To ensure the quality of the service paid to visitors, the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) has said that it is preparing additional audits of several tourism operators, including establishments, transportation providers, and tour guides, among others.
The additional inspection has the purpose of preventing tourism-related disputes as well as finding any situations of illegality or wrongdoing, especially concerning illegal tour guides and taxi drivers, MGTO’s deputy director Ricky Hoi said. Hoi noted that MGTO is collaborating with the police authorities as well as other government departments on this task.
The same official also mentioned that only six cases of illegal tour guides (previously reported) have been found so far this year.
All the cases related to the unauthorized operation of mainland guides in Macau have been forwarded through the communication mechanism between the tourism authorities of Macau and the mainland.
Hoi also advanced that MGTO has so far received around 2,300 applications for group tour subsidies. Since last Saturday, Macau has received the first of 14 such tours, which did not originate on the mainland.
First subsidized foreign tour group arrives
The city’s first subsidized foreign tour group arrived on April 15.
The tour group was from Thailand.
The MGTO is running a subsidization scheme to attract tourists to Macau not only for individual travel plans, but also for tours groups.
The non-greater China source market is a key market for the Macau government after Covid-19.
Meanwhile, it was revealed that the MGTO has continued operating transport perks between Macau and Hong Kong, which are also applicable to non-Hong Kong entrants. However, the plan no longer provides perks to Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge shuttle bus passengers.
On this matter, Hoi explained that invitations were sent to all transport operators, but each of them enjoys the discretion whether to participate or not.
On extending the stay of tourists, the MGTO, in reply to lawmaker Wong Kit Cheng’s inquiry, said that it would escalate its cooperation with the tourism trade in compiling multiple-stop trip products.
Multiple-trip trip is a conceptual term widely used by the government and the local tourism trade to refer to tours comprising more stops than only an origin and a destination.
MGTO brings light show to Lisbon
In its promotional trip to Portugal, the MGTO has brought the locally well-received annual light and video mapping show to the capital city of Lisbon.
The Light Up Macao: Macao Tourism Video Mapping Show is the first overseas presence of the event branded Light up Macao held by MGTO at home.
The Portuguese shows will be held from today until April 22 at 8:30 p.m., 9:00 p.m., 9:30 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. every evening. Each session lasts about 12 minutes.
Images are projected upon the facades of major architecture at the Square of Commerce, to showcase Macau’s tourism elements and unique strengths for local residents. In terms of the design concept, the mapping show consists of four chapters, namely Encounter of Chinese and Portuguese cultures, Heritage and Gastronomy, Deepening the cross-
sectoral integration of Tourism + as well as the “1+4” Strategy in support of appropriate economic diversification, among other elements.
Promotional stalls have also been set up in the Portuguese capital to promote Macau. The MGTO said the Experience Macao Unlimited – Macao Promotion in Lisbon represents the city’s first physical tourism promotion in Europe after the pandemic. It is being held at the Square of Commerce from 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. daily until April 22. Rm/al
