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The Government will not cut back on ongoing projects aimed at improving the livelihood of the people despite uncertainties in the global economy or even a slowdown in economic growth. This assurance was given today by the Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, when he attended a plenary session of the Legislative Assembly to answer legislators’ questions on various issues. Macao had introduced a series of measures to relieve inflation, build public housing, and provide free 15 years of education to all students among other projects to improve the people’s livelihood. Considering the uncertainty in the global economy, it is estimated that Macao’s economic environment will be more challenging next year, with the inflation rate staying at a relatively high level, Mr Ho said. However, Macao would continue to undertake these projects, since the budgets had passed close scrutiny. Considering the future revenue of the Government and the surpluses amassed in the past few years, Macao had the financial muscle to carry out these projects. But Mr Ho reminded that we might see dips in Macao’s gaming revenue next year. To relieve inflation, the Government would continue to introduce measures to help the financially-challenged and families in difficulties, he said.
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More than 1.5 million international visitors have come to Macao in the first six months of this year, a 46.5 per cent jump over the same period last year. And this does not include the 8.8 million Mainland residents who visited in the same period, the Deputy Director of the Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO), Ms Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, disclosed this morning. At a press conference entitled “Macao Tourism Industry - Diversified Development & New Challenges”, Ms Fernandes introduced the latest development of Macao’s tourism sector to Mainland and overseas journalists at a press conference in Beijing, together with the Director of Government Information Bureau, Mr Victor Chan Chi Ping. Ms Fernandes said of the more than 1.5 million international visitors, arrivals from East and Southeast Asian countries surged most notably, with growth which ranged from 29 to 82 per cent. The figures showed the increasing diversification of Macao’s tourism market, she said. On exploring tourist markets, she said the Government would continue to break ground in reinforcing the present major visitors base – the Mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan, China – while reaching out to develop international markets. In the first half of this year, the total number of tourist arrivals amounted to 14,925,604, a growth of 18.1 per cent over the same period last year. Visitors from the Mainland were central to Macao’s tourism industry and totalled 8,776,232, making up 58 per cent of the total tourist arrivals in this period. The purchasing power of Mainland visitors was also the highest among all visitors, with a per capita spending of 3,461 patacas - almost double that of other visitors. The number of Mainland tourists who visited Macao under the Facilitated Individual Travel (FIT) scheme totalled 3,736,726, which accounted for 42.6 per cent of total Mainland visitors. Despite the Mainland authorities having started to adjust the FIT scheme last May, the most up-to-date figures showed no signs of decline in the number of Mainland visitors. It is believed that these adjustments provided an opportunity for Macao to refine its strategies in developing a healthier and more rational tourism industry, Ms Fernandes said. As Macao’s tourism industry continued to expand, MGTO would continue to focus on fostering the development of tourism diversity and enhance the economic effects of tourism on the society and economy as a whole.
