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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the 3 hospitals in Macao had 3,216 persons engaged in 2008, including 1,115 nurses and 555 doctors. The 3 hospitals altogether provided 1,030 in-patient hospital beds, with the hospital bed occupancy rate went up by 1.5 percentage points year-on-year to 78.4%. For the whole year of 2008, these hospitals carried out more than 14,000 surgical operations and about 301,000 emergency treatments. There were 492 establishments providing primary health care services, in which 379 were private clinics. Number of persons engaged totalled 2,045, with 726 doctors and 435 nurses. A total of 1,938,000 medical consultations were administered in 2008, of which 35.5% were in General practice and 8.2% in Internal medicine. In 2008, ratio of health care professionals to the population of Macao held stable at the same level as 2007, number of doctors per 1,000 population was 2.3 and that of nurses was 2.5. Number of blood donors increased slightly by 0.9% year-on-year to 9,166 in 2008 and the median age of the blood donors was 25.0. Meanwhile, the Blood Donation Centre provided 19,213 units of blood and blood components to the hospitals. In addition, there were 226 establishments providing Chinese medicine and therapy services and the number of persons engaged totalled 638, with 176 doctors of Chinese medicine and 165 Chinese herbalists. For the whole year of 2008, about 828,000 consultations of Chinese medicine and therapy services were provided.
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To tie with the “Reform of the Pearl River Delta Regional Cooperation Framework” and to further implement the “Strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperation Agreement between Guangdong Provincial Bureau of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation and Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM)”. Under the guidance of Macao Special Administrative Region Government and People’s Government of Guangdong Province, Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) and Guangdong Provincial Bureau of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation will jointly organize a grand event – the “Guangdong & Macao Branded Products Fair 2009” (GMBPF 2009) on 30th July to 2nd August, at Macau Fisherman’s Wharf Convention and Exhibition Centre. The aim of which is to assist Guangdong branded products to promote their brand names in Macao and overseas markets, through Macao’s economic and trade platform, as a mean to strengthen the economic and trade cooperation between Guangdong and Macao. Following the “Western Guangdong Famous Products Fair” jointly held in April 2003, “Guangdong & Macao Branded Products Fair 2009” is another grand event under cooperation on economic and trade between 2 territories, embracing trade, cultural exchange, shopping and leisure as one, rich in content and full of innovation. Exhibits in the Fair includes: Guangdong Branded products exhibition and sale, major famous products are household electrical appliances, house wares, lighting, ready-made clothes, foodstuff, tea, ceramics for daily use, gifts (including: souvenirs, etc.), handicrafts and other products. Typical Macao products include exhibition and sale of Macao products, Macao brand name products and foreign brand name products with local enterprises acting as agents will be major exhibiting products, to exhibits branded products of tourism, food and clothing to Macao residents and visitors. Making use of Macao’s economic and trade platform, to develop a faster pace for Guangdong branded products to enter Macao and overseas distribution markets, resulting further development of consumer market of Guangdong and Macao. To elaborate the advantage of Macao’s platform, pragmatically foster economic and trade cooperation of Guangdong and Macao
To elaborate the advantage of Macao’s platform of conference and exhibition, during “Guangdong & Macao Branded Products Fair 2009”, economic and trade activities consist of products exhibition and sales, business matching and economic and trade negotiation, providing platform of cooperation to participants. In which some municipalities from Guangdong province is planning to held seminars to promote local investment environment during the Fair. On top of these, “business matching and special projects discussion” will be arranged by the Organizer, inviting exhibiting enterprises to undergo activities of business matching and special project discussion, as a mean to foster exchange and cooperation between enterprises in 2 territories on economic and trade. Fruitful and attractive on-site special promotions
In order to further boost local consumer market under the financial tsunami, Organizer will held a number of special activities with prizes for all participants during “Guangdong & Macao Branded Products Fair 2009”, such as treasure hunt game “Mini Guangdong-Macao Tour”, distribution of expense coupons, special discount for branded products and lucky draws. All these activities aim at foster on-site transaction of the Fair, and also provide a chance for Macao residents of buying their favourite branded products with best price.
