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Information from Statistics and Census Service indicated that the Composite CPI for May 2006 was 108.16, up by 0.56% over April, which was primarily attributable to the increase in the price indices of Housing & fuels; Communication; and Food & non-alcoholic beverages. Compared with April 2006, the indices of Communication; Clothing & footwear; and Housing & fuels rose by 3.79%, 1.89% and 0.71% respectively. The increment was led by the rising long-distance call (IDD) charges after the end of the discount offered, which was coupled with the price increase in women’s clothing and higher rentals for housing. The price index of Food & non-alcoholic beverages, which contributes more significantly to the movements of the overall index due to its relative importance, increased by 0.45% as a result of the dearer prices of vegetables after heavy rains. Recreation & culture, however, was the only section that recorded a decrease of 1.11% in the index, on account of lower outbound package tour charges after the Easter holidays. The Composite CPI for May 2006 registered a year-on-year increase of 6.33%. Average Composite CPI for January to May went up by 5.82% compared with the same period of 2005. For the 12 months ended May 2006, the average Composite CPI increased by 5.44% over the previous period. In addition, the CPI-A and CPI-B for May 2006 were 109.10 and 107.91, up by 0.61% and 0.55% respectively compared with April. Starting from January 2006, the CPI has been rebased to July 2004 to June 2005. The Composite CPI reflects the impacts of price changes for the general population. The CPI-A relates to about 49% of households, which had an average monthly expenditure of MOP 3,000 to MOP 9,999; the CPI-B relates to about 31% of households, which had an average monthly expenditure of MOP 10,000 to MOP 19,999.
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Information from Statistics and Census Service indicated that visitor arrivals totalled 1,707,155 in May 2006, representing a year-on-year increase of 10.9%. Visitors from Mainland China and Hong Kong grew 12.5% and 10.0% respectively, whereas those form Taiwan, China dropped 12.4%. Meanwhile, same-day visitors accounted for 52.1% of the total arrivals, at 889,703. Visitors came mainly from Mainland China (57.4% of the total), Hong Kong (28.5%) and Taiwan, China (6.6%). Among those from Mainland China, 355,978 (36.3%) travelled to Macao under the Individual Visit Scheme. In the first five months of 2006, visitor arrivals reached 8,825,487, a 17.8% growth over the same period of last year. Visitors from Mainland China rose 18.2% to 4,948,539, which accounted for 56.1% of the total arrivals; those from Hong Kong and Taiwan, China shared 30.7% and 6.4% respectively. Furthermore, same-day visitors made up 52.2% of the total, at 4,603,716. Analyzed by mode of transport, visitor arrivals by sea jumped 18.3% to 3,148,376 in the first five months of 2006, with 2,983,275 arriving at the Outer Harbour (+15.2%); the majority of these visitors were from Hong Kong (58.2%) and Mainland China (30.5%). Visitor arrivals at the Inner Harbour leaped 132.3% to 165,101 and 58.3% were from Mainland China. At the same time, the cumulative number of visitors arriving through the Border Gate grew 27.5% to 5,185,802. The majority of the visitors came from Mainland China (74.1%) and Hong Kong (18.3%). In addition, visitor arrivals by air were 491,309, up 15.4% compared with the same period of last year, with 486,498 arrived at the Macao International Airport (+15.6%). Visitors from Taiwan, China (53.4%) and Mainland China (20.6%) were the major users of this access.