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Wynn Macau – 20th Macau International Fireworks Displays Contest will be held on September 13, 14, 20, 27 and October 1 at the sea area in front of the Macau Tower. The Macau International Fireworks Display Contest, organized by Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO), has always been an important event. This year Wynn Macau continues to be the title sponsor for the Macau International Fireworks Display Contest. MGTO Director João Manuel Costa Antunes and Wynn Macau President Ian Coughlan attended the press conference today. Antunes expressed that diversification is the key direction for the tourism development of Macau. While continuing to employ the promotional theme “Experience Macau” under the slogan “A World of Difference, the Difference is Macau”, this year MGTO has introduced a series of promotions for visitors to experience Macau with the five senses “See, Taste, Touch, Feel and Hear”. “I believe the annual Fireworks Display Contest would satisfy the audience’s senses of “See” and “Hear” while bringing wonderful memories to visitors and citizens,” he added. Wynn Macau – 20th Macau International Fireworks Display Contest will be held on September 13, 14, 20, 27 and October 1 at the sea area in front of the Macau Tower. As two dates of the contest, September 14 and October 1 fall on Mid Autumn Festival and China’s National Day, teams from Japan, the United Kingdom, Australia and China will deploy their skills to add extra sparkle to the celebrations. This year again, each participating team is requested to complement their display with music to enthrall the audience with a light and sound spectacular. To enhance the enjoyment, the organizer will install sound systems at the waterfront of the Macau Tower Outdoor Plaza, at the Macau Tower Street seaside and at the square in front of Kun Iam Statue on Ave. Dr Sun Yat Sen so that the public can enjoy synchronized music to the spectacular displays. In past years, world renowned pyrotechnic companies have participated in the Macau International Fireworks Display Contest. Likewise, 10 teams from various countries and regions were invited to take part this year again. To celebrate this 20th edition, MGTO has purposely invited teams with distinguished performances in international contests. A number of teams joining the contest this year have won championships before in Macau, including a two-time champion from Japan and winning teams from Portugal and France. The team from Australia, the company of which was restructured and renamed last year, has also won here before. The teams from Germany, the United Kingdom and China were also 1st runners up while the other teams all have excellent skills in fireworks production and displays. The Macau International Fireworks Display Contest has gained worldwide recognition for the quality of the participating teams, the scale and the performance standard of the contest. The contest this year features ten teams from Germany, Korea, Japan, the United Kingdom, Portugal, Chinese Taiwan, the Philippines, France, Australia and China. Tamaya Art Pyro Technics from Japan won the championship in the Macau International Fireworks Display Contest in 2004 and 2005. They employ the latest techniques in producing fireworks and perform more than 150 fireworks shows a year in China, the United States and Europe. Brezac-Artifices from France is no stranger to the fireworks display contest and won the championship in 2006. Established in 1965, the company has been very active in France since the 80’s and in recent years has added multimedia elements to their fireworks shows. Macedo & Companhia Pirotecnia, Lda. of Portugal, who won the contest in 2000, was listed on the Guinness Book of World Records for launching the largest fireworks display consisting of 66,326 fireworks shells on December 31, 2006. To enhance the quality and attractiveness of the contest, MGTO have increased the production subsidy and cash prizes to the fireworks teams. The production subsidy has been raised from US$17,500 to US$20,000. Cash prize to the winner has increased from US$6,000 to US$8,000, while prizes to the first and second runners-up have increased from US$3,200 to US$4,000, and from US$1,800 to US$2,500 respectively. Macau’s tourism industry has entered a new phase and is moving towards diversification. During the first five months of this year, visitor arrivals reached almost 12.6 million, a growth of 17.4%. As of 2007, the market share of international visitors among total arrivals was 9.3%, and for the first five months of this year, the figure has increased to 10.5%, showing healthy progress towards diversification of source markets. It is expected more and more visitors from various markets will come for the fireworks display in Macau. MGTO will spare no effort to bring about the world’s most prominent international fireworks display to visitors and at the same time, will promote the fireworks display contest through various international, regional and local media channels, major media and travel magazines in Guangdong, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Macau, as well as distribute posters and leaflets. MGTO and the General Union of Neighbors Association of Macau will again jointly present the Fireworks Carnival to offer an array of live entertainment, cultural activities and culinary delights on the fireworks display nights. In order to capture the spectacular moments of the fireworks display contest, photo and drawing competitions will be held again this year. Wynn Macau – 20th Macau International Fireworks Display Contest Photo Competition and Wynn Macau – 20th Macau International Fireworks Display Contest Drawing Competition will invite entries soon. The winners of the two competitions will be entitled to premiums and trophies.