News

MGTO is attentive to recent news reports about surging room rates in Macau during the Spring Festival. To date, MGTO has received one complaint on hotel room rate this year. However, as the complainant has not provided any concrete information, the case is still under investigation. The “Tourism Notification System for Spring Festival Golden Week” will start operation from February 2 to transmit information such as the number of visitors, room rates and hotel occupancy rates, including average room rates of guesthouses and hotels as well as occupancy rates of 3 to 5-star hotels. MGTO pointed out that 2 to 5-star and 5-star deluxe hotels in Macau offer different types of hotel rooms, ranging from standard guest rooms to villa suites which vary in size and room rate. Visitors are advised to check and compare the category and rate of the rooms on reservation. As hotel room rates are set by the supply and demand of the market, which is an economic behavior rather than a legal act, the government will not interfere with general market operation. MGTO has established a regular mechanism with hotels in Macau, which requires each hotel to report the rates of different room categories when opening for business and on renewal of its license every year. MGTO will register the rates submitted by the hotels. To facilitate investigation, visitors should state clearly information such as the date of check in, hotel name, room category and/or room number, booking voucher and receipt when filing for complaints. MGTO expressed that hotels and travel agencies maintain a cooperative relationship which authorizes travel agencies to sell rooms on behalf of the hotels legally. Travel agencies and hotels cooperate in different formats, such as obtaining rooms in one batch or fulfilling a certain quota of rooms over a certain period of time, and travel agencies would need to pay for the rooms even they are unsold. According to the law, the travel agency will be subjected to criminal charges if it is found to deliberately hoard hotel rooms and manipulate the room rate illegally during peak seasons. To provide Mainland visitors with Macau’s most updated tourism information, hotels in Macau are requested to report the average room rates and occupancy rates to MGTO before and during the Golden Week and MGTO will advise major source markets in the Mainland (Guangdong and Fujian provinces) of the relevant information, which will then be released by local tourism bureaus to the media. MGTO, the Guangdong Provincial Tourism Administration and the Fujian Tourism Administration will activate the Golden Week notification system from February 2 to 9. Through this system, MGTO transmits to its counterparts in Guangdong and Fujian daily information such as the number of visitors that entered Macau the day before, the share of Mainland visitors, average room rates for the ensuing five days and hotel occupancy rates, to encourage visitors to check and compare the room rates before their outbound trips. To boost transparency, for the first time the data collected for the notification system will be published on MGTO’s website, to allow the media, visitors and the general public to be informed of the average hotel room rates and occupancy rates during the Spring Festival period. During the golden week holiday, MGTO will strengthen publicity efforts to raise awareness against illegal accommodation and to remind visitors to stay away from illegal accommodation for a safe and pleasant journey. During the Spring Festival period, MGTO inspectors will intensify surveillance at Macau's most visited sites and border checkpoints, while MGTO information counters and the tourism hotline 28 333 000 continue to operate. The tourism hotline will be attended by operators around the clock. The two public bus companies are advised to maintain sufficient service to cope with the surge in passenger flow.
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As Lunar New Year approaches, a specific price survey on 7 festive foods from 24 retail outlets was conducted earlier by the Consumer Council. The current survey report dated 26th January shows that significant price difference is observed for the same product selling in different retail outlets. Consumers are advised to check the report prior to making purchase. In comparison with last year’s data, prices of ‘Kraft Ritz Sandwich Cracker (432g)’ have decreased by around 10%, prices of ‘Planters Premium Selection (622g)’ have also dropped by around 5%, though the latter recorded a price increase of over 12% at Park'N Shop in Taipa. Other surveyed samples such as ‘Ferrero Rocher(300g)’, ‘Brown & Haley