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The Macao 4th East Asian Games Organising Committee (MEAGOC) presented the final report, including the official report and financial report of the 4th East Asian Games to the East Asian Games Association (EAGA) on Saturday, 17 June 2006. Presented by the Chairman of MEAGOC, Manuel Silvério, the final report received unanimous approval from the Council, where the new President of EAGA, Timothy Fok commented that the success of the 4th East Asian Games has enhanced the credibility and brand of the East Asian Games. Participants from the nine member National Olympic Committees (NOCs) of EAGA greatly appreciated the achievement of Macao in hosting the 4th edition of the East Asian Games. According to the Constitutions of EAGA, MEAGOC has successfully fulfilled the mission entrusted Macao to organise the Games. The 22nd EAGA Council Meeting was held in Hong Kong for two days, on 17 & 18 June 2006. At the meeting, EAGA’s Vice-President and MEAGOC’s Chairman, Manuel Silvério presented the final report, as well as the “Macau 2005, 4th East Asian Games Official Report” and the “Macao 4th East Asian Games Organising Committee Financial Report” to EAGA Council. Expressing that after 222 day following the closing ceremony of the 4th East Asian Games, the day marked the momentous conclusion of this important chapter in the sporting history of Macau as the last official report on the 4th East Asian Games was presented. In the report of the 4th East Asian Games, Manuel Silvério summarised some key highlights on the operation of the Games to the EAGA Council. Pointing out 6,711 athletes, officials, guests and media representatives participated in the 4th edition of the Games, and under the solid support of the Macao SAR Government and the whole community, 10,097 personnel and 11,484 volunteers took part in the event, fully demonstrating the solidarity of the Macao people and reflecting the collective aspiration to ensure the successful organisation of this event! During the financial report, Manuel Silverio said that after 1,543 days of operation Macao 4th East Asian Games Organising Committee Company Limited was dissolved after the careful and detailed liquidation process. Reporting that the company, with its capital of 630 Million Patacas (MOP630,000,000), had over the years achieved a total of One Hundred and Four Million Eight Hundred and Thirty-nine Thousand Three Hundred and Twelve Patacas (MOP104,839,312) in revenue; while its operational expenses amounted to a total of Three Hundred and Seventy-three Million Two Hundred and Nineteen Thousand and Twenty-four Patacas (MOP373,219,024) which covered the expenses on personnel and venue management of the 16 sports venues, all the theoretical and practical trainings for 22,100 people of who have signed-up for the Volunteer Program, trainings for 19,855 technical officials, the organisation of 85 local and overseas promotional activities, as well as 33 academic seminars, the publication of 66 different printed materials, the hosting of 13 different competitions, from design to performances, as well as the “Walk for East Asian Games Unification Flame Torch Relay and Launching Ceremony of the Sai Van Bridge”, the “Macao East Asian Games Dome Opening Ceremony and Performance”, “Macao Stadium – Reopening Ceremony and FC Barcelona VS Shenzhen Jianlibao Football Match” and the organisation of a number of international conventions, and so on. As can be seen from the accounts, the expenses on the execution of the 4th East Asian Games amounted to Two Hundred and Twenty-six Million Eight Hundred and Seventy-three Thousand Six Hundred and Fifty-nine Patacas (MOP226,873,659), with a net balance of One hundred and Thirty-five Million Patacas (MOP135,000,000) which was transferred back to the Macao SAR Government. On 27 March 2006, the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Fernando Chui Sai On, who was then President of the Chairing Committee and Representative of the Macao SAR Government, hosted the final meeting of the General Assembly, which marked the termination and clearance of the Macao 4th East Asian Games Organising Committee Company Limited both administratively and procedurally in accordance to Administrative Regulation No. 33/2001 and Commercial Code. The process to transfer the ownership and management of 18 venues and facilities from MEAGOC to 8 cultural and sports departments as well as other public authorities was also completed during this period. These departments include the Macao Sport Development Board, Education and Youth Affairs Bureau, Macao Polytechnic Institute, University of Macau, Macau University of Science and Technology, Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau, Macau Olympic Committee and Macau 2nd East Asian Indoor Games Organising Committee (MAIGOC). In addition, Manuel Silvério took the occasion to extend his heartfelt gratitude to EAGA and the participants representing the nine member NOCs of EAGA; thanking them as well as the Macao SAR Government for their solid support and enthusiastic participation over the past four years to ensure the successful organisation of a memorable 4th East Asian Games. Deeply appreciating the opportunity of which EAGA had provided Macao via the 4th East Asian Games, Manuel Silverio assured EAGA of Macau’s commitment and dedication to continue to work closely with EAGA and its members to promote the Olympic Movement, as well as the development of sport and solidarity within the region. The reports made by MEAGOC were unanimously approved and highly commended by the EAGA Council and representatives of the East Asian countries and regions. At the meeting, each representative was presented a copy of the “Macau 2005, 4th East Asian Games Official Report”, and the “Macao 4th East Asian Games Organising Committee Financial Report”, as well as a copy of the “Macau 2005, 4th East Asian Games Commemorative Book” and a commemorative DVD box set of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, and Highlights of the Games. The new EAGA President