News

Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that visitor arrivals surged by 101.3% year-on-year and 259.0% month-on-month to 1,397,748 in January 2023, ascribable to the easing of anti-epidemic measures for entry into Macao and the Lunar New Year holidays. Overnight visitors (816,199) and same-day visitors (581,549) soared by 234.5% and 29.1% year-on-year respectively. Meanwhile, the average length of stay of visitors extended by 0.3 day year-on-year to 1.6 days; the duration for same-day visitors (0.3 day) went up by 0.2 day, while that for overnight visitors (2.6 days) dropped by 0.8 day.
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Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) continues to work with the industry to bring quality MICE events to Macao, fostering a new business model for the MICE industry. With the “One-stop” MICE Bidding and Support in Macao, IPIM facilitated a number of conventions of large enterprises in Macao in February, bringing more than 6,000 business travellers to the city from various provinces and cities in the mainland, adding new impetus to the diversified economic development.
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The world-renowned global rating system Forbes Travel Guide unveiled the 2023 Star Awards, among which, Macao owns 22 top-rated properties and become the tourism destination with most Forbes rated Five-Star hotels in the world. At the same time, a number of restaurants and spas in Macao have also been top-rated by the list. The good news once again makes Macao comes into the spotlight, further raising Macao’s international profile, and providing a welcome stimulus to help expand various tourism source markets.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that a total of 1,051 building units and parking spaces were purchased and sold in the fourth quarter of 2022 as per Stamp Duty record, and the total value of transactions was MOP5.90 billion; the figures represented respective growth of 23.1% and 21.5% quarter-to-quarter. Purchase and sale of residential units went up by 108 quarter-to-quarter to 649 units, and the total transaction value swelled by 24.5% to MOP4.18 billion. Existing residential units transacted totalled 630, an increase of 106 units; the transaction value grew by 25.2% to MOP4.06 billion. Number of pre-sale residential units transacted rose by 2 quarter-to-quarter to 19, and the transaction value stood at MOP124 million, up by 3.5%.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that all types of interviewed restaurants & similar establishments and retailers registered a year-on-year fall in receipts in December 2022. Receipts of the interviewed restaurants & similar establishments dropped by 28.4% year-on-year in December, with receipts of Chinese Restaurants decreasing by 38.8%. Meanwhile, sales of the interviewed retailers dipped by 44.5% year-on-year in December. Department Stores (-60.4%) and Watches, Clocks & Jewellery Retailers (-57.7%) both posted a decline of over 50% in sales.
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With effective from 1^st March 2023, the European Union* (EU), Switzerland and Norway will implement a new requirement for the inbound and transit of EMS, parcels, registered small packets and small packets (except letters).
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Since the 5^th of February, the Judiciary Police (PJ) has received 68 reports of telephone fraud. Among the victims, 8 people incurred losses of nearly 1 million patacas but others had been familiar with anti-fraud information, recognized the trick, and reported the crime in time to avoid loss.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Ho Iat Seng, met with the new Consul-General of Portugal in Macao, Mr Alexandre Leitão, to exchange views on topics including how to strengthen Macao’s bridging role between China and Portuguese-speaking countries; the promotion of pragmatic cooperation; and Macao’s inheritance and conservation of Portuguese cultural elements.
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The CCAC has completed the handling of complaints over the noise caused by several construction projects at Lot P, Avenida do Nordeste during restricted hours, proving that although the out-of-hours works of the construction projects of the apartments for the elderly, the home-swap housing units, the temporary housing units and the flyover at the Amizade roundabout (Rotunda da Amizade) were permitted to be carried out, the competent authority has been following up the problems concerning the noise. Moreover, the recent environmental and audit reports did not mention that the noise had exceeded the noise level limit. The CCAC agrees that the construction noise has probably caused nuisance to surrounding residents, but the main purposes of the relevant works are several social facilities, road facilities, public carparks, electricity substations, etc., which involve public interests and address social needs. Also, since there are special situations where only continuous construction works under the topographical conditions and the construction works were delayed by the pandemic of novel coronavirus, the permission for out-of-hours construction was not illegal and the relevant departments did not seem to fail to supervise the matters.
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