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that Macao registered 337,927 visitor arrivals in package tours in June 2008, up by 30.9% from a year earlier. Visitors from Mainland China (222,027) and Southeast Asia (34,775) grew notably by 49.7% and 131.0% year-on-year, while those from Hong Kong (22,579) decreased by 28.2%. In the first half year of 2008, visitors arrived in package tours rose by 23.2% over the same period of 2007 to 2,411,290. The number of Macao residents travelling outbound in package tours in June 2008 decreased slightly by 1.5% year-on-year to 20,179. Mainland China (54.1%), Japan (13.0%) and Thailand (10.5%) were the three most popular tour itineraries. In the first half year of 2008, Macao residents travelling in package tours rose by 8.8% over the same period of 2007 to 106,595. Meanwhile, 32,941 residents travelled outbound under individual arrangements using services provided by travel agencies, up slightly by 1.1% over June 2007. Hong Kong (44.7%), Mainland China (22.1%) and Taiwan, China (10.0%) were the major destinations. In the first half year of 2008, Macao residents travelled under such arrangements rose by 16.1% year-on-year to 182,925. At the end of June 2008, the total number of guest rooms available in the hotel sector grew by 3,013 (+22.8%) from a year earlier to 16,235 rooms. In June 2008, a total of 510,018 guests checked into hotels and similar establishments, representing a year-on-year increase of 25.1%; the majority of the guests came from Mainland China (43.7%) and Hong Kong (25.8%). The average hotel occupancy rate rose by 4.4 percentage points to 73.3%, with 5-star hotels leading at 76.4%; in addition, the average length of stay of hotel guests extended by 0.2 night to 1.4 nights. Total number of hotel guests reached 3,207,588 in the first half year of 2008, up by 19.0% over the same period of 2007. In the first half year of 2008, visitor-guests staying in hotels accounted for 43.2% of the total number of tourists, up from 42.7% in the corresponding period of 2007.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, left today for Beijing to attend tomorrow’s opening ceremony of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
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Speaking to the press on his departure, Mr Ho said he wished the games every success, to display unique characteristics and to make every Chinese proud. In addition to tomorrow’s opening ceremony, today Mr Ho will also attend the inauguration of the new office of Office of the Macao Special Administrative Region in Beijing and visit an art exhibition. The President of the Legislative Assembly, a number of principal officials and some 20 dignitaries left for Beijing together with the Chief Executive. The Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Mr Lau Si Io, will be Acting Chief Executive while Mr Ho is away.
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Financial arrangement for the bridge linking Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macao had been decided – and construction would start no later than 2010, it was announced today. The project will be financed by the Central Government, together with the governments of Guangdong, Macao and Hong Kong. Macao will be responsible for RMB 1.98 billion, Hong Kong for RMB 6.75 billion, with the Central and Guangdong governments for RMB 7 billion, making a total of RMB15.73 billion, comprising 42 per cent of the total cost for the main bridge construction. The balance will be financed by loans, details of which will be further discussed. Each respective government will be responsible and pay for infrastructure and ancillary works for the project within their own area. Announcing this today, Macao’s task force to co-ordinate the work on the bridge said government financing would ensure that the project would get off to a timely start, and decision such as the toll rate will be decided by the governments. Macao completed its studies on the concept of an artificial island off Macao and will continue to study on the design of the related terminals. The bridge will help integrate the economies of the Pearl River Delta and boost industries in the region, the task force said.
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The Government is reviewing the gaming industry to boost its competitiveness in the face of regional competition. This was revealed by the Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Francis Tam Pak Yuen, when he spoke to reporters while attending a public event. Based on figures for the first seven months of this year he said he believed the annual gross gaming revenue would reach 100 billion patacas. Every business has to adjust its business model and operation according to the changes of the environment and he believed that the adjustment made by the gaming operators would benefit the industry and the economy as a whole. Mr Tam said basically the gaming operators are optimistic about the future of the industry. Speaking about the gross gaming revenue and Macao’s economic growth in the first six months, he said he expected that the two figures would grow at a ‘desirable two-digit rate’. In the first eight months last year, the average monthly gross gaming revenue was about 6 billion patacas. After some large-scale gaming projects opened for business in the fourth quarter, the average monthly gross gaming revenue increased to about 9 billion patacas. Therefore, Mr Tam said he expected the increase of gaming revenue in the first six months would reach 50 per cent, though the figure of the second half of the year would not be comparable to that of the first half.
