Macau celebrates World Tourism Day with splendid events

In celebration of the World Tourism Day on 27 September, Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) organized an array of celebration activities. Among the highlights, the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Alexis, Tam Chon Weng attended the evening banquet for the World Tourism Day, to celebrate this worldwide tourism event together with many others. 

 

Some hundreds of guests attended the evening banquet for the World Tourism Day including Director-general of Macau Customs Service Lai Man Wa, MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, President of Macau Sport Development Board Jose Maria da Fonseca Tavares, Coordinator of Macau Grand Prix Committee Joao Manuel Costa Antunes, MGTO Deputy Directors Cecilia Tse and Cheng Wai Tong, Deputy Director of Health Bureau Kuok Cheong U, Deputy Commissioner of Fire Services Bureau Leong Iok Sam as well as leaders of travel trade and the press. During the banquet, Secretary Tam remarked that the government pays great concern on both the quality of tourism and the daily life of residents. In the future, the government will fine-tune industry structure, enhance quality of tourism, and foster diversification of tourism products and markets. Recently MGTO and its overseas representatives as well as local travel trade promote Macau, hoping to extend the length of stay of visitors, and will continue to reinforce synergy effects between tourism, culture and sports to build Macau into a City of Culture and Events.

 

In celebration of the World Tourism Day today, MGTO organized a series of events added with brand new elements. Besides the traditional Tray Race, greeting Lucky Tourist and an evening banquet for the World Tourism Day, MGTO has staged the “Macau X LEGO® Exhibition” and the World Tourism Day Cup, a dragon boat race joined by travel trade teams. In addition, the Macau International Fireworks Display Contest took place on the same night as scheduled. Local residents, visitors and travel trade could celebrate this significant occasion concurrently with people around the world, enjoying the World Tourism Day and night vibrant with spectaculars and a festive ambience. 
 

MGTO officials were present at Macau Ferry Terminal on 27 September to give welcome souvenirs to the Lucky Tourists, who are a party of four coming from Australia. The Australian expressed that when planning their trip to China, they saw Macau in a movie and decided to make a visit as well. Today they would go sightseeing around town to feel the aroma of the city. Other souvenirs were also distributed to visitors at MGTO’s Tourist Information counters throughout the day.
 

Group photo before Tray Race began
 

Following that, the traditional Tray Race was held in the afternoon. Starting from the Ruins of St Paul’s, contestants ran through streets and lanes across the Historic Centre of Macao and reached the finishing point at Senado Square. Visitors took pictures and cheered up the contestants along the way, making a bustling atmosphere. 
 

The race attracted over 200 participants representing different hotels and restaurants in Macau this year. The first-prize winner of the men’s category is Rhoderick Garcia on behalf of the Venetian Macao, whereas Fhatzzy Tan from the Venetian Macao won the first prize in the women’s category. The Best Costume Awards went to Galsim, Rogelio Jr. Magtaan from Holiday Inn Macao and Wu Tian Tian representing Galaxy Macau. 
 

Sport event was a new highlight on the World Tourism Day this year. MGTO pit four amateur teams against each other in the World Tourism Day Cup on 27 September, a fun race held for the first time during the 2015 Macau Small Dragon Boat Mid-Autumn Festival Cup. The racing teams include Team Mushu of Hong Kong Disneyland, Indonesian and Taiwanese travel trade teams as well as MGTO team. Team Mushu of Hong Kong Disneyland is the champion winner today. 
 

The Tourist Office also rolled out the “Macau X LEGO® Exhibition” at the lobby of the Ritz Building on Senado Square and Macao Science Center as another highlight this year. The exhibition features models of Macau’s major World Heritage attractions, mega events and landmarks from 25 September to 28 December.  
 

The World Tourism Organization has designated 27 September as the “World Tourism Day” each year. Celebrations have been held annually since 1980. The purpose of the World Tourism Day is to promote awareness among the international community about the significance of tourism, especially regarding its social, cultural, political and economic value. Through the World Tourism Day, UNWTO aims to convey a key message every year. The theme of 2015 is “One Billion Tourists, One Billion Opportunities”. Over 100 countries/regions were carrying out celebrations for the World Tourism Day around the world on the same day. 

 

Photo caption: Secretary Tam and others toast at evening banquet