Macau Economics Association Chairman Lao Pun Lap yesterday urged the government to extend the validity period of its consumption promotion voucher scheme – or simply to scrap the validity period.
Lao made the suggestion while attending a current affairs phone-in programme hosted by Ou Mun Tin Toi, the Chinese-language radio channel of government-owned broadcaster TDM.
Lao said that the main goal of the government voucher scheme was to encourage consumption by subsidising one’s spending. Lao said that the vouchers system is however “very complicated” and therefore residents may not understand the intention behind the scheme.
Lao said that there were ways to improve the scheme such as, for example, by extending or simply scrapping the 15-day voucher validity period, so that people could have more flexibility in using the vouchers. He also suggested that the elderly benefit –an immediate deduction after spending a certain amount of money – be extended to everyone. He said that people would be less confused then.
Lao said that in the mainland the authorities have implemented a similar scheme, and local shops have launched their own promotion schemes to complement the voucher scheme. He pointed out that if shops were willing to launch promotions on top of the government voucher scheme, it would be more effective and lead to a higher consumption rate.
Lao noted that over 90 percent of local businesses are small- and medium-enterprises (SMEs), adding that their employees make up over 40 percent of the local labour market. He pointed out that if the voucher scheme was able to sustain SMEs, it would also stabilise local employment issues.
Meanwhile, Macau Travel Industry Council President Wong Fai also said on the phone-in programme that the tourism industry supports the government’s local travel subsidy. He said that besides tour guides and drivers, more workers in the tourism sector would be given a chance to work again. He added that the local travel subsidy scheme would also lead residents to spend within the community.
Wong pointed out that during the COVID-19 pandemic many people changed careers, adding he wondered how many people would rejoin the tourism industry due to the new subsidy scheme.
Macau Economics Association Chairman Lao Pun Lap (left) and Macau Travel Industry Council President Wong Fai attend a current affairs phone-in programme hosted by Ou Mun Tin Toi, the Chinese-language radio channel of government-owned broadcaster TDM. Courtesy: TDM
