MGTO Holds Annual Press Conference

. October 14, 2008

JANUARY 17, 2007. The Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) held its annual press conference on January 17, with Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Mr Chui Sai On delivering a speech and Director of MGTO, Mr Jo~ao Manuel Costa Antunes making a presentation.

Summary of MGTO's Annual Press Conference:

â- Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Chui Sai On delivered a speech at the press conference (see speech for details)

â- Director of MGTO Jo~ao Manuel Costa Antunes pointed out that visitor arrivals in 2006 reached an all time record of 21.99 million, a surge of 17% over 2005. Mainland China (11.98 million arrivals and a 14% growth), Hong Kong SAR (6.94 million arrivals and a 23% growth) and Taiwan, China (1.43 million arrivals) are the 3 largest source of visitors for Macau.

â- Last year, the top 10 visitor generating source markets were Mainland China; Hong Kong SAR; Taiwan, China; Japan; Malaysia; the Philippines; Republic of Korea, the USA, Singapore and Thailand. Mainland China remains the largest source of visitors for Macau, accounting for more than 50% of total visitors, while almost half of them were individual visitors.

â- As of the end of 2006, there were 83 hotels and similar establishments in Macau with close to 13,000 rooms; 1,233 licensed tour guides, a 27% growth and 115 transferists, a 9.5% growth. MGTO has received more than 8,000 people in over 300 familiarization tours to Macau (over 30% are media members).

â- In 2007, MGTO will integrate new tourism elements with the unique cultural attractiveness of Macau to raise Macau's profile as Asia's popular and quality destination of leisure, entertainment and MICE.

â- MGTO will employ "Macau: a World of Difference, the Difference is Macau" as the promotional slogan and "Experience Macau!" as the promotional theme for a series of promotions in all the priority, potential and forthcoming markets around the world in 2007. Eastern European countries, such as Russia, and the Middle East are new markets to be explored.

â- The colorful and calendar-packed events in Macau are key elements for tourism promotions. Popular events such as Macau Grand Prix, Macau International Music Festival and the 2nd Asian Indoor Games not only lure more visitors to Macau but also uplift Macau's image and visibility around the world.

â- Antunes stressed that 2007 is an important year for the development of convention, exhibition and business tourism. MGTO will strongly support various convention and exhibition activities and training efforts. The "Macau Business Tourism Center" will assume the role of a platform to facilitate the development of convention, exhibition and business tourism.

â- He indicated that the restructuring of MGTO and the construction of the new MGTO headquarter building are to cope with the development and needs of the industry, and these are major tasks for this year.

â- He pointed out that MGTO will sternly tackle tourism quality issues such as "zero fare tours" and unlicensed guesthouses, among others, while at the same time, promote "honesty in tourism" and the "Macau Tourism Awareness Campaign", so as to secure a healthy development of the tourism industry.

â- Over one hundred press attended the press conference today, including local, Hong Kong, Mainland China and international correspondents.

â- After the Press Conference, Secretary Chui Sai On and Director Jo~ao Manuel Costa Antunes officiated the launch ceremony for the "Macau Tourism Industry Net". Accompanied by Director Antunes, Dr. Chui also presented 4 pure gold miniatures of the Ruins of St. Paul's to the Grand Prize winners of the "Macau Heritage Passport Campaign". Ms. Cheng, the Grand Prize winner of the Mega Lucky Draw received a golden miniature worth MOP$200,000 , and each of the three monthly lucky draw winners received a golden miniature worth MOP$100,000 . All four winners were visitors from Hong Kong.

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