Timothy Fok Tsun-ting remarked that the three publications are important documentation of the organisation of the Games, and they serve as a wonderful reference for Hong Kong as they prepare for the 5th East Asian Games. The presentation of these three publications from Macao to Timothy Fok Tsun-ting signified Hong Kong has officially taken over the mission to host the East Asian Games. Participants of the 22nd EAGA Council Meeting also included the representative of the Olympic Committee of Hong Kong and the second Vice President of EAGA, Victor Hui Chui-Fui; EAGA’s new Secretary General, Pang Chung; EAGA’s Council members representing the member NOCs: China, Hong Kong China, Japan, Korea, Macao China, D.P.R. Korea, Chinese Taipei and the associate member Guam. In addition, among the list of the meeting participants were also the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services of Hong Kong SAR Government of who is also the Vice Chairman of the 5th East Asian Games Planning Committee, Anissa Wong Sean-yee, and MEAGOC’s Ung Hoi Ian and Isabel da Silva.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, has left with an official delegation for Europe to strengthen mutual co-operative relationship and to promote Macao’s role as a platform for China and the Portuguese-speaking nations. Speaking to the media before his departure at Macao International Airport, Mr Ho said he would meet with high-ranking officials from the European Commission (EU) and Belgium, to discuss ways to enhance their partnership. On the visit to Portugal, Mr Ho said he would highlight Macao’s role as a co-operative platform for entrepreneurs from China and the Portuguese-speaking nations during meetings with Portuguese officials. Mr Ho said education and tourism would also be discussed. When asked if the EU would set up a representative office in Macao, Mr Ho said as channels of contact have been effectively established and were working well, it would not be necessary to discuss this topic. The delegation will arrive in Brussels on 18 June and is scheduled to meet with the President of the European Commission, Mr José Manuel Durão Barroso, the Prime Minister of Belgium, Mr Guy Verhofstadt, as well as other EU and Belgian officials. The delegation will leave Brussels for Lisbon on 21 June.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, is scheduled to embark on an official visit to Europe on Sunday (June 18). He is to visit Brussels, the Capital of Belgium and headquarters of European Union (EU), and Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. The visit is aimed at strengthening Macao’s relationship and partnership with the European Union, Belgium and Portugal. In Brussels, Mr Ho is scheduled to pay courtesy calls on the President of the European Commission, Mr José Manuel Durão Barroso, the Prime Minister of Belgium, Mr Guy Verhofstadt, as well as other EU and Belgian officials. On June 21, Mr Ho and his delegation are scheduled to leave Brussels for Lisbon, in where he is to pay courtesy calls on the President of Portugal, Mr Aníbal Cavaco Silva; the President of the Assembly, Mr Jaime Gama; the Prime Minister, Mr José Sócrates; and other Ministers and officials. Members of Mr Ho’s delegation include the Vice President of the Legislative Assembly, Mr Lau Chek Va, and the Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Francis Tam Pak Yuen. Mr Ho last visited Portugal in 2000 and EU in 2001. He is scheduled to return to Macao on June 24.
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Statistics and Census Service released the results of Manpower Needs and Wages Survey for the first quarter of 2006. The survey coverage included Manufacturing; Electricity, gas & water supply; Hotels & restaurants; and Financial intermediation sectors, but excluded own-account workers and the insurance intermediary not directly employed by insurance companies. Information on the number of employees, vacancies and earnings was extrapolated based on the results obtained from 642 statistical units successfully interviewed, which was given as follows: At the end of the first quarter of 2006, the Manufacturing sector had 31,850 paid employees, with 22,577 working in the manufacture of wearing apparel. Compared with the same period of 2005, number of paid employees in the Manufacturing sector decreased 5.9%. In March 2006, average monthly earnings (excluding year-end bonuses, holiday allowances, profit-sharing and similar bonuses) for full time employees in this sector amounted to MOP 4,494, up by 5.0% over the same month of 2005. Electricity, gas & water supply sector had 1,039 employees, up 1.3% over the first quarter of 2005. Average monthly earnings in this sector decreased by 1.4% over March 2005 to MOP 18,162. Hotels & restaurants sector had 22,636 employees, with 13,110 working in the restaurant industry. Compared with the first quarter of 2005, number of employees went up 6.9%; the average monthly earnings for March 2006 increased by 6.4% to MOP 5,952. Financial intermediation sector had 4,531 paid employees, with 3,845 working in the banks. Compared with the first quarter of 2005, number of employees in this sector increased 7.3%; the average monthly earnings for March 2006 went up by 6.1% to MOP 13,990. At the end of March 2006, the Manufacturing sector had 7,839 vacancies, of which 6,136 were in the manufacture of wearing apparel. Hotels & restaurants sector had 3,863 vacancies, the Financial intermediation and Electricity, gas & water supply sectors had 182 and 10 vacant posts respectively. In terms of recruitment prerequisites, approximately 75% of the vacant posts in the Manufacturing sector required working experience. The majority of the vacancies in the Electricity, gas & water supply and the Financial intermediation sectors required senior secondary or higher education. English (96.7%) and Mandarin (78.6%) were the more preferable language skills for the vacancies in the Financial intermediation sector, while in the Electricity, gas & water supply sector, 80.0% of the vacant posts required English.
