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Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) participated at IMEX 2006, the worldwide exhibition for meetings and incentive travel in Germany to exchange ideas with the industry circle and promote Macau as an ideal business tourism destination. “IMEX 2006” is being held in Frankfurt, Germany between May 30 and June 1. Mr. Licénio da Cunha, Head of Product Development and Special Projects Department of MGTO, also responsible for the Macau Business Tourism Centre, together with representatives of Macau Tower Convention and Entertainment Centre (MTCEC) and Venetian Macau Limited attended the event. Mr. Licénio da Cunha expressed that the Macau SAR Government has been taking an active role to assist in the development of the business tourism industry in Macau. MGTO wishes to further lift the profile of Macau as a choice destination for business tourism, and at the same time, provide more opportunities for worldwide business tourism stakeholders to exchange ideas, so as to boost the industry’s development. Taking place at Messe Frankurt, MGTO’s booth at IMEX 2006 is themed to introduce Macau World Heritage year to all visitors. During the period of the fair, MGTO introduced the current tourism situation of Macau and provided relevant convention and exhibition information to stakeholders from around the world. Major international business tourism organizations hosted seminars and talks on current issues as a platform for the trade from different countries/regions to communicate and exchange updated information. IMEX is an essential worldwide exhibition for meetings and incentive travel. Its mission is to enlighten industry issues and to be the motivator for growth of the sector. A record of 3,000 exhibitors from 140 countries/regions attended IMEX 2005 held last year. In the course of the three days, IMEX attracted over 7,000 visitors, which included 3,200 hosted buyers, 3,800 non-hosted buyers and representatives of the industry.
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The International Federation for Housing and Planning (IFHP) Spring Conference 2006, to be co-hosted by the Housing Institute and IFHP, will be held in Macao 28-31 May. The theme of the Conference is ''Innvoations in the Urban Habitat, Making the Most of New Resources''. High-rank officials, specialists and international scholars will be here to participate and exchange views. IFHP is a world-wide network of professionals representing the broad field of housing and planning. It organises a wide range of activities and creates opportunities for international exchange of knowledge and experience in the professional field.
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Wynn Macau – 18th Macau International Fireworks Display Contest will be held on September 2, 9, 16, 23 and October 1 at the sea area across the Macau Tower this year. The Macau International Fireworks Display Contest, organized by Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO), has always been a colossal event. This year Wynn Macau is the title sponsor for the International Fireworks Display Contest. MGTO Director João Manuel Costa Antunes and Wynn Macau President and General Manager Grant Bowie signed the sponsorship agreement today (May 30). Antunes expressed that this cooperation with Wynn Macau signified that more tourism related enterprises are participating in promotional activities to enhance the tourism industry of Macau. With this spectacular destination resort featuring premier tourism and entertainment facilities to be opened in the second half of the year, Wynn Macau would bring diversified and high standard services to the visitors and enhance Macau’s status as one of Asia’s major travel destinations. With 17 years of history, 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, Taiwan China, Korea, Thailand, Portugal, Australia, United States of America, Japan, France and China; each will show off their pyrotechnic wizardry to the spectators both from Macau and overseas. Pyro Spectaculars by Souza from the United States of America is taking part for the first time in the Macau International Fireworks Display Contest. It has been 10 years since the last American team participated. Liuyang City Hongji Fireworks Co., Ltd is also a first timer but is no stranger to Macau as they featured at the fireworks display to celebrate the 6th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Macau SAR as well as the New Year Eve Fireworks Display last year. Wan Dar Fireworks Mfg. Co., Ltd from Taiwan China is an active participant in worldwide fireworks displays, competitions and exhibitions. They have taken part 5 times in the contest, including the 1st Macau International Fireworks Display Contest. This is the second time for the French team Brezac-Artifices to join the contest, after winning second prize last year. The team is very experienced in the field and has taken part in various fireworks displays and competitions in Europe, Asia and North America. With a hundred years of history, Pirotecnia Minhota from Portugal comes to perform in this contest for the fourth time. They were the champion of the Macau International Fireworks Display Contest in 1991 and performed for the opening ceremony of the Macau International Airport in 1995. Other participating teams, with their rich experiences and unique features, will surely bring audiences a colorful and memorable time. For the first time last year, a new feature was introduced to the Macau International Fireworks Display Contest, in which each participating team was requested to complement their display with music to enthrall the audience with a light and sound spectacular. 