Meanwhile, in order to allow each participating municipality the opportunities to promote their own local folk culture and tourist resources, apart from cultural performances by Hong Kong and Macao actors and singers and typical Macao folk performances, during the Fair, there will also be performances by the troupes of each participating municipality. Participation from enterprises in Guangdong and well-known enterprises
Recruitment of exhibitors for “Guangdong & Macao Branded Products Fair 2009” reached a great success with keen response from enterprises, 118 manufacturing enterprises of branded products from 18 cites (exhibiting municipalities are: Guangzhou、Shenzhen、Zhuhai、Shantou、Foshan、Shaoguan、Meizhou、Huizhou、Dongguan、Zhongshan、Jiangmen、Yangjiang、Zhanjiang、Maoming、Zhaoqing、Qingyuan、Chaozhou、Yunfu) had submitted their applications up to this moment. Within the 190 exhibition booths, major products are special products, foods, commodities, clothing and electronic products. Among the participating enterprises from Guangdong, “Yangjiang Shibazi”, “Landbond Furniture”, etc are well-known brands in China, “Double Happiness”、“Linkfair”,etc are renowned brands from Guangdong province, and there are famous branded products enterprises consist of Yangjiang Shibazi Group., Limited, Double Happiness Cooker Company Limited, Guangdong Xiyan Tea Group Co., Limited, Guangdong Linkfair Group Co., Limited and Guangdong Zhanjiang Household Electric Appliances Industrial Co., Limited and some leading enterprises in different industries. Subsidies for Macao exhibiting enterprises
To encourage Macao enterprises to participate in the Fair, subsidies will be provided to Macao enterprises by Organizer of “Guangdong & Macao Branded Products Fair 2009”, targeting eligible exhibitors with products manufactured in Macao, Macao brand or overseas products with agent in Macao. 60% of exhibiting fee will be covered by the Organizer, enterprises paying only $2,800 can be exhibitors in the Fair. Recruitment in Macao will being tomorrow, and end at 3rd July, we look forward to see keen response from Macao enterprises, so as to expand their business through Macao’s platform. Remark:
Products “manufactured in Macao”
- Products “manufactured in Macau” and exported from Macau, exhibitors have to provide certificate of origin issued by Macao Economic Services
- Products “manufactured in Macau” and sold in Macau, exhibitors have to provide approval of industry issued by Macao Economic Services Products of “Macao brand”
- Products of “Macao brand”, exhibitors have to provide trademark registration issued by Macao Economic Services or other valid documents. Products “with agent in Macao”
- Products “with agent in Macao”, Exhibitors have to provide agent authorization of the products or other valid documents. Combining advantage of Macao tourism and power of local chambers of commerce, to enhance the benefit of the Fair The Organizers are at present working jointly with many local and overseas organizations/chambers of commerce/associations to further enhance the benefit of the Fair, especially in the areas of promotion, visitor attraction and performances. It includes inviting associations of Macao tourism and hospitality, to participate in the Fair through their own source of customers.
Co-organizers of the Fair join together to work on this grand event, including 21 bureaus of foreign trade & economic cooperation from Guangdong province, relevant associations from Macao, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Seed programme to enhance development of conference and exhibition talents To tie with “seed programme to enhance development of conference and exhibition talents”, people in conference and exhibition industry with EMD（Exhibition Management Degree）and CEM(Certified in Exhibition Management) will be recruited to join as Project Managers of the Fair in 4 aspects: exhibitors recruitment, promotion, services of exhibition and public relations. This aims at providing practical experience and training to help development of Macao conference and exhibitions talents. Administrative and Service Centre of “Guangdong & Macao Branded Products Fair 2009” has been set into operation
Administrative and Service Centre of “Guangdong & Macao Branded Products Fair 2009” had been set up by Organizer Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute and Coordinator Macau Fair & Trade Association to act as administrative support to the Fair, and also the training base for conference and exhibition talents. Besides this, professionals for conference and exhibition will work together to provide all-round services for exhibitors and buyers, their office location is Macao Business Support Centre (MBSC), Alameda Dr.Carlos de Assumpção No.263,Edf.China Civil Plaza 20th Floor,Macao For further information of “Guangdong & Macao Branded Products Fair 2009”, please call the hotline 853- 8798 9707／853-87989676 or browse the website www.guangdongmacaofair.com
