‘Macau Street’ launched in Seoul to attract more Korean visitors

The Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) launched its annual promotional campaign yesterday in Seoul, South Korea, with a “Macau Street” showcasing the SAR’s heritage, gastronomy and signature events to attract more Korean visitors.

The roadshow was held in Seoul yesterday and attracted around 130 Korean operators. The full-day event included presentations about several Macau tourism offers, along with a networking lunch. A similar event will be held in Busan tomorrow, which will be attended by around 50 professionals from Korea’s travel industry.

Yesterday in Seoul, MGTO director Helena de Senna Fernandes, presided over the opening ceremony of “Macau Street”, joined by the chairman of the Korea Association of Travel Agents (KATA), Yang Moo Seung, among other guests.

“This year, our efforts to display the very best and the newest highlights of our city in a promotion tailor-made [for] the Korean audience has brought us to this ultra-modern cinema complex [in] the heart of Seoul. Here at CGV Yeouido, entertainment meets gastronomy, cinema, shopping and more, offering us an ideal backdrop to set up this lively and festive Macau Street,” Senna Fernandes said.

Until April 29, visitors to the popular CGV Yeouido multi-entertainment cinema complex at Seoul’s IFC Mall will be greeted by a “Macau Street” displaying the region’s food and signature events, with Macau’s heritage as the theme of the décor. The cinema is equipped with Screen-X, which provides moviegoers a 270-degree viewing experience by expanding the screen onto the sidewalls.

The “Macau Street” features a “Macau Screen Box” at the gate of one of CGV’s Screen-X theaters, inviting moviegoers to experience Macau. In front, a “Macau Café” displays the region’s major attractions and an information desk. Other highlights of the “Macau Street” include an International Film Festival & Awards Macao image wall and photo-taking zone, as well as a mini Macau Grand Prix (MGP) with daily race simulators, awards and a podium for the winners, among other activities.

Local tourism operators – representing more than 20 of Macau’s hotels, resorts, travel agencies, air and sea transportation companies, entertainment and event venues – are in Korea to attend the MGTO-organized travel marts in Seoul and Busan. The events are part of Macau’s annual promotional campaign to foster closer business ties with South Korea.

South Korea is top international visitor source market

SOUTH KOREA is Macau’s top international visitor source market, with the number of visitors from the country steadily increasing over the last few years. It became the first international visitor source market to surpass half a million visitors in 2014.  According to the numbers provided by MGTO, the number of South Korean visitors marked double-digit growth in the last couple of years, increasing by 19.5 percent to 662,000 visitors in 2016 and another 32 percent to 874,000 visitors in 2017. In the first quarter of the year, the number of visitors continued to increase by 4.6 percent.  Five air carriers – Air Macau, Jin Air, Jeju Air, T’way Air and Air Busan – operate regular flights between Macau, Seoul and Busan, providing around twenty direct links a week.