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Macau‘s tourism industry continues to move towards diversification. That’s a key messages to emerge from this week’s Macau Government Tourist Office annual press conference. MGTO Director Joao Manuel Costa Antunes explained that diversification of tourism products and source markets are the main objectives for this year. “MGTO will utilise tourism resources to enhance the development of cultural tourism. Thematic tour routes will be developed to attract visitors of different interests, while multi-destination tourism itineraries will be explored to build up a regional tourism brand,” he said. The MGTO is also planning a series of promotional activities to celebrate the 10th anniversary in December of the establishment of Macau SAR.
It was a record-breaking year for Macau tourism in 2008. Provisional figures show that visitor arrivals last year passed the 30 million mark for the first time, showing an increase of some 11 percent on 2007. China (PRC), Hong Kong and Chinese Taipei continue to be the three largest visitor source markets. China (PRC) contributed 17.5 million visitor arrivals, an increase of 17 percent.
Director Antunes also announced that the MGTO will continue to work closely with airlines to develop international source markets with more direct flight connections and deploy e-marketing initiatives. MGTO is further expanding its marketing influence by adding a representative office in Indonesia to tap this potential market, while continuing to venture into forthcoming markets such as Vietnam, Eastern Europe (especially Russia) and the Middle East for a more diversified market portfolio.
The MGTO is supporting and hosting a number of MICE activities in 2009 – including the PATA Annual Meeting at the MGM Grand in Macau from April 18-21.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