Almond Roca (340g)’, ‘Sugus Assorted Fruited Flavour Chews (350g)’, ‘Kjeldsens Butter Cookies (681g)’ and ‘Royal Dansk Danish Butter Cookies (681g)’ all recorded both increase and decrease in prices. Last year, the average price difference recorded for the same product selling in different outlets was about 20%, this year, however, the figure has increased to around 25%-30%. Extra discount is offered to consumers buying in bulk in certain outlets; however, consumers are advised to make purchase according to personal needs to avoid buying too much stock of festive foods. The said price survey on festive foods is now available online at the Council’s website (www.consumer.gov.mo). As peak shopping season nears, Economic Services department (DSE), Macau Government Tourist Office (DST), Transport Bureau (DSAT), Judiciary Police (PJ), Public Security Police Force (PSP), Macao Custom Service and Provisional Municipal Council (IACM) were called for a meeting on the discussion of ‘unscrupulous shops’. Consumer Council states that involved departments have been working closely in dealing with ‘unscrupulous shops’ during the past year and no serious case of shops doing business in unethical ways has been observed recently. Participating departments at the meeting all agreed to work closely and enhance their surveillance work during this peak shopping season. Businesses in Macau, especially ‘Certified Shops’ and ‘Adherents’, are called on to provide good-quality services and products to all local citizens and tourists. Should any citizen or tourist find his or her consumer rights being infringed, he or she should file a complaint at the Council or other departments. The Council will also assign its staff to provide services to consumers through its hotline during 11am to 6pm each day during 4th-6th February. Further, consumers are called on to support environmental protection especially during Chinese New Year time by using recycle bags when purchasing festive items. ‘Certified Shops’ and ‘Adherents’ are also urged to control the number of bags given to consumers.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that the total number of licensed vehicles reached 196,634 at the end of 2010, a year-on-year increase of 4%, of which 54% (106,420) were motorcycles and 39% (76,497) were light private cars. New registration of motor vehicles went up by 1% year-on-year to 15,915 in 2010, with motorcycles and light private cars accounting for 58% and 38% respectively. For the whole year of 2010, total number of traffic accidents rose by 4% year-on-year to 13,155 cases, resulting in 5,313 victims and 10 of them were killed. In 2010, cross-border vehicle traffic by land between Macao and Mainland China increased by 9% year-on-year to 3,812,243 vehicle trips, of which vehicle traffic through the Border Gate taking up 82% of the total. Commercial flight movements at the Macao International Airport decreased by 7% year-on-year to 34,654 in 2010. The major routes were Taiwan, China (38% of total); Mainland China (28%); Thailand (9%) and Malaysia (8%). Helicopter flights between Macao and Hong Kong decreased by 4% year-on-year to 15,302, while those between Macao and Mainland China went up by 2% to 3,452. Passenger transport by sea between Macao and Hong Kong totalled 121,299 ferry trips in 2010, up by 10% year-on-year, with that of the Outer Harbour (87,701) and the Provisional Ferry Terminal in Taipa (33,598) sharing 72% and 28% of the total respectively. Ferry trips between Macao and Mainland China totalled 25,901, up by 19% year-on-year. For the whole year of 2010, seaborne container throughput totalled 91,318 TEU or 65,818 containers handled, both went up by 3% year-on-year. Gross weight of seaborne containerized cargo decreased by 1% year-on-year to 178,380 tonnes, with 11,852 tonnes of transshipment goods. Gross weight of containerized cargo by land decreased by 12% to 45,718 tonnes, including 16,695 tonnes of transit goods. In 2010, outward air cargo grew by 13% year-on-year to 32,361 tonnes and the main destination was Taiwan, China that accounted for 72% of the total. Concurrently, inward air cargo increased by 3% to 13,597 tonnes, with those from Taiwan, China taking a predominant share of 80%. However, transit air cargo fell significantly by 41% year-on-year to 6,208 tonnes. At the end of 2010, number of mobile telephone users rose by 8% from a year earlier to 1,122,261 whereas fixed-line telephone users decreased by 2% to 168,374. As regards internet services, number of subscribers reached 170,462 and the cumulative duration of usage totalled 423 million hours in 2010, up by 19% and 24% respectively.