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. The teams taking part in this year’s contest are: NICO Lunig Event GmbH from Germany, Wan Dar Fireworks Mfg. Co., Ltd. from Taiwan, China, Hanwha Corporation from Korea, Pacific Pyro Co., Ltd. from Thailand, Pirotecnia Minhota, Lda, from Portugal, Foti International Fireworks Pty Ltd from Australia, Pyro Spectaculars by Souza from the United States of America, Takagi Fireworks Co., Ltd. from Japan, Brezac-Artifices from France and Liuyang City Hongji Fireworks Co., Ltd. from China. Each fireworks display will last for approximately 18 minutes, and there will be two displays per evening at 9 pm and 10 pm. The organizer is going to attribute US$17,500 to each fireworks team as subsidy. The winner will receive US$6,000, trophy and certificate. First and second runners-up will receive US$3,200, US$1,800, trophies and certificates respectively. The Macau International Fireworks Display Contest first started in 1989, with only five participating teams. By 1995, the event has developed to a ten-team event, with two different teams showing their expertise each night. For the past 17 years, over 100 international teams had taken part in the Macau International Fireworks Display Contest. The Macau Government Tourist Office will continue to work towards advancing the event’s international status and reputation, with the vision to bring about the world’s most prominent international fireworks display. MGTO hopes that the glamorous firework displays, together with the colorful activities, will bring a splendid holiday to the visitors in Macau. In order to capture the spectacular moments of the fireworks display contest, the photo and drawing competitions will be held again this year. Wynn Macau - 18th Macau International Fireworks Display Contest Photo Competition and Wynn Macau - 18th Macau International Fireworks Display Contest Drawing Competition will invite entries soon. The winners of the two competitions will be entitled to premiums and trophies. The prize presentation ceremony for the 17th Macau International Fireworks Display Contest Photo Competition and the 17th Macau International Fireworks Display Contest Drawing Competition was held yesterday and the awarded photos and drawings are exhibited at basement 1 of Macau Tourism and Cultural Activities Centre.
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Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) releases information on the expenditure-based GDP for the first quarter of 2006 as follows. The growth rates in this release refer to the real growth rates of the reference period over the same period of the previous year, unless otherwise specified. In the first quarter of 2006, the gaming and tourism sector continued to perform well. Gross gaming receipts (excluding gratuities) went up 14.9% in nominal terms and total visitor spending (excluding gaming expenses) rose 19.9% upon increases in the number of arrivals and per-capita spending of visitors. Investment grew rapidly on the back of several large-scale construction projects in progress. Besides, exports of goods rebounded sharply, with a growth of 36.9%. Estimated from the above data, GDP in the first quarter recorded a real growth of 18.8%. In terms of major GDP components, private consumption expenditure in the first quarter of 2006 increased 6.9%, lower than the 8.5% in the fourth quarter of 2005. Household final consumption expenditure in the domestic market rose 8.2% while that abroad advanced 1.0% only. For the household final consumption expenditure abroad, the consumption in Mainland China dropped 2.2% to MOP 484 million. Government final consumption expenditure increased 1.2%, lower than the 7.0% in the fourth quarter of 2005. Compensation of employees was up 5.7% whereas net purchases of goods and services fell 36.6%. Gross fixed capital formation, a gauge of investment, showed a sustained robust expansion and rose substantially by 68.1%, higher than the 53.8% in the fourth quarter of 2005. In the private sector, total investment recorded an increase of 67.9% mainly because investment in construction surged 94.0%; investment in equipment rose 22.9%. Furthermore, total government investment grew 79.8%, in which investment in construction went up strongly by 92.4% but that in equipment decreased 2.3%. Based on the data of the private sector and the government, total investment in construction expanded 94.0% in the first quarter of 2006, higher than the 72.5% in the fourth quarter of 2005; total investment in equipment increased 22.7%, higher than the 13.4% in the fourth quarter of 2005. In terms of visible trade, exports of goods rebounded greatly, posting increases of 36.4% and 36.9% in nominal and real terms respectively, both higher than the corresponding 13.0% and 15.2% in the fourth quarter of 2005. In nominal terms, exports of goods to the United States and the European Union grew 52.3% and 77.6% respectively. Total import value of goods surged owing to an increase in demand, up 32.6% and 28.9% in nominal and real terms respectively, both higher than the corresponding 25.3% and 20.2% in the fourth quarter of 2005. As regards invisible trade (exports of services), exports of gaming services rose 14.6%; visitor spending (excluding gaming expenses) increased 19.9% as a result of more visitor arrivals and a higher per-capita spending of visitors; exports of transportation services expanded 16.1%. Based on integrated data of the exports of services, total exports of invisible trade recorded an increase of 16.0%, up from the 3.5% in the fourth quarter of 2005. Moreover, imports of services grew 13.3%, lower than the 15.5% in the fourth quarter of 2005.
