261,947). Same-day visitors accounted for 52.3% of the total visitor arrivals, at 10,810,551 in the first ten months of 2010. Analyzed by mode of transport, visitor arrivals by sea totalled 8,474,021 from January to October 2010, an increase of 20.0% year-on-year. Visitors arriving at the Outer Harbour increased by 7.5% to 5,268,282, with the majority coming from Hong Kong (52.8%) and Mainland China (22.9%); meanwhile, those arriving at the Provisional Ferry Terminal in Taipa increased by 51.7% to 2,913,060. Visitor arrivals by land reached 10,846,794 in the first ten months of 2010, up by 14.6% year-on-year; those arriving through the Border Gate totalled 9,935,593 and the majority were visitors from Mainland China (78.9%) and Hong Kong (14.0%). Visitor arrivals by air increased by 4.2% year-on-year to 1,360,107. Visitors arriving at the Macao International Airport went up by 5.1% to 1,342,074, with the majority coming from Taiwan, China (37.7%); Mainland China (31.2%); and Malaysia (7.2%).
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The Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao S.A.R. Government will organize an Academic Research Lecture in the Cultural Affairs Bureau Auditorium (Edifício do Instituto Cultural, Tap Seac Square, Macao) at 6:30pm on Friday 26 November. Huang Hongzhao, professor of Department of History at Nanjing University, will give a lecture on “The Development of Macao's Ocean Culture". The lecture will be given in Mandarin with Cantonese, Portuguese and English simultaneous interpretation. Entrance is free.
Relics from the Stone Age site at Hac Sa, Coloane of Macao show that Macao people lived on fishing and hunting 5000 years ago, just like their counterparts in southern Zhuhai. Macao is therefore considered typical of southern China ocean culture, characterized by its external-oriented, open and commodity features. The settlement of Portuguese in Macao in 1557 spurred the development of Macao's ocean culture. Over centuries, this culture has gradually transformed and become outward-looking and pluralistic with a combination of leisure and recreation. On the other hand, Macao's ocean culture has a practical significance. Since opening up to foreign trade, Macao has reached out to the world via the ocean; at the same time, it embraces cultures from all continents. Macao has played a significant role in Sino-western cultural exchange in modern China as a gateway of western culture into China.
The lecture will introduce the characteristics and development of Macao's ocean culture, as well as how Macao could make use of its ocean culture advantage to remain a bridge in promoting international exchange and cooperation.
Huang Hongzhao is a professor at the History Department of Nanjing University; former deputy head of the History Department, deputy secretary-general of the standing committee of the China Association of Modern World History Studies, vice-president of Jiangsu Research Institute for Education of History and member of the history department of the 8th five-year plan review team of the State Education Committee. Huang is engaged in studies of Hong Kong and Macao history, world history and history of international relations. His major works include "Collection of Huang Hongzhao's papers on history studies", “Collection on Macao”, “Modern History of Hong Kong”, “Advantages in Culture and Dominant Culture of Macao”,“Macao Officials in Ming and Qing Dynasties and the Modern Macao”. In 2008, Professor Huang was awarded a Cultural Affairs Bureau academic research grant to study the development of Macao's ocean culture.
For further details, please contact Ms. Chu of the Macao Historical Archives of the Cultural Affairs Bureau at 85986537.
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For three consecutive years, the international community of government leaders, businesses, professionals, financial institutions, investors and a host of non-government organizations has converged in Macao to actively participate in the collective effort to address environmental issues of common global concern. The Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum & Exhibition (MIECF), an initiative by the Macao government, is contributing to China’s efforts to achieve specific objectives for a low carbon society, as well as to raise public awareness and improve conditions for humanity. From its launch in 2008 through to 2010, MIECF has grown from strength to strength and regarded as a success by delegates, exhibitors and the international community. Now, MIECF returns for its fourth edition in 2011 from March 31 to April 02, at the Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel. As the 2011 MIECF Event Manager, Koelnmesse Pte Ltd is inviting interested service providers to participate in this Call for Tender, for appointment of service contracts. The range of services being tendered for are: § Stand Contractor
§ Freight Forwarder
§ Travel Services
§ Accounting Service
§ Public Relation Services
§ Registration Services § Shuttle Bus & Limousine Services Interested parties are welcome to submit their tenders. Submission deadline is 3 December, 2010. Full information on the tender procedures and specifications can be obtained form the website at www.macaomiecf.com.
