For the first time ever, tourism authorities will implement a free sightseeing package for overnight visitors.
The policy was revealed last Friday by the Macau Government Tourist Office director, Helena de Senna Fernandes, on the sidelines of a function. This came after she dismissed a media report indicating that authorities had considered financing inbound tourists to encourage overnight stays.
“I have to clarify that there has never been a MOP200 accommodation allowance,” Fernandes told the media. “We will give a tour to the visitors if they come and visit Macau, for which the Tourist Office will be financially responsible.”
According to the director, the initiative is intended to attract international tourists staying in Hong Kong, along with other mainland Chinese tourists who are not from the Guangdong province. “These tourists must stay overnight in Macau to grow the amount of more-than-one-day stays. That’s our target,” she stated. Helena de Senna Fernandes reminded media that, according to official statistics, 53 percent of the 3.03 million visitor arrivals last month were same-day visitors.
The government-funded scheme will only be implemented after the “golden week,” as the project requires time for further development.
Hotels have to provide records confirming overnight stays in order to determine the effects of the scheme, which seeks to reach out to the mainland and Hong Kong for tourists from overseas.
As the initiative enters the final stage of deliberation, no further details have been made available. However, the office’s head said that the project has been well received by the tourism sector.
Regarding the prospects of “golden week” visitors, Helena de Senna Fernandes did not offer advance figures, saying, “We are still collecting information from the agencies and hotels, but we can say that, from the agencies’ point-of-view, they are expecting a sharp decline.” She justified this prediction based on the fact that this year’s National Day holidays and Mid-Autumn Festival holidays are consecutive, making this “golden week” a little longer and possibly leading many mainland tourists to travel further abroad. AU
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