Prisca Tang
The first six groups for the new round of local tours set off yesterday from the Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal yesterday, the Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) said in a statement.
According to the statement, 230 participants joined the first day of local tours. MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes was at the ferry terminal where she said that she was “delighted” to hear about residents’ interest in the new round of local tours, adding that she believed the project can not only familiarise residents with local tourism resources but also bolster the tourism industry and stimulate spending in local communities.
The sign-up period for the new “Stay, Dine and See Macao” project, which features six local tour itineraries and staycation packages, started on April 15. According to the statement, the aim of the project is to subsidise residents to explore the city.
The statement said that the new round of local tours added “tourism + culture” and “tourism + ecology” aspects for residents to explore the architecture in Nossa Senhora Village of Ka Ho and ecological learning in Cotai.
The statement noted that the most popular local tour, the helicopter ride experience and yacht check-in tour, has attracted 15,552 applicants. The statement also pointed out that until Saturday, 2,209 residents had joined the other five itineraries, while 1,569 staycation packages, involving 3,936 residents, were sold.
The statement underlined that tourism industry professionals have been actively participating in the project, noting that 160 travel agencies, over 800 travel industry professionals, 69 hotels and guest houses, 523 tour coach drivers and 449 local tour guides have signed up for the project. The statement also stressed that MGTO will arrange on-site inspections to assess the project’s effectiveness, ensure appropriate use of public funds and prevent infringement of regulations.
According to the statement, the project will run local tours until the end of the year, adding that tours are available at weekends and public holidays from this month to June and from September to December, while daily tours will be offered in July and August –the period of school summer holidays.
For more information, residents can visit https://www.macaotourism.gov.mo/en/article/subsidies/macao-tour-hotel for more information.