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From November 16 until 5p.m. today (22), the Cross-departmental Working Team sealed one more premise suspected to provide accommodation illegally. A tout and a managing staff were seized on site. Since the law on "Prohibition of Providing Illegal Accommodation" took effect on August 13, Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) has waged a total of 87 sanctions, among which one sanction proceeding has been completed and an operator who provided accommodation illegally was fined 200 000 patacas. Other cases are in different stages of sanction proceedings. Since the Cross-departmental Working Team started operations, to date, 1086 premise-checks were conducted, involving 754 premises, of which 87 premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally were sealed, while 116 were normal residences. Ensuing investigations on the rest of the premises have been launched. Among the checked premises, some were vacant or unoccupied. Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) and the Public Security Police Force (PSP) will continue investigation on unanswered doors, which are suspected to be used to provide accommodation illegally. Meanwhile, during investigations to other cases, PSP has found 18 premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally and informed the Cross-departmental Working Team to handle the cases. To date, the operations involved more than 892 occupants, among whom 389 were occupants of premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally and were investigated, including 17 overstayers and 14 illegal immigrants. 13 operators, 13 touts, 13 persons who manage the premises that provide accommodation illegally (managing staff) and six occupants who failed to fulfill their duty of cooperation were seized on site. MGTO has begun sanction proceedings on offenders according to the law on "Prohibition of Providing Illegal Accommodation". If the operator who provided accommodation illegally, who was fined 200 000 patacas, does not pay within the statutory period, the Financial Services Bureau will enforce the collection of fine. Meanwhile, the six occupants who failed to fulfill their duty of cooperation were fined 3 000 patacas each, among which three have paid the fine. For those who fail to pay the fine within the statutory period, MGTO has notified the Financial Services Bureau to enforce the collection of fine and informed PSP that the involved persons should pay the fine or their reentry into Macau will be denied. According to the law, operators and persons who manage the premises that provide accommodation illegally (management staff) incur a penalty up to 800 000 patacas, touts can be fined up to 100 000 patacas, persons who fail to cooperate can be fined up to 20 000 patacas and occupants who fail to cooperate are fined 3 000 patacas. Following the raid to premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally, MGTO began sanction proceedings on involved operators, touts and managing staff, and adopted provisional measures to cut the supply of water and electricity to the concerned premises and sealed the doors. Public can also call 2833 3000 to report suspected premises.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that the Composite CPI (105.07) for October 2010 increased by 3.95% year-on-year, attributable to the price increase in Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages, Miscellaneous Goods & Services and Clothing & Footwear. Analyzed by section of goods and services, Clothing & Footwear (+8.25%); Miscellaneous Goods & Services (+6.77%); Health (+5.45%); Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages (+5.35%); and Transport (+4.76%) recorded notable increase on account of dearer prices of men’s clothing, women’s footwear, gold jewellery, gasoline, fresh seafood and vegetables, as well as higher charges for out-patient medical services and meals bought away from home. Meanwhile, reduced charges for mobile phone services caused the price index of Communication to fall by 3.59% year-on-year. The CPI-A (104.60) and CPI-B (105.19) for October 2010 increased by 3.69% and 4.08% year-on-year respectively. The Composite CPI for October 2010 increased by 0.39% month-to-month, with the price indices of Clothing & Footwear; and Transport rising by 2.12% and 0.95% respectively on account of rising prices of new arrivals of Autumn and Winter clothing and gasoline. However, price index of Recreation & Culture fell by 0.92% due to lower charges for outbound package tours. The average Composite CPI for the first ten months of 2010 increased by 2.58% year-on-year. For the 12 months ended October 2010, the average Composite CPI rose by 2.21% from the preceding period. The 2008/2009-based Composite CPI reflects the impact of price changes on the general population. The CPI-A relates to about 50% of the households, which have an average monthly expenditure of MOP6,000 to MOP18,999. The CPI-B relates to about 30% of the households, which have an average monthly expenditure of MOP19,000 to MOP34,999.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that value of retail sales for the third quarter of 2010 amounted to MOP 7.54 billion, up notably by 35% year-on-year. Retail sales of Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (MOP 1.92 billion) took the largest share of 25%, which was followed by sales of Goods in Department Stores (14%), Leather Goods (10%), Adults' Clothing (8%), Goods in Supermarkets (8%), Motor Vehicles (8%), Cosmetics & Sanitary Articles (3%), Automotive Fuels (3%), Goods in Pharmacies (3%) and Communication Equipment (3%). In comparison with the revised figure (MOP 6.86 billion) in the second quarter of 2010, value of retail sales for the third quarter increased by 10%, with marked increase in the retail sales of Cosmetics & Sanitary Articles (+19%), Leather Goods (+18%), Communication Equipment (+17%), Goods in Supermarkets (+17%) and Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (+15%). In the first three quarters of 2010, the cumulative value of retail sales reached MOP21.33 billion, up by 35% year-on-year. In the third quarter of 2010, about 43% of the retailers reported decrease in the sales volume from the second quarter, down by 16 percentage points from the previous quarter; 57% reported that the sales volume remained stable or showed increase. In terms of retail prices, about 55% reported that the prices were stable; 19% stated that the prices increased whereas 26% reported the prices decreased. Compared with the third quarter of 2009, about 51% expressed that the stock level was normal in the third quarter of 2010, while 28% indicated that the stock level was low. Regarding the business outlook for the fourth quarter of 2010, about 78% anticipate that the sales volume will increase or remain stable compared with the third quarter, while 22% expect a decrease. Meanwhile, about 89% predict that the retail prices will remain stable or increase whereas 11% forecast a decrease. After removing the effect of price changes, volume of retail sales for the third quarter of 2010 rose by 25% year-on-year, with remarkable increase being observed in the sales volume of Leather Goods (+71%), Motor Vehicles (+37%), Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (+36%), Goods in Pharmacies (+35%), Cosmetics & Sanitary Articles (+32%) and Goods in Department Stores (+22%). Volume of retail sales in the third quarter of 2010 registered a quarter-to-quarter increase of 10%, with that of Communication Equipment rising by 20%, Leather Goods by 19% and Cosmetics & Sanitary Articles by 18%, while sales volume of Motor Vehicles decreased by 3%.
