MGTO meets Nansha, Zhongshan and Zhuhai tourism authorities to enhance regional cooperation in tourism

Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) visited Nansha District of Guangzhou on 16 February to attend the preparation work meeting for “multi-destination” tourism promotional activities of Macao and Nansha in 2016. During the meeting, the attendees discussed the collaboration plan for multi-destination tourism promotion. Following that, the delegation headed to Zhuhai in the afternoon to attend the 2015 conclusion meeting of regional cooperation in tourism between Zhongshan, Zhuhai and Macao and the 2016 work meeting. The meeting addressed this year’s plan for regional cooperation in tourism between the tourism authorities of Zhongshan, Zhuhai and Macao. 
 

During the preparation work meeting held on 16 February for “multi-destination” tourism promotional activities of Macao and Nansha in 2016, MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Deputy Chief of the People’s Government of Nansha District of Guangzhou, Yu Ruolan, Director of Nansha District Tourism Bureau, Hong Minqi, as well as other officials listened to the research project of “multi-destination” tourism promotion of Nansha, Hong Kong and Macao in 2016 presented by the Fok Ying Tung Research Institute located in Nansha under the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Nansha District Tourism Bureau then presented its promotional plan of 2016 based on the above project, followed by an exchange of ideas and perspectives with MGTO. The two parties discussed the directions of their cooperation in line with the project, and confirmed the next steps to carry out the collaboration plan. This year, the two tourism authorities will look into the possibilities to support travel trade launching multi-destination tours to Macao and Nansha, and consider carrying out promotional activities in Mainland cities along the high speed rail route between Wuhan and Guangzhou. 
 

MGTO Director Senna Fernandes visited Zhuhai with the MGTO delegation in the afternoon to attend the 2015 conclusion meeting of regional cooperation in tourism between Zhongshan, Zhuhai and Macao as well as 2016 work meeting. During the meeting, Senna Fernandes discussed this year’s plan for regional cooperation in tourism between the three destinations with Zhongshan Municipal Tourism Bureau Director Wu Jiamin and Deputy Director Dong Zuwen, Zhuhai Culture Sports and Tourism Bureau Director Wang Lingping and Deputy Director Min Yuntong as well as other officials. The meeting started with a summary of joint tourism projects rolled out between the three destinations in 2015. A chairman rotation ceremony was then held to appoint Zhongshan Municipal Tourism Bureau the rotating chairman of 2016. During the meeting, Zhongshan Municipal Tourism Bureau raised the plan for regional cooperation in tourism between Zhongshan, Zhuhai and Macao in 2016, which was later approved by the three parties after discussions. 
 

2015 conclusion meeting of regional cooperation in tourism between Zhongshan, Zhuhai and Macao and 2016 work meeting
 

The three tourism authorities have reached a consensus during the meeting, that they will keep on promoting their shared image “Fragrant Hill in the past; Zhongshan, Zhuhai and Macao today” and roll out joint promotional activities in various Mainland cities along High-speed rail routes to encourage visitations to the three destinations in one trip. In commemoration of the 150th Anniversary of the Birth of Dr. Sun Yat-Sen this year, the three destinations plan to invite their members of travel trade to participate in “Sun Yat-Sen Cultural Tourism Festival” hosted by Zhongshan Municipal Tourism Bureau together. Furthermore, the three tourism authorities will study the feasibility of fostering cooperation in yacht tourism development for individual visitors. In addition, they will further integrate their tourism resources and together produce a tourism promotional video and travel tips around Fragrant Hill, to jointly promote the tourism products of the three destinations. 
 

Guangdong and Macao have maintained a stable and long-term collaborative relationship in tourism. by leveraging a range of cooperative platforms such as Guangdong and Macao; Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao; Shenzhen and Macao; as well as Zhongshan, Zhuhai and Macao, the two destinations have made continuous efforts to expand their visitor source markets and encourage multi-destination travel through promotional projects across the Mainland and overseas, branding their cities as one regional destination. 
 

It was among the major tasks for implementation of the “Framework Agreement on Cooperation between Guangdong and Macao” last year to develop yachting tourism between Nansha and Macao. MGTO led a delegation of Macao travel trade to inspect Nansha last August for an update on the city’s latest development, as well as participate in networking and discussion sessions.  
 

Preparation work meeting for “multi-destination” tourism promotional activities of Macao and Nansha in 2016
 

Back in 2006, the tourism authorities of Zhongshan, Zhuhai and Macao signed the “Memorandum of Cooperation in Tourism between Zhongshan, Zhuhai and Macao” to enhance their collaboration in tourism and brand their cities as one regional destination around the theme of Fragrant Hill and Dr. Sun Yat Sen’s life history. The three tourism authorities also jointly presented their multi-destination tourism products in Chengdu and Chongqing last June. In addition, MGTO rolled out destination product presentations and business sessions in Malaysia and Singapore to promote multi-destination travel itineraries together with Tourism Administration of Guangdong Province, Tourism Administration of Guangzhou Municipality, Zhuhai Culture Sports and Tourism Bureau, Tourism Administration of Shaoguan Municipality as well as Zhongshan Municipal Tourism Bureau last July. After the event, the travel agencies in Malaysia successfully launched new multi-destination tourism products into the market. In September, China National Tourism Administration organized a delegation of Taiwanese media and travel agency executives to visit Macao and Zhuhai for an inspection tour along multi-destination itineraries. MGTO and Zhuhai Culture Sports and Tourism Bureau seized the opportunity to update the Taiwanese delegation on the latest tourism trends in Macao and Zhuhai, while MGTO also attended a symposium held in Zhuhai about multi-destination tour routes across Taiwan, Zhuhai and Macao. 
 

In 2016, MGTO will carry on its efforts to strengthen its partnership with tourism authorities of different destinations under the regional cooperation framework across Pan-Pearl River Delta; between Hong Kong and Macao; Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao; Guangdong and Macao as well as Fujian and Macao, etc. by regularly holding work meetings and jointly developing tourism resources across various destinations. Moreover, the Office will ride on the opportunities arisen from the Belt and Road Initiative to promote “multi-destination” tourism products.

 

Photo caption: Directors of tourism authorities of Zhongshan, Zhuhai and Macao (Right: Zhuhai Culture Sports and Tourism Bureau Director Wang Lingping; middle: Zhongshan Municipal Tourism Bureau Director Wu Jiamin)