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The Guangdong-Macau and Fujian-Macau “Tourism Notification System for Spring Festival Golden Week” will be operated from February 2 to 9 to ensure a smooth and hospitable welcome to visitors during Lunar New Year. MGTO urges visitors to stay in licensed hotels or guesthouses. MGTO has established a regular mechanism with hotels in Macau, which requires each hotel to report the rates of different room categories when opening for business and on renewal of its license every year. Each hotel also needs to inform MGTO in advance the revised room rates and will be penalized if the rate is found to be higher than the registered one. To provide Mainland visitors with Macau’s most updated tourism information, hotels in Macau are requested to report the average room rates and occupancy rates to MGTO before and during the Golden Week and MGTO will notify major source markets in the Mainland (Guangdong and Fujian provinces) of the relevant information, which will then be released by local tourism bureaus to the media. MGTO, the Guangdong Provincial Tourism Administration and the Fujian Tourism Administration will trial run the Golden Week notification system from January 31 to February 1 and the system will be activated from February 2 to 9. Through this system, MGTO transmits to its counterparts in Guangdong and Fujian daily information such as the number of visitors that entered Macau the day before, the share of Mainland visitors, average room rates for the ensuing five days and hotel occupancy rates. During the golden week holiday, MGTO will strengthen publicity efforts to raise awareness against illegal accommodation. Besides distributing flyers, advertisements posted on buses and taxis will remind visitors to stay away from illegal accommodation for a safe and pleasant journey. MGTO also joins force with other departments to adopt measures to prevent infectious diseases and ensure fire safety. MGTO also urges hotels and restaurants to pay attention to hygiene guidelines and the travel trade to safeguard the rights of Macau residents. During the Spring Festival period, MGTO inspectors will intensify surveillance at Macau's most visited sites and border checkpoints, while MGTO information counters and the tourism hotline 28 333 000 continues to operate. The tourism hotline will be attended by operators around the clock. The two public bus companies are advised to maintain sufficient service to cope with the surge in passenger flow. Spring Festival is a peak season for outbound trips of Mainland visitors. A series of celebrations and activities will be organized by MGTO and the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau (IACM) for visitors to fully experience the excitement and vibrancy in Macau during Lunar New Year. MGTO and IACM join hands to organize celebratory activities on the first and second day of Lunar New Year at the Ruins of St. Paul's and Senado Square to mark the spring festival and add a festive atmosphere to the city with dragon and lion dances. Lucky "Lai Si" will be distributed at MGTO counters during Lunar New Year. On Lunar New Year's Eve, MGTO will stage a splendid fireworks display set off from barges anchored in waters just off the Macau Tower to usher in the Year of the Rabbit. Activities and entertainment organized by IACM also include New Year flowers and gifts stalls at Tap Seac Square, firecrackers and fireworks zones, folk dance performances and exhibitions at various spots in Macau.
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The “Outstanding Contracted Docent Award Ceremony 2010”, hosted by the Macao Museum, was held last Sunday (January 23) to recognize well-performing contracted docents for their quality service to the public last year, encouraging them for their excellent long-term contribution to the general public and school education.
Speaking at the ceremony, Chan Ieng Hin, Director of the Macao Museum, recognized the docents who has made significant contributions to public services over last year. In fact, the Museum pays great attention to guided tour service, seeing it as one of the most important output. Therefore, in order to promote quality services, and raise and foster this kind of ethos to serve the public, award ceremony is held regularly every year. The number of visitors using Macao Museum’s guided tour services increases year by year, reaching an amount of 14,655 in 2010, up by 14.4% compared with 2009, and setting a new record again with the number of 1,038 tours, up by 11.7% compared with 2009. Last year was also the year when this service got expanded to the Mandarin House. The figures tells not only the public’s great concern on the Museum, but also the successful achievements that the Museum had on promoting quality guided tour service and improving docents’ guiding skills. So, in order to meet the increasing need of guided tour service in the future, last year Macao Museum hosted the “4th Docent Training Course of Cultural Affairs Bureau”, intended to bring in talent to strengthen the tour guiding team. This year, six docents were awarded the “Outstanding Contracted Docent Award 2010”, including Wong Siu Wai, Chio Ieng Soi, Lei Cecilia Sam I, Ieong Weng Chao, Fong Un Wa and Chan Wa Kan, while three received the “Enthusiastic Contracted Docent Award 2010”, including Cheong Wan I, Lau Si Weng and Wong Cheng Lai. Totally 22 docents were granted the “Contracted Docent Award 2010”, including Chan Wa Kan, Ieong Weng Chao, Fong Un Wa, Chan Un Un, Kou Iun Fong, Lei Kit Peng, Chan Lin Chu, Cheong Mei Iong, Chio Ieng Soi, Lao Kin Mei, Lei Cecilia Sam I, Chan Mei Ieng, Wong Siu Wai, Pang Sao Lai, Si Ieong, Hou Kaina, Vai Oi Leng, Lei Sin I, Ieong Un U, Wong Kuan Fu and Sio Kin Sang. During the Ceremony, video clips and photos shot last year during the guided tour were especially showed to the attendants and some awardees were invited to share their experiences on tour guiding. There were also party and lucky draw, creating a nice and friendly atmosphere for the activity.