Group calls for a ‘sustainable’ community in São Domingos

Pointing out that the São Domingos district blends history with tourism and commerce, the Macau Institution People’s Alliance has cited a survey indicating that the surrounding area faces regional development imbalances, urging the government to collaborate with local businesses to create a “unique, vibrant, and sustainable” community.

The group conducted a “Survey on Optimizing the Business Environment in the São Domingos district” between March and April, visiting local catering and retail businesses and collecting 42 valid questionnaires.

The survey covered areas including Rua Leste do Mercado de S. Domingos, Rua Oeste do Mercado de S. Domingos, Rua Sul do Mercado de S. Domingos, Rua Norte do Mercado de S. Domingos, Travessa de S. Domingos, Travessa do Soriano, and the streets connecting Rua dos Mercadores to the Arraial na Ervanários fair.

The findings of the survey, released on Friday, show that most businesses have been operating for a long time, with 76.2% in operation for over five years, indicating stability; only 16.7% have been in business for less than a year.

Long-established businesses are mainly found on Rua Leste do Mercado de S. Domingos, while younger entrepreneurs operate in Travessa de S. Domingos, Travessa do Soriano, and near the fair place, highlighting a spatial disparity in business types.

The majority of surveyed businesses, 71.4%, are in retail, followed by catering at 23.8%, with services and other sectors making up only 2.4%.

The findings indicate pessimistic turnover expectations, with most businesses reporting a decline over the past year and only 14.3% expecting growth in the coming year; 71.4% anticipate further declines.

Businesses face significant operational pressures from insufficient customer traffic, high rental costs, and intense competition.

Most rated their satisfaction with the business environment as average or below average, noting that while the overall environment seems ideal, tangible benefits are lacking.

The survey summarizes five major challenges for merchants in the area: insufficient customer base, declining sales, inadequate infrastructure and environmental improvements, inconvenient transportation, and intense competition.

At a press conference announcing the survey findings, lawmaker Nick Lei, president of the group, stated that such a district, located in the Macau peninsula’s historic city center around the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary, blends historical culture with tourism and commerce, making it a valuable destination.

However, he noted that despite a steady increase in tourist numbers, returning to pre-Covid-19 levels from 2019, visitors are still concentrated in specific scenic spots, leaving surrounding businesses and communities economically disadvantaged.

He expressed hope that the survey’s insights and recommendations will encourage relevant authorities to implement measures that optimize the commercial environment and promote community economic development, serving as a basis for future decision-making.