News

An American and a Japanese who entered Macao with a fever were tested negative for Influenza A (H1N1) virus today, the Health Bureau said. The medical team at the airport detected their abnormal temperature and sent them for tests. Meanwhile, the Hospital Conde S. Januário treated 137 children and 42 adults with respiratory illness symptoms today and medical teams at terminals checked body temperatures of more than 144,000 people entering Macao. They also dealt with 220 enquiries. To date there is no probable or confirmed human case of Influenza A (H1N1) reported in Macao.
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An American female national who entered Macao with a fever was tested negative for Influenza A (H1N1) virus today, the Health Bureau said. The medical team at the airport detected her abnormal temperature and sent her for tests. Today medical teams at terminals checked body temperatures of more than 134,000 people entering Macao. They also dealt with 146 enquiries. To date there is no probable or confirmed human case of Influenza A (H1N1) reported in Macao.
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Six more have been tested negative for Influenza A (H1N1), the Health Bureau said today. To date there is no probable or confirmed human case of Influenza A (H1N1) reported in Macao. Meanwhile, the Hospital Conde S. Januário treated 100 children and 36 adults with respiratory illness symptoms today and medical teams at terminals checked body temperatures of more than 149,000 people entering Macao. They also dealt with 146 enquiries. In the light of the spread of the virus, the Bureau urged people returning to Macao from overseas to avoid attending events at crowded venues within a seven-day period after their return. Should they develop any flu symptoms, they should wear a facemask and see a doctor immediately.
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IFT organised two public seminars on 1 June - “When the Tides Turned – How Las Vegas is Weathering the Financial Tsunami” and “The Next Rising Star in Gaming and Entertainment? Updates on the Development of Singapore’s Integrated Resorts”. Dr. Stuart Mann, Dean of William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration, University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) and Dr. Andy Nazarechuk, Dean of UNLV Singapore Campus are the invited speakers. Dr. Stuart H. Mann has served as Dean of the world renowned William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas since 1998. He holds the Michael D. Rose Distinguished Chair and is a faculty member in the hotel management department, as well as being dean. He is the author of over 35 published research papers focusing on problem-solving and decision-making. His more recent publications deal with both multi-objective and multi-criteria decision-making and simulation methods for training hospitality employees. At the seminar, Dr. Mann shares his views on how Las Vegas, as metropolis of the gaming and MICE industry, overcome the financial breakdown. Dr. Andy Nazarechuk, the founding Dean of University of Nevada Las Vegas-Singapore, is a leader in both the academic and the professional worlds of hospitality development. He not only designed and developed the resources of the modern, technologically advanced facility of the first international campus of the renowned William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration, but he also designed and developed the programmes offered at the Singapore campus. He is an internationally known speaker, facilitating workshops, teaching courses, and addressing conferences and conventions for hotel professionals and academics on topics ranging from human resource motivation & management to casino management. As gaming is mushrooming in Singapore, Dr. Nazarechuk analyses the current development and prospectus of the industry. IFT always advance the research level as to contribute to the industry and the society. By organising various seminars and workshops, IFT is devoted to constantly share with the industry the most updated information and research findings, in order to foresee the future of Macao’s tourism industry.
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An American national who had close contact with Hong Kong’s sixth confirmed Influenza A (H1N1) case had completed the medical observation period and left the quarantine site today, the Health Bureau announced. The American, who had sat near the patient on the same plane, showed no symptoms of influenza and was tested negative for the virus. Three other people were also tested negative for Influenza A (H1N1) virus today. Meanwhile, Guangdong health authorities had informed Macao of a domestic case of the virus today, but so far there were no sign of community outbreaks there. The Bureau said it would continue to monitor the spread of the virus. People visiting regions with confirmed cases should take note of the spread of the virus and keep good personal hygiene, the Bureau advised. Meanwhile, the Hospital Conde S. Januário treated 119 children and 25 adults with respiratory illness symptoms today and medical teams at terminals checked body temperatures of more than 142,000 people entering Macao. They also dealt with 211 enquiries To date there is no probable or confirmed human case of Influenza A (H1N1) reported in Macao.
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Three people who returned from Japan and America today with fever were tested negative for Influenza A (H1N1) virus. Two of them were Macao residents, aged about 20, and the other was a 19-month-old Japanese girl. They were found to have fever and respiratory illness symptoms by the medical team at the airport. Meanwhile, the Hospital Conde S. Januário treated 86 children and 42 adults with respiratory illness symptoms today and medical teams at terminals checked body temperatures of more than 120,000 people entering Macao. They also dealt with 83 enquiries To date there is no probable or confirmed human case of Influenza A (H1N1) reported in Macao.