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The ad hoc committee responsible for reconstruction works sponsored by Macao Government, will visit Chengdu, Sichuan in the mid August. The Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Mr Chui Sai On, disclosed this to the media today when he received the third medical team who returned after helping victims of May’s deadly earthquakes. Mr Chui said members of the ad hoc committee would hold the first meeting with Sichuan Provincial Government to discuss the reconstruction projects in detail. Meanwhile, the Sichuan Government had proposed a string of items, and the committee was studying their feasibility, said Mr Chui. He said projects to be sponsored by the Macao Government included schools, hospitals and homes for agricultural people, adding that the total amount of donation would be disclosed soon.
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A meat processing and transport worker was found to be infected with the Streptococcus suis bacteria, in the first of such case found in Macao, the Health Bureau announced today. The patient, who was sent to the hospital for treatment on 29 July, is in a critical condition . He worked in a local wet market. His family members have been examined and had no clinical features of the disease so far. The Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau had stepped up quarantine in the slaughterhouse. The Bureau also held meetings with workers to alert them to the care required in handling uncooked meat. Any Streptococcus suis bacteria will be killed when meat is thoroughly cooked. People should seek medical advise at once if they suspect they have Streptococcus suis infection the Bureau said. In order to prevent the spread of Streptococcus suis infection, the people should:
· Observe good personal, food and environmental hygiene. · Avoid contact with pigs. · Do not bring meat into Macao without a permit.
· When handling pigs or raw pork, wear protective gloves and avoid injury. · Wash hands after handling pigs or raw pork. · Clean and cover all wounds properly. · Raw pork and cooked food should be dealt with and kept separately. · Pork should be cooked thoroughly before consumption.
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The "Macao Science Center Logo Design Competition" organised by the Macao Science Center Limited has reached a successful conclusion. Under the recommendation of the adjudication panel and the decision of the organiser, the design by "Yanjun Design - Unique Ants Exhibition and Exposition Studio" from Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province was selected for the "Adoption Award". Since the announcement of the competition, designers from different places along with local students submitted many exciting creations. A total of 635 designs were received. The adjudication panel, comprising the following members: Mr. Pei Li-chung, Partner, Pei Partnership Architects; Mr. Kan Tai-keung, famous graphic designer from Hong Kong; Mr. Wang Yue-fei, Member of Academic Committee, Shenzhen Graphic Design Association; Mr. Chan Hon-choi, Associate Professor, School of Arts of Macao Polytechnic Institute and Mr. Fung Man-wai, President, Macao Designers Association, found the overall standard of the designs remarkable and showed their appreciation towards many of the innovative ideas including those from the local students. The adopted design is simple yet appealing. It is easily recognisable symbolising the aesthetic appearance of the main building structure of Macao Science Center, perceived by Mr. Pei Ieoh-ming. The combination of colour and line structure sophistically form an ascending node with both a right-handed and left-handed spinning outlook depicting the multiple view points in the advances and application of science and technology that the Science Center features. Apart from the "Adoption Award", 5 Public Group Honorary Awards and 10 Student Group Honorary Awards were also chosen, the winners are: Public Group: Cheung Ka Yan, Miguel Marcos Mendaes Khan, Gisela To (Macao); Michael Miller Yu (Hong Kong); Lee Chun (Hangzhou). Student Group: Wong Ho Pui, Leong Chan Kuan, Lao Sin Wa (Escola Estrela do Mar); Wong Ka Ian, Cheang Hio Man (Escola Luso-Chinesa Técnico-Profissional); Pou Ka Ieng (Colégio de Santa Rosa de Lima - English Section); Lei Cheok Mei (Escola Hou Kong); Hong Ka Lok (Escola para Filhos e Irmãos dos Operários); Chan In San (Escola Choi Nong Chi Tai), Pang Xou Fai (Escola Pui Tou). The above winning designs can be viewed on the Macao Science Center webpage at www.msc.org.mo. For further enquiries please contact the Center at (853)8795 7297.
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