MGTO to host 4th travel expo in September

Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes (center)

For the first time, the Macao Government Tourist Office will host the 4th Macao International Travel (industry) Expo (MITE), which will run from September 2 – 4 with a budget of MOP7 million.
The exhibition, themed “Smart Tourism,” hosted by the Macau Travel Agency Association for the past three years, will promote local tourism resources and products and create business opportunities to allow the region to become a vital exchange and transaction platform for tourism.
In a press conference held yesterday, MGTO director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes revealed that the program of the 4th MITE would feature various seminars, a studio showcasing tourism videos, sales for FIT travel products and performances.
Aside from covering the six elements of the tourism industry such as accommodation, transportation and entertainment, the event will also feature travel media, tourism, electronic commerce and technology in tourism services among others elements.
MGTO reiterated that the event will update exhibitors and industry professionals with the latest trends in the local and overseas tourism industry.
The expo’s seminars will cover analysis of new trends of FIT in the Asia-Pacific region and smart tourism development and internet application. Introduction of FIT travel via high-speed railway and promotion of tourist hot spots in 2016 will also be discussed.
The upcoming tourism exhibition would also feature “China-Portugal Tourism Promotion Seminar & Travel Mart” to facilitate interchanges among tourism operators from China and Portuguese-speaking countries.
MGTO director also confirmed that there would be 14 tourism operators from Portugal attending the expo, along with a representative from Portugal’s tourism office.
Budget-wise, Fernandes told the press that aside from the local government’s subsidy of MOP7 million, the Agency Association would continually seek out various other financial sources.
MGTO has forecasted 350 exhibition booths, a surge of 50 compared to last year’s event.
“This year, so far as of today, we have already exceeded that anticipated 350. We have secured 369 exhibition booths already,” said Fernandes, believing that there would be more latecomers in the coming two weeks.
Enterprises and entities from 15 countries and regions have confirmed their participation as exhibitors, including travel agencies, hotels, resorts, scenic spot operators and tourism-related ventures.
The director added that the expo would not only cater business-to-business transactions but also provide sales and services for direct consumers.
Meanwhile, the president of the travel association, Alex Lao, told the press that the exhibition would feature known venture bodies including The Chimelong International Ocean Tourist Resort, National Tour Association, Air Macau and support from 16 Asia Pacific international airlines, among others.
This year, MITE is supported by the China National Tourism Administration and coordinated by the Macau Travel Agency Association and will be held at The Venetian Macao’s Cotai Expo.

drop in mainland tourists to the peninsula

Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Fernandes stated that despite the drop in the number of Chinese mainland tourists arriving to the peninsula, visitors from Thailand and South Korea have increased, which resulted in stable passenger traffic and hotel occupancy figures. She stressed that the office will continue to focus on overseas promotion.
The MGTO director also revealed that the government department is expecting a 10 percent increase in its annual overseas visitors this year.
Further, Fernandes said the application of the Beijing Imperial Palace Hotel to perform a three-month renovation project has been approved.