17 illegal tour guides prosecuted last year: MGTO

The Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO), in collaboration with the police, prosecuted 17 individuals suspected of operating as illegal tour guides last year.

The data was disclosed by MGTO director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, who noted that over the past year, the MGTO, alongside the police, the Labour Affairs Bureau, and other relevant government bodies, conducted 1,615 inspections at tourist attractions and border control points.

Fernandes shared these comments following a recent case involving an illegal tour guide, which led to both administrative penalties and police intervention for violations related to tourist status regulations. She emphasized that the inspections are part of a broader effort to maintain order in Macau’s tourism sector and combat irregularities.

Macau has established a strong mechanism for law enforcement collaboration with cities in the Greater Bay Area, including a recent cooperation agreement with Zhuhai and other cities on the west bank of the Pearl River Estuary.

This agreement aims to enhance information sharing and intelligence exchange to combat tourism violations more effectively.

Fernandes also addressed challenges related to tour groups using public buses. Although there is no specific law preventing tourists from using buses, illegal tour groups or guides are subject to legal action.

The MGTO stated that it plans to implement stricter measures to address issues at their source while increasing awareness among travelers and travel agents about the city’s tourism regulations. So far this year, the MGTO has already conducted over 300 inspections.