Coloane stilt houses could become cultural shops

Coloane village

A local government official has proposed the transformation of Coloane’s empty stilt houses into cultural and creative products stores in order to promote tourism, Macau News reports.
Islands Community Services Consultative Committee member Ku Man Tai, who also sits on the board of the Macau Islands Industrial and Commercial Association, proposed the idea at a meeting with government officials on Tuesday.
Stilt houses stand elevated above water level by (often) slim wooden beams that support the underside of the structure. They are an integral part of Coloane’s cultural memory and are popular with tourists exploring the “Coloane Heritage Walk,” which meanders through the historic village on the island.
Ku estimated that there are around 20 stilt houses in the area near the Coloane ferry pier, most of which have been empty for a while.
“The remaining stilt houses are either restaurants or dried food shops,” said Ku at the meeting. “There are not many [shopping] options for tourists [in the area].”
Ku met with government officials from the Marine and Water Bureau on Tuesday at a community center in Rua da Ponte Negra in Taipa, run by the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau.
Ku added that the government could consider allowing residents to operate hostels in some of Coloane’s village houses, which could attract more visitors and boost the island’s tourist trade.
The Marine and Water Bureau’s Vessels and Crew Department chief, Lei Veng Seng, who also attended Tuesday’s meeting in Taipa, said that the long-
delayed Macau-Guangdong individual yacht travel scheme should be launched within the first half of 2016.
According to Macau News, Lei said that the Shenwan Town Marina in Zhongshan is now undergoing final inspections.
The Marine and Water Bureau’s director, Susana Wong, had previously told the press that she expected the scheme to commence operations by the end of last year.
Once open, the Shenwan Town Marina will be the first of its kind on the mainland to make yachts available for visitors from Macau.