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“Why and How We Write about Macau” – A Panel Discussion with American and Chinese University Professors, jointly organized by the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao S.A.R. Government, Sun Yat-Sen University and the Chinese University of Hong Kong, will be held in the Cultural Affair Bureau Auditorium (Edifício do Instituto Cultural, Tap Seac Square, Macao) on Wednesday June 17 at 6:30pm. This panel discussion with university professors in the departments of History and Literature is designed to involve the audience in a conversation about why and how scholars pursue their research topics. The round table will begin with 8 participants each giving a short (5 minute) summary of his or her work. Participants may also explain why they see Macau as important to their research. The panelists may also tell the story of how and why they first became interested in Macao and China more generally. This should be an excellent event for anyone in Macau who is interested in the global context of the city's cultural heritage and/or in how academics pursue their research in ways that inspire new ways of teaching and understanding the past. Those interested might include area teachers, scholars, researchers, readers and students of the secondary, collegiate and graduate levels. Panel Participants: Glenn Shive (Moderator)
Hong Kong-America Center · Paul Bové
University of Pittsburg; editor of boundary2
“To Make a Way: Telling a Story of US / China Union” · May Bo Ching
Sun Yat-sen University
“Chopsticks or Cutlery?: How Canton Hong Merchants Entertained Their Foreign Guests in the 18th and 19th Centuries” · Paul Van Dyke
University of Macau
“Were All of Those Books Necessary?: Bookkeeping Practices of American and European China Traders Compared" · John Haddad
Pennsylvania State University
"China of the American Imagination: The Influence of Trade on U.S. Portrayals of China, 1820 to 1860" · Sibing He
Independent Scholar (PhD, Miami University)
"Russell and Company and the Imperialism of Free Trade" · Vincent Ho
Chinese University of Hong Kong
"Compradors, Co-hongs and the American: A Study of Trading Networks of Early Sino-American Commerce" · Kendall Johnson
Swarthmore College
“The Speculative Romance of Early Sino-American Commerce in The Journals of Major Samuel Shaw, the First American Consul at Canton (1847)” · Joseph Abraham Levi
University of Hong Kong
"America, China, and Macanese Identity in the Works of Felipe B. Nery (1920-)" The panel will be conducted in English, with Mandarin, Cantonese and Portuguese simultaneous interpretation, Entrance is free. For details, please visit the conference website http://websites.swarthmore.edu/kendalljohnson/freetrade.html. For inquiries, please call 85986537 Miss Yao.
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The “Workshop on the Public Health Emergency Plan (PHEP) in Aviation” is going to be held on June 13th in Macao. This workshop is made under the cooperation by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and World Health Organization (WHO), Health Bureau Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) as the region host and Macao Civil Aviation Authority as co-host. The objectives of the workshop is to, referring to International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005), make critical review of Airport PHE Plan in relation to the spread of communicable diseases by air travelling; and make revisions to the PHE plan on Pandemic preparedness and logistic supports for the surveillance program and the control of hazards – hygiene and sanitation, water, food and pest control. There are 5 representatives coming from WHO and ICAO and more than 80 representatives from different countries and regions participated in this workshop. With experience in knowing the fast dissemination of diseases by air travelling in the globe such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2003, Bird Flu in 2005, and Influenza A H1N1 this year, Health Bureau Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) needs to enforce on the ability to make PHEP in aviation and set surveillance and control measures on points of entry in ports. The expected outcome for this workshop is to smoothen the information flow and exchange of disease notification from experts coming different countries or regions, so that guidelines could be drafted and set in harmonization with IHR (2005). There are more than 80 participants coming from 18 countries such as: China, Hong Kong, Macao, Singapore, Vietnam, Papua New Guinea, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, USA, Ireland, India, Cambodia, Indonesia, New Zealand, East Timor, Brunei Darussalam and other countries. They are representatives coming from the Traffic Department, Civil Aviation Authority, Health Department, Airport and Air-travelling enterprises of these 18 countries.
