MGTO deploys original tourism IP to create community photo walkways

[Photo: Yuki Lei]

The Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) has revealed that it will gradually roll out landmark photo installations featuring original Macau tourism IP in the ZAPE and San Kio areas next month, creating open community tourism walkways and photo-taking spots.

MGTO, having identified a growing preference among visitors for immersive, scene-based and themed travel experiences, is rolling out a phased plan to develop cultural tourism spaces across different districts, drawing on local history and community life. In San Kio, the project will showcase the area’s intangible cultural heritage of Cantonese opera through art installations at San Kio Garden and other public spaces.

At the Inner Harbour’s Pier No. 25 in Patane, a maritime history exhibition will be added next month, alongside a sunset-themed photo installation on the viewing terrace.

The initiative was revealed during Friday’s Legislative Assembly (AL) oral inquiry session, with Secretary for Economy and Finance Ng Wai Han confirming that the government was actively examining community consumption incentive schemes for tourists.

She stressed that guiding visitors into local neighborhoods and translating footfall into spending had long been a policy priority. On the “ticket stub economy,” she acknowledged that the existing model – which channels concertgoers into community businesses – required refinement, and that the government would enhance the ticket-linked consumption mechanism while also stepping up support for new cultural and sporting events and developing additional incentives to encourage tourist spending in the community.

Ng acknowledged that the “ticket stub economy” model, which had been primarily driven by concert tickets, had fallen short of expectations. She said the government was now exploring ways to better utilize Macau’s numerous museums as a catalyst for community economic development.

Meanwhile, as reported, responding to evolving social and economic demands, the authorities have pledged to enhance statistical and reporting frameworks to offer more granular insights into the performance of various districts and sectors. They will also launch a feasibility study on establishing a regular assessment mechanism to monitor the community business environment.