Heritage | IPM holds workshop focused on old shipyards

From Monday until yesterday, the Macau Polytechnic Institute (IPM) held a cultural and creative camp for nearly 80 participants from 23 secondary schools.
Students who participated in the camp, entitled “Macau Polytechnic Boat Midsummer Arts Cultural and Creative Camp 2016,” held a creative fair where they sold the work they made during the workshop.
The students were introduced to “cultural and creative” activities during the workshop, which included printmaking, pottery and photography. The workshop aimed to raise local youth awareness about the protection of the old shipyards in Lai Chi Vun, Coloane.
Director of Macau Government Tourism Office Helena de Senna Fernandes told the Times that the project is an “eye-opener” for the youth in the region and should be further promoted.
“Some of them may not know much about Coloane village and its history and you know, what’s stored there. So this kind of activity […] should be promoted more in the future,” she said.
There are plans to revamp the Lai Chi Vun area, which spans about 50,000 square meters. Authorities intend to transform what was once a center for Macau’s boat-building industry into a cultural tourism product.
Senna Fernandes believes that the city’s younger generation could become more aware about the history of Macau’s districts, as well as the differences between them.  She hopes that the project will be promoted to the various industries.
“This time it’s more of a school project but I guess in the future, if the opportunity is there, of course this can also be promoted to other tourists and other sectors as well,” she stated. Lynzy Valles

travel alert system to launch this year

Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Senna Fernandes stated his expectation that a travel alert system will be launched within the year.  She revealed to reporters that the tourism office has been discussing with the relevant tourism and insurance industry bodies, and is working on building a legal framework. The alert system will cover several destinations of significance in the territory.  The MGTO head also said that the law regarding the provision of illegal hotel accommodation is going to be amendmended.