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According to the information released by the Statistics and Census Service, coverage of the 2005 Health Care Survey included the two hospitals providing hospital care services, 425 private clinics and health care centres providing primary health care services, as well as 211 establishments providing Chinese medicine and therapy services. There were 1,483 persons engaged in primary health care services in 2005, 558 were doctors and 318 were nurses. Number of consultations administered totalled 2,073,000, up by 7.1% over 2004. In addition, 96.9% of the 425 establishments providing primary health care were run by the private sector and the majority (381) were private clinics. Number of persons engaged in hospital care services was 2,569, within them, 888 were nurses and 454 were doctors. The two hospitals in Macao provided 984 in-patient hospital beds and the occupancy rate of the hospital beds increased by 1.1 percentage points over 2004 to 73.9%. Number of deliveries and surgical operations carried out in 2005 were 3,689 and 11,446 cases respectively. With respect to the entire health care system, the ratio of residents to doctor (excluding dentist) was 473:1 and the ratio of residents to nurse was 430:1. In 2005, there were 8,999 blood donors, an increase of 14.3% compared with 2004; the median age of the blood donors was 26.1. Meanwhile, the Blood Donation Centre provided 17,707 units of blood and blood components to the two hospitals. Within the 447 persons engaged in Chinese medicine and therapy services in 2005, 67 were doctors of Chinese medicine, 181 were Chinese herbalists, 22 were acupuncturists and masseurs, which provided approximately 620,000 consultations in Chinese medicine and therapy services in 2005.
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The 20th ITE HK (International Travel Expo Hong Kong) and ITE MICE opened this morning (15th) at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). Mr. Shao Qi Wei, Chairman of China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) and Mr Stephen Ip, the Secretary for Economic Development and Labour Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong SAR officiated at the Opening Ceremony. Director of the Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO), João Manuel Costa Antunes led a delegation of MGTO personnel and 28 Macau tourism industry representatives to attend the opening ceremony. Through this travel expo, MGTO aims to promote “Macau World Heritage Year”, introduce Macau’s events and festivals around the theme of “Macau A World Of Difference, The Difference Is Macau”, and present Macau as an emerging destination for Business Tourism. The 120-square meter MGTO pavilion this year is themed to emphasize “Macau World Heritage Year”, with counters for the travel trade designed to resemble the iconic buildings of the “Historic Centre of Macau”. 28 representatives from Macau’s tourism industry, including hoteliers, travel agencies, airlines and ferry companies will promote Macau’s tourism products, entertainment facilities and services to the participating trade from around the world. Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau continue to join force this year to promote regional tourism of the Pearl River Delta in ITE HK. The Expo this year has also added a new hall dedicated to business tourism, named ITE MICE (meeting, incentive, convention & exhibition) covering various types of business travels and incentive tours. This new feature has drawn tourism authorities from Bahrain, Czech, Dubai, Fiji, Hungary, Malaysia and Macau to join as exhibitors. MGTO has set up a 60-square meter pavilion in this hall to promote Macau’s budding business tourism and the upcoming large-scale MICE facilities to be completed shortly. 8 representatives from the hotel and convention and exhibition industry took part in ITE MICE. MGTO held a prize presentation ceremony for the “New Macau New Guide!” Travel Route Contest which was organized as a highlight of MGTO’s major promotional activities in Hong Kong for “Macau World Heritage Year”. By inviting proposals of a Macau thematic tour from HK travel agencies who are members of the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong (TIC), the contest aims at re-packaging Macau with creativity. The award presentation was followed by an in-pavilion cocktail reception to facilitate business contacts and exchange with Hong Kong tourism officials and trade representatives. ITE HK is a prime tourism trade show in Asia and MGTO is one of the many supporters of this annual event, which attracts tourism boards and travel trade worldwide. The 4-day Expo this year attracted 600 exhibitors from 55 countries and regions, among which were 45 official pavilions by tourism authorities. Thousands of local and overseas travel trade are expected to take part in the event. The 20th ITE HK at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre covers an area of 13,000 square meters. The first two days are open only to the travel trade while the last two days are open to the public. The organizer also arranged a series of seminars and product presentations on the trade days while the public can enjoy a variety of cultural performances and lucky draws in the two public days.
