Taipa Ferry | Terminal not planned as a tourist destination

The Macau local government has no intention to transform the Taipa Ferry Terminal into a tourism destination, the Marine and Water Bureau said in reply to lawmaker Lam Lon Wai’s interpellation.

Earlier, Lam told the SAR government that Macau’s sea transportation development is not ideal, having suggested to develop the premise of the Taipa Ferry terminal for tourism.

Lam argued that the terminal benefits from an excellent location by being near the airport and from soon having a Light Rapid Transit access connecting to Taipa old town, Cotai casinos, and Lotus Frontier. Moreover, Macau does not have a large-scale shopping center that is not operated by the gaming operators.

Lam believes that tourists do not have sufficient choice for shopping, and, in recent years, tour agencies have approached resident communities for shopping and dining, which caused a severe negative impact to Macau residents.

In view of these factors, Lam wants the Taipa Ferry Terminal to become the new popular tourism destination. The marine authority told Lam that the SAR government currently has no plan to transform the Taipa Ferry Terminal into a tourist attraction and that the area will instead be developed into a major transportation hub.

Citing the Macau Government Tourism Office, the Marine authority said that, for the Pac On temporary ferry terminal to be reformed as a large-scale shopping and dining facility, or the neighboring areas of the Taipa Ferry terminal to be developed into new tourist attractions, a comprehensive urban plan is required. JZ