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Organized by the International Civil Aviation Organization and hosted by the Civil Aviation Authority (AACM) and the Health Bureau (SSM), the 3rd Meeting of Cooperative Arrangement for Preventing the Spread of Communicable Diseases through Air Travel (3rd CAPSCA) was held in Macao on 12 June 2009. The meeting updated participants about CAPSCA’s work in the previous year and discussed ICAO’s preparedness planning and actions during the Influenza A (H1N1) outbreak. More than 60 delegates from the organizer, the host as well as 18 countries or areas attended the meeting. The rapid spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and the avian influenza in 2005 caught many countries by surprise and a primary casualty was the aviation sector. In view of this, ICAO took a proactive approach to address the impact of a possible pandemic to air travel and took immediate action to develop an aviation-related preparedness plan. To carry the project forward, CAPSCA was launched in 2006, the aim of which is to reduce the risk of spreading influenza having pandemic potential, and similar communicable diseases, by air travelers through cooperative arrangements between the participating countries or areas. In accordance with the cooperative arrangement, an ICAO aviation medicine expert would visit the airports of the participating countries or areas to assess the preparedness plans in place and assist the concerned authorities in implementing the guidelines. Personnel from the participating civil aviation and airport authorities, as well as airlines or other related aviation workers would be trained on the guidelines and on implementation of preventive measures. In view of the outbreak of the Influenza A H1N1 worldwide, the meeting also addressed the areas of concern arising from it and discussed ICAO’s preparedness planning and actions during the outbreak. More than 60 delegates from the ministry of transport, civil aviation authorities, health authorities and airlines from China, Hong Kong, Macao, Singapore, Vietnam, Papua New Guinea, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, USA, Ireland, India, Cambodia, Indonesia, New Zealand, Timor-Leste and Brunei Darussalam presented at the meeting. The meeting of the CAPSCA Steering Committee is convened annually and chaired and hosted by the civil aviation authorities of each participating country or area in turn. The project presently has 13 members, including Macao. In 2006, an ICAO aviation medicine expert visited Macao to assess whether the relevant policies, training and communication procedures of Macau International Airport were in place. The assessment result indicated that Macao’s preparedness plan complies with the ICAO guidelines. Taking the opportunity that the foreign aviation medicine experts are in Macao, SSM will organize the Workshop on the Public Health Emergency Plan in Aviation on 13 June 2009. The workshop will be attended by more than 80 local and foreign medical personnel who will exchange views on the public health emergency plans relating to communicable diseases through air travel which are in place in airports.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that Macao registered 475,806 visitor arrivals in package tours in April 2009, up by 5.7% from a year earlier. Visitors from Mainland China (364,571) and Taiwan, China (28,188) increased by 20.8% and 34.7% year-on-year, whereas those from Hong Kong (21,262), Thailand (12,252) and Malaysia (10,410) decreased by 32.2%, 23.2% and 26.3% respectively. In the first four months of 2009, visitor arrivals in package tours grew by 12.1% over the same period of 2008 to 1,846,706. In April 2009, the number of Macao residents travelling outbound in package tours increased by 9.6% year-on-year to 18,728. Mainland China (79.7%); Taiwan, China (7.5%); and Japan (3.4%) were the most popular tour itineraries. In the first four months of 2009, residents travelling in package tours dropped by 5.9% over the same period of 2008 to 66,227. Meanwhile, residents travelling outbound under own arrangements with services of travel agencies totalled 37,298, up by 28.1% over April 2008. Hong Kong (34.1%), Mainland China (31.6%) and Taiwan, China (20.1%) were the main destinations. In the first four months of 2009, outbound residents travelling under such arrangements rose by 4.8% year-on-year to 126,516. At the end of April 2009, the number of guest rooms available in the hotel sector increased by 1,346 (+8.3%) from a year earlier to 17,535 rooms. In April 2009, a total of 577,228 guests checked into hotels and similar establishments, up by 6.0% year-on-year, with the majority of guests coming from Mainland China (51.6%) and Hong Kong (23.2%). The average hotel occupancy rate decreased by 1.8 percentage points year-on-year to 73.6%, with 4-star hotels leading at 83.6%. The average length of stay of hotel guests increased slightly by 0.01 night to 1.34 nights. Total number of hotel guests reached 2,214,055 in the first four months of 2009, up by 2.8% over the same period of 2008. From January to April of 2009, visitor-guests of hotels accounted for 62.0% of the total number of tourists, up notably from 56.0% in the corresponding period of 2008.
