Tourism | MGTO to launch four new walking routes today

The Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) will roll out four new walking tour routes today as part of the “Step Out, Experience Macau’s Communities” program. With the eight new tour routes, including the redesigned versions of four existing routes, the Office seeks to encourage tourists to explore different neighborhoods in Macau, and to balance the visitor trends around the city.
The themes of the walking routes are “Footsteps into the Historic Centre”; “An Experiment of Creativity”; “Crossroads of China and Portugal”; “A Legacy of Arts and Culture”; “Enchanting Stories of Our Lady of Fatima Parish”; “The Marriage of East and West in St. Anthony’s Parish”; “Bygone Days of Taipa Village” and “Nostalgia in Coloane”. The routes cover all the parishes in the SAR.
Following the launch of the walking routes today, visitors can find the themed guidebooks in local hotels or MGTO’s Tourist Information counters. The electronic version of the guidebooks is also available on the MGTO website. The guidebooks show the eight routes along with relevant information, including sightseeing attractions, dining options, transportation, shopping, performance activities and public facilities.
Moreover, MGTO joins hands with local organizations to present community tourism activities and boost the charm of each community. The Office has arranged different performances at certain sightseeing points along the tour routes during weekend in order to further enhance the atmosphere of each neighborhood. With the variety of activities offered, the Office believes that visitors can enjoy a more interesting stroll along these routes, explore different local quarters for hidden gems, and catch a glimpse of the essence of Macau.
The original four walking tour routes were rolled out in September 2013 with the purpose of highlighting the attractions of different local districts for visitors to explore. MGTO has since conducted a survey to collect opinions regarding the routes, and has redesigned and launched the current eight routes based on the results of the survey.
MGTO also announced that the tourism notification system will be launched today and will remain active until February 26 “to ensure an effective delivery of hospitality to visitors during the Lunar New Year.” The authorities will be releasing relevant information online, including daily updated figures of mainland China and other visitor arrivals.
MGTO said that it will also be releasing updated information on room rates of local hotels and guesthouses on its website.
Meanwhile, MGTO has requested that associations and travel agencies coordinate the scheduling and timing of tourists’ arrivals at the main tourist spots, so as to reduce impact on surrounding areas and to “safeguard the city’s tourism image.”
“At the same time, together with the police authorities, the Office will continue fighting against illegal accommodation,” it said.
MGTO is also presenting a series of events throughout the holiday season, including the “Parade of the Gigantic Golden Dragon,” the “Parade for the Celebration of the Year of the Ram” as well as a “Fireworks Display for the Celebration of the Chinese New Year.”  JPL/CP