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the employment situation showed continuous improvement; the unemployment rate for October-December 2010 was 2.7%, down by 0.1 percentage point over the previous period (September-November 2010), the lowest since the Handover of Macao to China. The underemployment rate was 1.7%, same as that in the previous period. Total labour force was 331,000 in October-December 2010 and the labour force participation rate stood at 71.4%, up by 0.2 percentage point from the previous period. The employed population increased by about 2,300 over the previous period to 322,000, in which employment of the Construction Sector saw increase, while that of Restaurants & Similar Activities and the Manufacturing Sector registered a decrease. Number of the unemployed decreased by about 200 from the previous period to 8,900, with 10.5% being fresh labour force entrants searching for their first job, down by 4.1 percentage points over the previous period. In comparison with October-December 2009, the unemployment rate and the underemployment rate dropped by 0.4 and 0.2 percentage point respectively; meanwhile, the labour force participation rate rose by 0.4 percentage point. In the fourth quarter of 2010, the unemployment rate of local residents stood at 3.3%, down by 0.2 percentage point quarter-to-quarter; the labour force participation rate of local residents dropped by 0.4 percentage point to 66.9%. For the whole year of 2010, the overall unemployment rate was 2.8%, down notably by 0.8 percentage point over 2009; the unemployment rate of local residents also plunged by 0.9 percentage point year-on-year to 3.5%.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, today visited social vulnerable groups and services centres to express the Government’s care for them. He visited four centres for senior citizens, the mentally-challenged and single-parent families, and visited the homes of a senior citizen who lived alone, an elderly couple living in a public housing unit, and a single-parent family. Mr Chui chatted with the staff to learn more about their work and demands, and listened to the voices of the social vulnerable groups. Speaking to the press afterwards, Mr Chui said it was the Government’s responsibility to take good care of the socially vulnerable and would introduce a series of policies and measures to help make their lives more bearable. He said the Government would set up a care centre for the mentally-challenged and that he would promote the employment of these people among enterprises. Asked by journalists on recent reports on Dr Stanley Ho, Mr Chui said he had no comment, only that the Government had not received any report on transfer of stocks in Sociedade de Jogos de Macau (SJM). He praised Dr Ho for his contribution to Macao.
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From January 11 until 5p.m. of January 24, the Cross-departmental Working Team sealed four more premise suspected to provide accommodation illegally. Two operators and one management staff were seized on site. One overstayer was found during the operation, while one occupant failed to fulfill his duty of cooperation.
Since the law on "Prohibition of Providing Illegal Accommodation" took effect on August 13, Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) has waged a total of 101 sanctions, among which two sanction proceedings have been completed and two operators who provided accommodation illegally were fined 200 000 patacas. Other cases are in different stages of sanction proceedings. Since the Cross-departmental Working Team started operations, to date, 1,204 premise-checks were conducted, involving 791 premises, of which 101 premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally were sealed, while 121 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 23 premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally and informed the Cross-departmental Working Team to handle the cases. To date, the operations involved 1,032 occupants, among whom 466 were occupants of premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally and were investigated, including 22 overstayers and 15 illegal immigrants. 18 operators, 14 touts, 16 persons who managed the premises that provide accommodation illegally (management staff) and seven 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 two operators who provided accommodation illegally, who were fined 200 000 patacas, do 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 of 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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For the purpose of sharing resources, acquiring mutual support and achieving cooperative development, the Civil Aviation Authority of Macao SAR (AACM) is proactive in establishing exchanges and collaboration in aviation with other aeronautical authorities. On the area of aviation safety, AACM and the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) have reached consensus on cooperation in aeronautical information services, cartographic services, flight procedures design, meteorological services and airport fire fighting services. The two authorities met in Macao and signed the relevant cooperation agreement on 24 January 2011, in which both parties agreed that the CAAC experts will come to Macao every year to provide technical support to Macao in the above areas. In addition, CAAC