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In recently years, travel becomes a hot topic among young people. However, they are busy at their work or studies, with limited money and time, it is difficult for them to feel and enjoy different cultures and experiences from different parts of the world. Therefore, Tourism and Event Management Year 3 students from Institute for Tourism Studies are going to hold a charity event named “Earth play for a day” at 27th November 2010, providing a platform for the participants to experience worldwide culture in a day and do charity at the same time. This platform is presented in the style of a country - Marveland, where people can experience and share different cultures as well as treasure and respect each of them. A series of activities such as games, exhibition, shows and photography competition related with the theme of world travel are included which targeted at teenagers. All the profit generated from the event will be donated to Caritas Macau for child care purpose after deducting necessary expenses. Besides, one of the “Earth Play For A Day” series activities – Charity Souvenir Sales was successfully held in November. The activity aims at advocating the importance of respect and appreciation of the unique culture around the globe through souvenirs collection and charity sale. Without travelling abroad, by joining our event; you can also have a taste of the exotic culture around the world. The event day included two main parts which are Carnival and Masquerade. The carnival will be held in “Expo” style from 3:00pm to 6:00pm at Inspiration Building, Main Campus, IFT. Venue will be designed into two pavilions with theme of Mysterious culture and Traditional culture and one social area for participant to rest and socialize. Around 300 participants are expected to visit the “Pavilions”, we hope that the participant can enjoy and learn worldwide culture in this event. For the Masquerade, it will be started at 7:15pm on the same day at Amphitheatre, Main Campus, IFT. It is in the format of cocktail party which provides a platform for participants to socialize. There will be entertainments and at the same time through the performance and games, participants can enjoy a wonderful night with their friends.
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The Historical Archives of Macao will hold another of its popular conservation workshops on Saturday 27th of November from 14.00 to 17.00. This time the focus will be on mounting works of art. No previous experience is required but participants must be at least fifteen years old. Starting 22nd of November, please visit the Historical Archives of Macao (open Mon-Fri, 09:30-18.30, Sat, 13.00-18.00) on Tap Seac Square to register and pay the workshop fee of MOP$20 (inclusive of materials and equipment for the workshop). Places are limited and will be distributed according to order of registration. For more information about individual workshops this year, please visit http://www.archives.gov.mo. For further details, please contact Ms. Esther Chu of the Macao Historical Archives of the Cultural Affairs Bureau at 85986537.
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The Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) released results of the Employment Survey for the third quarter of 2010, of which the principal indicators such as labour force participation rate (71.8%) and unemployment rate (2.9%) have been published in October. Total labour force was 329,600 in the third quarter of 2010, comprising 320,200 employed and 9,400 unemployed. Compared with the second quarter of 2010, total labour force registered an increase of 3,300, with number of the employed and the unemployed rising by 3,200 and 100 respectively. Analyzed by industry, the majority of the employed were engaging in Recreational, Cultural, Gaming & Other Services (24.3%) and Wholesale & Retail Trade (13.4%). In terms of occupation, most of the employed were Clerks (including casino dealers, floorpersons, betting service operators, etc.) and Service & Sales Workers, accounting for 26.7% and 21.9% respectively. Median monthly employment earnings of the employed increased by MOP 500 from the previous quarter to MOP 9,000, while that of the local residents held stable at MOP10,000. Number of the underemployed totalled 5,400, with 66.9% engaging in Construction and 12.0% in Transport, Storage & Communications. In respect of the unemployed, 81.0% were searching for a new job and 19.0% were fresh labour force entrants searching for their first job. With regard to educational attainment, 30.9% had primary education or lower, 26.9% had junior secondary education and 26.6% had senior secondary education. For the unemployed that were searching for a new job, analyzed by industry previously engaged, 29.8% had worked in Construction and 17.2% in Wholesale & Retail Trade. Analyzed by previous occupation, 25.7% were Service & Sales Workers, and 22.3% were Craftsmen and similar workers.
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