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According to the results of the Employment Survey released by the Statistics and Census Service, unemployment rate for February - April 2006 was held stable at 3.9%, same as that for January - March 2006, and decreased by 0.2 percentage point over the same period of 2005. The underemployment rate was up by 0.2 percentage point over January - March 2006 to 1.2%, but remained at the same level as recorded in the same period of 2005. Number of the unemployed searching for their first job was about 700, representing 6.7% of the total unemployed population, down by 0.4 percentage point over January - March 2006. Compared with January - March 2006, the unemployment situation was improved in Transport, storage & communications sector; Recreational, cultural, gaming & other service activities; and Wholesale & retail trade, while it was less favourable in Real estate, renting & business activities and the Manufacturing sector. Total labour force was estimated at 267,700 in February - April 2006; the employed and the unemployed populations were 257,300 and 10,400 respectively. Labour force participation rate was 64.6%, down slightly by 0.1 percentage point over January - March 2006, but up by 2.2 percentage points over the same period of 2005.
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(Macao—27 May 2006) Macao and France have signed an aviation protocol on 23 May to further promote civil aviation, trade, and tourism between the two areas. The Secretary for Transportation and Public Works, Mr Ao Man Long and the Minister for Transport, Capital Works, Tourism and Marine Affairs, Mr Dominique Perben signed the protocol in France on behalf of the two governments. At the meeting, the two parties discussed the latest developments on economic, infrastructure, and the transportation network in Macao. Mr Dominique Perben said Macao is very attractive to France due to her unique history and culture. Facing the rapid economic growth of Macao, the French government would continue to support French entrepreneurs to invest in Macao. Mr Ao said Macao and France have been working closely in water supply, waste treatment, resources, civil aviation and maintained a good and cooperative relationship. With the protocol, Mr Ao believed that Macao and France would further step up cooperation in the above-mentioned areas. Macao also welcome competitive and well-managed enterprises to invest in Macao, Mr Ao added. During his stay, Mr Ao led a delegation from aviation sector and visited the Airbus facilities in Toulouse, and the aviation-training centre. The delegation returned to Macao on 27 May.
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From 1996, “Macao, China” became Member of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and participated actively in their activities and meetings of technical cooperation, research and exchange of experiences in the regional and international level as well.. As from 1997 with the signed of the Cooperation Protocol with the Faculty of Atmospheric Science of the Sun Yat-sen University, project on the introduction of meteorological mesoscale weather prediction model was started which went further in cooperation area of research and experiences exchanges on areas of meteorology and environment. To promote some of the activities and research achievement of the cooperation as well as use as incentive for experiences exchanges among professionals in this area, SMG decided collecting some of the technical-scientific papers presented in the regional and international conferences and seminars and those published in technical journals in this area, and publish them in a Technical Collected Papers of MMGB. The preface of this Collected Papers is once again written by the Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Eng. Ao Man Long. His stimulus and continuous support made possible the publication of this second volume. The research in these last years was mainly focused in two areas of “Asia Summer Monsoon and Mesoscale Numerical Models”. The publication of the Collected Papers was also strongly supported by the China Meteorological Press of the China Meteorological Administration, and the full support of their Fifth Editorial Group which is responsible for the English edition of the “Acta Meteorologica Sinica”. The Collected Papers are edited in English with dimension of 184X260 and have about three hundred pages. A ceremony to launch the publication will be held at noon of 29 May 2006 at the SMG headquarters in Taipa Grande, which will be presided by the Secretary for Transport and Public Works Eng. Ao Man Long. The Chairman of the Typhoon Committee Advisory Working Group/Deputy Administrator of China Meteorology Administration, Dr. Xu Xiaofeng and the Director of Macao Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau, Dr. Fong Soi Kun will also attend the ceremony. Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau, 26 May 2006.