will invite Macao to participate in training courses and exchange activities organized by the mainland. Presently, the aeronautical information services, cartographic services and flight procedures design are provided by AACM, the meteorological services are provided by Meteorological and Geophysical Services Bureau (SMG), and the airport fire fighting services are provided by the Fire Services Bureau (CB) An entity taking both roles as a service provider and a monitoring body will have conflict of interest in the roles. When the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) carried out the Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme on Macao in 2009, they have given a recommendation that Macao should appoint an independent entity to audit the above services. Following this recommendation, AACM initiated contact with CAAC in June 2009 to establish cooperation with them in the relevant areas. Both parties held discussions and reached consensus on the agreement text which was then approved by the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council in 2010. The agreement states that CAAC will form an expert team for this cooperation. After whose expertise have been endorsed by AACM, the expert team will review the regulations, the management and the operations of the aeronautical information services, cartographic services, flight procedures design, meteorological services and airport fire fighting services in Macao. The team will also come to Macao every year to conduct on-site inspection and assessment on the operation of the above services and submit reports for recommendation to AACM. Upon the invitation from CAAC, AACM has participated in the aircraft accident investigation exercises and the “Performance Based Navigation” training courses dedicated for flight procedures design, organized in the mainland. In addition, AACM has participated as an observer in the airworthiness certification process of ARJ21, the first regional airliner developed and produced by mainland China. In order to extend the exchange between the two sides in aviation training, on the basis on this cooperation agreement, CAAC agrees to invite personnel from AACM, SMG and CB to take part in the future training courses and exchange activities organized by the former in the respective areas. The signing ceremony was held in the Multi-function Room of the AACM office. The President of AACM, Mr. Chan Weng Hong and the Safety Oversight Commissioner, Aviation Safety Office of CAAC, Mr. Liu EnXiang signed the agreement on behalf of the two parties. In addition to the officials from the two aeronautical authorities, guests who also presented in the ceremony included the representatives from Fire Services Bureau and Meteorological and Geophysical Services Bureau of the Macao SAR, CAM-Macau International Airport Company Ltd. and Administration of Airports, Ltd. The Macao side also took the opportunity of CAAC’s presence in Macao to further explain to them how the services within the scope mentioned in the agreement are currently operated in Macao. Apart from this cooperation agreement, the mainland and Macao also work together with each other in aircraft accident and incident investigation. With Hong Kong as a counterpart, the three sides are cooperating among themselves on mutual acceptance of maintenance organizations and mutual acceptance of airworthiness certification. Future projects between the three parties will finalize cooperation on mutual acceptance of maintenance training organizations and facilitation in approval procedures for aircraft transfer this year.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that the number of visitor and non-resident arrivals totalled 2,991,102 in December 2010. Total visitor arrivals rose by 11.6% year-on-year to 2,271,301. Same-day visitors (1,164,316) accounted for 51.3% of total visitor arrivals, with 612,147 coming from Mainland China. Analyzed by place of residence, visitors from Mainland China increased by 18.8% year-on-year to 1,200,324 (52.8% of total), with 494,567 travelling to Macao under the Individual Visit Scheme. Visitors from Hong Kong (667,595) and Republic of Korea (33,775) increased by 10.9% and 49.0% respectively; however, those from Taiwan, China (105,747); Malaysia (41,256); Japan (36,052) and Singapore (34,839) decreased by 7.4%, 10.2%, 5.8% and 11.9% respectively. Total visitor arrivals reached 24,965,411 for the whole year of 2010, up by 14.8% year-on-year. The majority of visitors were from Mainland China (13,229,058); Hong Kong (7,466,139); Taiwan, China (1,292,734); Japan (413,507); Malaysia (338,058) and Republic of Korea (331,768); meanwhile, visitors from Republic of Korea and India soared by 62.0% and 57.3% in comparison with 2009. Same-day visitors accounted for 52.2% of total visitor arrivals, at 13,039,540. Analyzed by mode of transport, visitor arrivals by sea totalled 10,244,087 in 2010, an increase of 18.0% year-on-year. Visitors arriving at the Outer Harbour increased by 7.7% to 6,462,250, with the majority coming from Hong Kong (52.6%) and Mainland China (23.1%); meanwhile, those arriving at the Provisional Ferry Terminal in Taipa increased by 42.8% to 3,431,423. Visitor arrivals by land totalled 13,087,262 in 2010, up by 14.3% year-on-year; those arriving through the Border Gate totalled 12,024,061 and the majority were visitors from Mainland China (78.9%) and Hong Kong (14.0%). Visitor arrivals by air increased slightly by 0.9% year-on-year to 1,634,062. Visitors arriving at the Macao International Airport went up by 1.7% to 1,611,651, with the majority coming from Taiwan, China (37.1%); Mainland China (31.7%); and Malaysia (7.4%).
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