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Headed by the Macau Business Tourism Centre (MBTC) of Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO), a delegation of Macau trade representatives from hotels, convention and exhibition venues, event and destination management companies exhibited at the IMEX 2009 in Frankfurt, Germany on 26-28 May. Hosted in Germany annually, the IMEX is the essential worldwide exhibition for the international meetings, event and incentive travel industry to meet face to face in order to network, undertake professional education and, importantly, to conduct business. This year, more than 3,500 leading exhibitors from 157 countries participated in IMEX 2009. It is anticipated that over 3,700 hosted buyers and 8,700 trade visitors from around the world will visit the show. Other co-exhibitors at the booth of MGTO were members of the “Industry Partners Program” namely, Apex Event Specialist Co. Ltd, DOC DMC Macau Ltd, City of Dreams and Altira Macau, Coastal International Exhibition (Macau) Co. Ltd, and Macau Convention and Exhibition Association, displaying their promotional materials under this marketing platform provided by MGTO. In addition, many trade visitors approached the booth during the trade show requesting information on MGTO’s new “Strategic MICE Market Stimulation Program” which was launched just a week ago, aiming to assist business tourism partners as well as to maintain the momentum and competitive edge Macau has been building as an international destination. The program consists of three main categories: Conventions and Meetings, Exhibitions and Incentives. Any MICE organizers or planners that booked events in Macau up until 31 December 2009 are entitled to the application (http://industry.macautourism.gov.mo/en/page/content.php?page_id=184). As part of its effort to drive the industry forward, MGTO will bring more members of the “Industry Partner Program” to participate in several renowned MICE trade shows upcoming for the second half of this year. These include The 4th International Travel Expo MICE (ITE MICE) in Hong Kong in June, China Incentive Business Travel and Meetings Exhibition (CIBTM) in Beijing in September, Incentive Travel & Convention Meetings of Asia (IT&CMA) in Bangkok in October and European Incentive & Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition (EIBTM) in Barcelona in December. Relaunch of the AACVB As treasurer and secretariat of the Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus (AACVB), MGTO attended a press conference conducted by the Association on the sideline of the IMEX 2009 on 26 May. The purpose of this press conference was to announce the relaunch of the AACVB as well as to reveal its new vision, goals, strategies and ambitions. The AACVB was established in 1983. The Association is now being relaunched with a new agenda which will help drive more MICE traffic to the Asian region through the establishment of a shared data bank among member CVBs. The new strategic direction also calls for the sharing of best practices and the creation of joint branding, advertising and marketing. AACVB will also look into areas such as training programs and accreditation to raise the region’s industry standards and professionalism. Other member convention and visitor bureaus (CVBs) of AACVB include China, Hong Kong, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. This press release is available at: www.macautourism.gov.mo
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A Macao woman who had taken the same flight with a confirmed Influenza A (H1N1) victim from Taiwan left the quarantine site today after completing the medical observation period, the Health Bureau announced today. She showed no symptoms of influenza and was tested negative for the virus. Meanwhile, the Hospital Conde S. Januário treated 76 children and 34 adults with respiratory illness symptoms today and medical teams at terminals checked body temperatures of more than 130,000 people entering Macao. They also dealt with 83 enquiries To date there is no probable or confirmed human case of Influenza A (H1N1) reported in Macao.
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The Monetary Authority of Macao announced today that the preliminary estimate of Macao SAR’s foreign exchange reserves amounted to MOP137.4 billion (USD17.21 billion) at the end of April 2009. The reserves rose by 2.2% from the revised value of MOP134.3 billion (USD16.83 billion) for the previous month. When compared with the same period last year, the reserves increased by MOP20.7 billion or 17.7%. Macao SAR’s foreign exchange reserves at end-April 2009 represented 31 times the currency in circulation or 247.0% of Pataca M2 at end-March 2009. The trade-weighted effective exchange rate index for the pataca, a gauge of the domestic currency’s exchange rates against the currencies of Macao’s major trading partners, fell by 0.68 point month-to-month but rose by 5.59 points year-on-year to 92.58 in April 2009. For enquiry, please contact:Research and Statistics Department, Monetary Authority of Macao (Tel: 83952532; Fax: 28353042)
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the value of total exports of goods amounted to MOP692 million in April 2009, down by 48.9% year-on-year, with the value of domestic exports falling sharply by 70.8% to MOP243 million and that of re-exports dropping by 14.0% to MOP449 million. The value of total imports of goods amounted to MOP2.95 billion, down by 22.3% year-on-year. A trade deficit of MOP2.26 billion was recorded for April 2009. From January to April 2009, total exports of goods fell by 49.4% year-on-year to MOP2.71 billion, with the value of domestic exports and re-exports declining by 65.3% and 22.1% respectively. Meanwhile, total imports of goods slid by 21.4% to MOP11.15 billion, and the trade deficit for the first four months of 2009 narrowed by 4.4% to MOP8.44 billion. The exports/imports ratio went down by 13.5 percentage points year-on-year to 24.3%. Analysed by destination of Macao’s exports, in the first four months of 2009, the value of merchandise exports to the USA, the EU and Mainland China decreased by 73.4%, 57.9% and 41.6% respectively year-on-year. The value of Textile & garment exports declined by 66.6% year-on-year to account for 39.2% of the total exports of goods; meanwhile, the value of Non-textile exports dropped by 24.2%. Regarding the country of origin of imported goods, the value of imports from Mainland China and Hong Kong dropped by 43.4% and 16.9% respectively year-on-year. The value of imports of all broad economic categories continued to decline, of which Raw materials & semi-manufactures dropped by 44.8% and Fuels & lubricants fell by 30.0%; meanwhile, the value of imports of Consumer goods recorded a slower decrease of 7.7%, with that of Food & beverages rising by 11.1%.
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