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Commissioner General of the Unitary Police Service, Mr José Proença Branco, leaves for Hong Kong tomorrow to attend the first annual tripartite meeting with his Guangdong and Hong Kong counterparts to discuss measures in the fight against terrorism. Officers from the three jurisdictions last met in December 2005 and discussed ways to enhance co-operation and the exchange of intelligence. At tomorrow's meeting, they are scheduled to discuss operations against suspected terrorists and port surveillance, in addition to other measures.
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According to the information released by the Statistics and Census Service, resident population of Macao was estimated at 498,000 as at 31 March 2006, an increase of about 27,000 compared with the same period of 2005. In the first quarter of 2006, there were 936 cases of live births, a decrease of 13.3% over the fourth quarter of 2005. Among the live births, 52.2% were male. Number of mortality cases reported was 422, major causes of which were “Diseases of the circulatory system” and “Malignant neoplasms”. Moreover, 1 case of fetal death was recorded. In this quarter, the Health Bureau received 728 cases of Notifiable diseases, which included 475 cases of “Varicella (chickenpox)”, 109 cases of “Tuberculosis of lung” and 48 cases of “Enterovirus infection”. Meanwhile, 514 cases of marriage were registered, up by 13.0% and 9.4% over the fourth and first quarters of 2005 respectively. Regarding the migratory flow, number of legal immigrants from Mainland China totalled 1,133 in the first quarter of 2006, an increase of 20.3% compared with the same period of 2005; besides, 201 illegal immigrants were repatriated. The end-period balance of non-resident workers in Macao was 47,876, up 8,465 and 19,228 persons respectively compared with the fourth and first quarters of 2005.
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The Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) organized a series of promotional activities in 4 major cities in Japan to affirm Macau as a cultural destination for the Japanese market. From May 22 to 27, a grand line up of activities were scheduled to take place in Tokyo, Osaka, Kobe and Kyoto, taking the promotion of “2006 Macau World Heritage Year” a step further. Led by Director of the Macau Government Tourist Office, João Manuel Costa Antunes, the delegation comprised travel trade representatives from Macau and staff of MGTO. The promotional activities introduced Macau’s multi-dimensional tourism products, in particular “2006 Macau World Heritage Year” and “Macau Grand Prix” to three target groups - local citizens, media and travel trade. The activities included: “Macau Nights”, each attended by 700 to 800 Japanese citizens featuring Chinese and Portuguese music performed by famous Japanese musicians, on-site Macau visual tour and destination presentation; “Media Nights” which introduced Macau’s tourism products to some 100 local media; “Trade Workshops and Seminars” which provided the travel trade in Japan with the latest tourism updates on Macau and networking opportunities for the trade representatives of Macau and Japan. To strengthen the ties between the travel trade of the two places, MGTO met with 50 JATA (Japan Association of Travel Agents) board members to exchange information and further enhance mutual cooperation. JATA is the largest tourism industry organization in Japan with over 3,000 members from more than 90 countries and regions. MGTO also cooperated with the Japanese trade and media to promote a number of themed itineraries including “2006 Macau World Heritage Year” and “Macau Grand Prix”. From May 18 to 21, posters and video clips on Macau’s heritage sites and Macau Grand Prix are paraded on trains of Japan Railway’s Yamanote Line. Yamanote Line, with 29 stations and serving 4 million passengers per day, is the principal line of the Tokyo train network. The Japanese market has always been a major emphasis for the Macau tourism industry. Last year Macau welcomed nearly 170,000 Japanese visitors, a significant growth of 39% over 2004. The first quarter of this year saw a 17% growth in arrivals from Japan. Capitalizing on the effect of the Macau World Heritage brand and the promising future of Macau’s tourism development as various tourism facilities will soon be completed, MGTO strives to build Macau into a cultural tourism destination for the Japan market through this series of promotional activities.
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