Augmented-reality introduced to attract tourists to old district

A campaign was launched yesterday in the hopes of attracting returning tourists from the mainland through augmented reality (AR) technology which is integrated into visits to the city’s central old district of Rua dos Ervanarios.

Explaining the concept on the sidelines of the launch ceremony yesterday, Manuel Iok Pui Ferreira, executive director of the The Industry and Commerce Federation of Macau Central and Southern District, an organizing entity of the campaign, said that AR was incorporated into the event because a growing interest in the technology within younger tourists visiting Macau has been recently observed.

“As a result, the technology is utilized to attract young tourists to understand more about this district,” Ferreira said. “After all, this is one of the most important Customs checkpoint back in the Ming Dynasty,” Ferreira added. 

The dynasty spanned the 14th to the 16th centuries.

Apart from learning about the history of the district, users will also be able to win coupons when they overcome the “challenges” set up at 15 participating shops. These coupons can be used at the respective shops, which are mostly cafeterias or snack shops.

After each “stop” of AR use, users will be able to take pictures with AR backgrounds or elements, before sharing them to social media platforms.

Tai Kin Ip, director of the Economic and Technological Development Bureau (DSEDT), another organizing entity, noted that the campaign is part of the government’s efforts to revive the local economy, in addition to assisting small and medium sized enterprises and pushing forward development in more historical districts.

He stressed that this campaign is a new attempt conducted by the DSEDT by including new technology into the promotion of economic activities in older districts.

MOP4.8b injected into local market by subsidy

As of November 18, about 4.8 billion patacas have flowed from government to business accounts through the consumption subsidy scheme, Tai disclosed on the sidelines of another event over the weekend.

Equating to 70 million transactions, the amount was injected to about 669,000 registered local residents, which is about 90% of the total eligible population. Tai stressed that 67% or 3.2 billion patacas have gone to small, medium and micro-sized enterprises.

In terms of industries, 22.6% of the funds went to the catering industry and 18.5% to supermarkets.

As the scheme will conclude at the end of the year, with its registration in mid-December, Tai has reminded unregistered local residents to conduct registration promptly and to finish using the subsidies prior to the deadline.