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The Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Mr Chui Sai On, said today that the Ministerial Roundtable on Asia-Pacific Tourism Policies, being held in Macao, would provide a timely opportunity for participants to exchanges ideas. Mr Chui said at the opening of the session that the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) had worked constantly as a global forum for tourism policy issues, and provides a practical source of tourism know-how to its members worldwide. “Being an Associate Member of UNWTO, Macao has received valuable assistance and guidance in our tourism development, through projects that covered tourism marketing, tourism product development, tourism education and other aspects,” said Mr Chui. He said the ministerial roundtable provided a timely opportunity for tourism policy-makers from the Asia-Pacific regions to exchange ideas on tourism policies when challenges and uncertainties disturbing the balance of the tourism industry remain. “Over the past few years, the evolution of this industry has resulted in dynamic economic growth in related sectors. This rapid and positive development is also due in a great part to the support of the Central Government. We are proud that ‘The Historic Centre of Macao’ has been inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List last July.” He said that on the other hand, he was also fully aware that opportunities come with challenges. “The growth in visitor numbers and the sophistication of modern travellers are placing new demands on service quality. At the same time, we are not immune to external impacts, positive and negative alike.” He said Macao would play its part in the cooperative efforts to realise the objectives of the meeting.”
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that visitor arrivals in package tours totalled 273,002 in April 2006, up 20.2% year-on-year. Visitors from Mainland China (227,258) and Hong Kong (10,916) grew 27.7% and 71.2% respectively; however, those from Taiwan, China decreased 45.7% to 15,595 over April 2005. In the first four months of 2006, visitor arrivals in package tours surged 24.3% over the same period of 2005 to 1,007,824. Number of Macao residents travelling in package tours was 27,087 in April 2006, surged 39.8%. Mainland China; Taiwan, China; and Thailand were the three more popular tour itineraries, which accounted for 85.3%, 3.9% and 3.7% of the total respectively. In the first four months of 2006, Macao residents (89,007) travelling in package tours went up 20.8% compared with the same period of 2005. Meanwhile, 31,179 residents travelled under own arrangements using services provided by the travel agencies, an increase of 32.4% over April 2005; Mainland China (33.4%), Hong Kong (22.8%) and Taiwan, China (21.1%) were the major destinations. In the first four months of 2006, Macao residents travelled under such arrangements surged 35.2% to 117,007 compared with the same period of 2005. At the end of April 2006, there were 11,323 guest rooms available in hotels and similar establishments, an increase of 687 rooms (+6.5%) over April 2005. In addition, a total of 402,224 guests checked into hotels and similar establishments, a growth of 21.6% compared with April 2005. The average hotel occupancy rate reached 77.8%, showing a notable year-on-year increase of 10.7 percentage points and the highest average was in the 3-star hotels, at 86.7%. The average length of stay of hotel guest remained the same as April 2005, at 1.16 nights. The majority of the guests came from Mainland China (58.0%), Hong Kong (26.4%) and Taiwan, China (2.8%). In the first four months of 2006, number of hotel guests increased 18.4% over 2005 to 1,469,082. In the first four months of 2006, hotel guests (excluding Macao residents) accounted for 40.9% of the total number of tourists, which was slightly lower than the 41.2% recorded in the same period of 2005.
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