The Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) announced in a statement yesterday that the “Macao Light Festival 2021 – Travellers from Mars” is set to take place across Macau “with light installations, interactive games and projection mapping shows” from December 4 to January 2 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
According to the statement, for the purpose of reviving the local economy, the event will put together “tourism + culture and creativity”.
The statement pointed out that the festival is expected to direct visitors to different communities for “sightseeing and spending” to create more economic benefits for local businesses and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as well as to provide night time entertainment. The festival will also cover several holidays during the period and will launch with “Light Up Macau Drone Gala” on December 4, the statement added.
The statement listed the locations that the light festival will cover as follows: Nape, Nam Van, the leisure area at Rua do General Ivens Ferraz, the No. 1 Pier and Barra Pier, and several areas in central district. In Taipa, the staircase between Rua Direita Carlos Eugénio and Calçada do Quartel, Carmo Fair, Largo dos Bombeiros and Vila da Taipa Historical Centre Archway. In Coloane, Largo do Bazar, Chapel of St. Francis Xavier and Largo Eduardo Marques.
The statement underlined that there will also be four different projection mapping shows on separate dates by performance teams from Macau, Changsha, Hengqin and Tokyo at the Macau Science Centre, Largo do Pagode do Bazar, Largo dos Bombeiros, and Chapel of St. Francis Xavier.
Meanwhile, the statement added that aside from interactive gifts and photo-sharing for themed gifts, a game can also be played at mlf.macaotourism.gov.mo/index_en.html, where after following instructions, participants can redeem gifts.
The statement emphasised that in accordance with the government’s pandemic prevention measures, crowd management measures will be implemented at all the events and will require participants to wear a facemask, present a valid Macau Health Code, undergo temperature checks and maintain at least one-metre social distancing.
Meanwhile, MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes told reporters during yesterday’s press conference at the Macau Science Centre in Nape that this year’s light festival will be shorter than last year’s, and as a result the budget for this year’s festival has been reduced by 9 percent. She noted that this year’s budget is 18.9 million patacas, adding that she’s hoping that this year’s festival could attract 250,000 people.
Fernades also said that the light festival added a new spot at Barra Pier, stressing that the aim is to combine the festival with the Macau Aquatic Trek. She also added that there will be a spot outside the Macau Science Centre, pointing out that as the area is more spacious, at weekends there will be arts and crafts markets taking place there.
According to Fernandes, there won’t be a New Year’s Eve countdown fireworks display this time but MGTO is considering whether there is a possibility to host a pyrotechnic show during the Chinese New Year in February. However, she added that the mainland has strict rules for firework shows so MGTO is still looking into the matter.
When asked about the Grand Prix, Fernandes said that recently the daily number of visitor arrivals has reached 28,000, adding that she’s expecting 30,000 visitor arrivals on the three Grand Prix days.
Further details of the event can be found at mlf.macaotourism.gov.mo/index_en.html and its official Wechat ID.
This poster provided by the Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) yesterday shows the different programmes for the event, as well as the different locations where the events will take place.
