Continuing its efforts to promote Macau, Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes told reporters yesterday that they are preparing roadshows to be held in different countries in the coming months, particularly in June and July.
Senna Fernandes made the remarks after the opening ceremony of the Macau International Museum Day Carnival at the Convention Centre of the Macau Science Centre in Zape.
According to Senna Fernandes, MGTO will hold a roadshow in Thailand on June 1 and take part in a road show organised by one of the city’s integrated gaming resorts in Singapore in the same month, as well as the “Macao Week in Qingdao”.
In July, Senna Fernandes added that the office will go to South Korea for a roadshow and will “also start participating in different travel fairs in different markets”.
MGTO is working on promotions with Air Macau for ticket giveaways for the mainland and international markets, according to Senna Fernandes. “We are also working with the other airlines that are flying into Macau like Jin Air and Air Asia in terms of promotion”.
She also said that besides the airlines flying into Macau, MGTO is also looking to promote Macau through airlines flying into Hong Kong, adding that MGTO is already in talks with different airlines.
Meanwhile, Senna Fernandes also spoke about the promotion of community tourism, noting: “Community tourism has always been part of our work”, even during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Asked by a reporter about the impact of tourism on local communities, Senna Fernandes pointed out that MGTO works with civic associations on all its community projects, listening to their opinions and trying to see what does and doesn’t work.
She added: “We do respect the different communities, but at the same time, we do hear different kinds of voices from the community as well”, noting a recent example of some local communities perhaps not getting enough business during the weekends. “So, they would also want us to take more business to their area.
“We’re trying to balance that as well. Hopefully by working together with local communities, by working together with different operators, we will find more innovative ways to, first of all, help the community, but at the same time, try as much as possible to limit the [adverse] effects on the communities”.
MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes speaks with reporters yesterday after the opening ceremony of the Macau International Museum Day Carnival in Macao Science Centre (MSC). – Photo: Yuki Lei