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The listing of the Ruins of St. Paul’s as one of the monuments among the “New 7 Wonders of Portuguese Origin” is a big boost to our efforts in the promotion of Macau, said Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) director, João Manuel Costa Antunes. “On the year that is celebrated the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Macau Special Administrative Region, the listing of the Ruins of St. Paul’s as one of the ‘New 7 Wonders of Portuguese Origin’ is an honor to us and it certainly will help to promote Macau in Portugal and the Portuguese speaking countries,” Costa Antunes pointed out. “The Ruins of St. Paul’s are one of the finest examples of Macau’s unique characteristics as a city of European, Chinese and other Asian exchanges. The history and architectural elements of the Ruins of St. Paul’s by itself are a tourist attraction of Macau”, the MGTO director added. The winning monuments of the competition were announced on June 10, Portugal National Day, in a ceremony held in Portugal. Among the winners are monuments built by the Portuguese in America, Africa and Asia. A total of 239,418 people participated in the selection, voting through the Internet, telephone and SMS. The Ruins of St Paul’s are Macau’s ex-libris. The façade of the former Mater Dei Church is part of The Historic Centre of Macau, listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site in 2005. The Ruins of St. Paul’s refer to the façade of what was originally the Church of Mater Dei built in 1602-1640 and the ruins of St. Paul’s College, which stood adjacent to the Church, both destroyed by fire in 1835. The baroque design of the granite façade is unique in China, and carries some sculptured western and oriental motifs. St. Paul’s College was the first western style university in the Far East, and it prepared missionaries for the dissemination of Catholicism in Asia and enabled a broader interchange in other fields. Other sites of the “New 7 Wonders of Portuguese Origin” include monuments in India, Morocco, Cape Verde and Brazil. The monuments were selected from a total of 27, located in 16 countries. The “New 7 Wonders of Portuguese Origin” was created following the world competition of the “New 7 Wonders”, which were announced in Lisbon in 2007, in an initiative by New7Wonders.
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Institute For Tourism Studies is proud to invite Dr. Richard A. Engelhardt, Consultant of Culture Policy, Creative Industries, Cultural Tourism and Heritage Convention, UNESCO, and Dr. Johannes Widodo, Associate Professor, Department of Architecture, National University of Singapore, to come to Macao and give an intensive heritage programme to the Heritage Management Year 4 Students. The two specialists in heritage conservation led the students to an on-site trip at Coloane Village on 11 June. The course “Economics of Heritage Conservation” identifies, analyses and appraises the economic and social values of the totality of Macau’s heritage assets, utilising international-standard inventory, mapping and assessment methodologies. The course is conducted in intensive modules consisting of guided field work, utilising the methodology developed by mAAN (the Modern Asian Architecture Network) for this purpose. This methodology has been endorsed and adopted as the standard of the institutions forming the UNESCO-ICCROM Asian Academy for Heritage Management (AAHM), of which IFT is a member of the executive. In 2005, when the Historic Centre of Macao was successfully inscribed as a World Heritage Site, IFT launched “Heritage Management” bachelor degree programme in the same year. In the academic year of 2008/09, 161 students are registered in this specialisation. The first batch of 34 students has received the higher diploma of Heritage Management last year and this year, they will graduate with their bachelor degrees. IFT also organises Executive Development Programme and other training on cultural heritage, to tailor to the needs of the industry. Dr. Richard A. Engelhardt was educated in anthropology, archaeology and the history of East, South and Southeast Asia at Yale University and Harvard University. For the past 30 years, he has directed archaeology and heritage conservation projects throughout Asia and the Indo-Pacific region. In 1981, he joined the United Nations system and has worked with the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, as well as a number of UN Specialised Agencies. From 1989-1991, he served as UNESCO Chief Technical Advisor on a project to modernise the national museums of the ASEAN countries. From 1991-1994 he opened and served as Head of the UNESCO Office in Cambodia, where he launched the international safeguarding campaign for Angkor. In recognition of his services in the preservation of the Angkor Monuments, H.M. King Norodom Sihanouk awarded him the prestigious title of Commandeur de l’O rd re Royal du Cambodge. In addition to his Cambodian knighthood, Dr. Engelhardt has been decorated by the governments of China, the Philippines, and Vietnam for his services to the conservation of cultural heritage. He has also been honoured by the Global Heritage Fund with a Lifetime Achievement Award for contributions to the conservation of the world’s heritage. Among his UNESCO responsibilities, Dr. Engelhard serves as Chairman of the International Jury for the annual UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Conservation Awards competition, as is the Co-Convenor of the UNESCO-ICCROM Asian Academy for Heritage Management. Trained in architecture and urban history, Dr. Johannes Widodo is Assistant Professor at the Department of Architecture since 2001, with a joint appointment as Research Leader in Asian Cities Cluster to Asia Research Institute (ARI) at the National University of Singapore. Dr. Widodo's area of specialisation includes architecture, urban history and morphology of Southeast Asian cities, Asian modernity, and heritage conservation in Southeast Asian context. As one of the founding members of the Asian Academy for Heritage Management (AAHM), which was jointly established by UNESCO and the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM), IFT is proud to be officially appointed as the Knowledge Management Hub of the Academy, to act as the clearinghouse of training curricula and to facilitate research conference organisation and training modules development. More importantly, the Knowledge Management Hub is de facto the “AAHM Institute” carrying the responsibility to spearhead the strategic development of the network, in close collaboration with the UNESCO appointed Secretariat. In addition, being an executive member of the UNESCAP Network of Asia-Pacific Education and Training Institutes in Tourism (APETIT), IFT was elected as the first Institute Secretariat of the Network, to coordinate and enhance the exchange of tourism education in the Asia Pacific region. These two appointments are not only international recognitions of IFT’s outstanding achievement in providing cultural heritage education, but also our devotion to enhancing international cooperation. IFT will continue to support the development of Macao’s cultural industry and nurture more quality professionals.
