Briefs | Art exhibition by Macau Artists Society opens

The “Exhibition of Artworks of the Members of Macau Artists Society 2016” commenced on Monday at the Nam Van Old Court Building, featuring a total of 169 works by members of the Society. The opening ceremony was officiated by several bodies, the representatives of which included the president of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, Ung Vai Meng and president of the Macau Artist Society, Lai Ieng. The exhibition this year celebrates the Society’s 60th anniversary, and brings together different art forms including watercolour, oil painting, sketch, ink wash painting, calligraphy and sculpture. The exhibition will be open until September 7 at Nam Van Old Court Building.

Chinese tourists shift to Cambodia

Mainland Chinese tourists are heading to Cambodia due to its lower travel costs, causing Phnom Penh’s only casino to experience an income upsurge during the first half of the year.  NagaCorp, the operator of NagaWorld, recorded a USD125 million net profit for January to June 2016, a 24 percent year-on-year rise in sharp contrast to the ongoing downturn in Macau casinos. Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism stated that the number of visitors from China had increased by 12 percent, leading to a 2 percent rise in the country’s visitor arrivals for January to May 2016. Lau Siu Cheung of Prudential Brokerage told Nikkei that Macau and Phnom Penh’s casino offerings are essentially the same. However, NagaCorp Chairman Timothy Mcnally said food and lodging in Cambodia is relatively cheaper.

Consumer Council launches ‘Macau price platform’ app

To make it convenient for consumers to check prices of goods at local supermarkets and wet markets, as well as fuel prices, the Consumer Council launched a new mobile phone app named ‘Macau Price Platform’. The council consolidated the previous ‘Supermarket price information platform’ and ‘Fuel price information platform’, and enhanced the new app by adding daily price data of wet markets from IACM. According to a press release issued yesterday by the CC, “the new app offers a one-stop platform for consumers to check prices.”