Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, director of the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), emphasized that Portugal can play a pivotal role in attracting more European visitors to the Special Administrative Region.
“Portugal is not just a gateway to Portugal itself. It also serves as a bridge to reach the European market,” Senna Fernandes told Lusa, highlighting the potential for increased tourism collaboration.
In June, the semi-annual meeting of the European Travel Agents and Tour Operators’ Associations (ECTAA) will be held in Macau, marking a significant step in this initiative. Senna Fernandes credited the strong partnership with the Portuguese Association of Travel and Tourism Agencies (APAVT) for facilitating this connection. “It was through APAVT that we were introduced to ECTAA,” she added.
This meeting will be particularly noteworthy, as it will be the first ECTAA gathering outside of Europe since its last session in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Additionally, Macau has been selected as the preferred destination for the confederation’s 2025 meeting. “I think this is a good start,” Senna Fernandes remarked, noting that while fewer than 100 attendees are expected, they collectively represent 80,000 travel agencies across Europe.
Senna Fernandes expressed optimism that the event will enhance awareness of Macau among European travel agencies. Victoria Chan
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