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Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) participated in the 23rd International Travel Expo Hong Kong (ITE HK) and the 4th MICE, Business & Incentive Travel Expo on 11th to 14th June 2009, to promote Macau’s leisure and business tourism. Macau Government Tourist Office is one of the supporting organizations of the ITE HK this year. MGTO Director João Manuel Costa Antunes, who was invited to officiate the opening ceremony, led the largest-ever delegation of MGTO officials and 39 Macau travel trade representatives from hotels, travel agents, airlines, shipping companies and destination management companies to the fair. As this year marks the 10th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Macau SAR, the Macau booth was specially designed to showcase the theme “Experience Macau Celebrations”. Portuguese-style architecture decorated with traditional Chinese red lanterns to created an atmosphere of joy and happiness. By participating in the ITE HK 2009, Macau Government Tourist Office aims to reach Hong Kong and international exhibitors, travel trade buyers and public visitors to promote Macau as a leisure and business destination, as well as to facilitate Macau travel entities to present their products to the target audience. Apart from the information dissemination, MGTO also hosted an in-booth cocktail to on the first day of the fair to greet 200 Hong Kong travel trade partners, MICE organizers and media friends to celebrate the event. Two seminars will be held during the consumer days (13th & 14th June) to introduce the Macau World Heritage, events and festivals, new facilities, “Celebrate Macau” Photo Collection and “Sweet Memory” Campaigns to the public. In addition, MGTO has organized “Experience Macau!” familiarization tour on 13th to 14th June for ITE hosted buyers to visit Macau’s World Heritage, unique tourist spots and new hotels and MICE facilities, to showcase Macau’s potential in leisure and business tourism development. “The 23rd International Travel Expo Hong Kong (ITE HK) and the 4th MICE, Business & Incentive Travel Expo” is held from 11th to 14th June 2009 at the HK Convention and Exhibition Centre. It is a prime travel expo held annually in Hong Kong, and has attracted an international portfolio of exhibitors and visitors, providing a platform for mutual exchange among the travel industry. According to official release, there are over 600 international exhibitors from 50 countries and regions participating in the Expo.
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Macao would actively dedicate its advantageous condition to participate in the co-operation between the Pan Pearl River Delta (PPRD) region to tackle global financial crises, the Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, said today. Mr Ho was conveying this message in his keynote address to the Fifth PPRD Regional Co-operation and Development Forum and Economic and Trade Co-operation Fair held in Nanning, the capital of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. He quoted the Premier Wen Jiabao’s earlier saying that one country alone could not fight these severe financial crises solely. “We have to work together to propel collaboration inside the country and with foreign countries. “Firstly, the co-operation between the region may help to overcome one’s weakness. In this way we may minimize the impacts and to create friendly atmosphere to revitalize the economy,” said Mr Ho. He said Macao’s economy was basically optimistic and the society was relatively stable, yet the exports of services and goods were facing different challenges that caused a slight drop in economical figures. Mr Ho stressed that it was essential to discuss how to cope with global financial crises in this forum. The National Development and Reform Commission announced the Outline of the Plan for the Reform and Development of the Pearl River Delta (2008-2010) that included Macao. Mr Ho said the Outline was an important guideline for the future development of Macao. “The Outline stated that Macao’s role could be developed as a world-class tourism-leisure position to promote regional collaboration. Due to limited resources, Macao’s tourism should integrate with that of the PPRD region.” Mr Ho said that the Macao Government would continue to perfect legislation, to step up training, and to optimise market. Moreover, the 2009 Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum and Exhibition had successfully established a platform for the PPRD region and European countries to exchange green views. Mr Ho also attended several investment contracts signing ceremonies.
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