The Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) says that the upcoming new round of its subsidised programme for local residents joining tour groups organised by travel agencies to tour the city will comprise six itineraries, adding that the new local tour scheme will also feature helicopter rides that were popular with residents during last year’s scheme.
Speaking to reporters on Saturday at the revamped Macau Grand Prix Museum (MGPM) in Nape, MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes also said that the government expected the tours to start by the end of this month.
In addition to a 280-pataca subsidy for each resident to join a local tour group, this time the scheme will also offer each resident a 200-pataca subsidy for local hotel staycations.
The government announced last month that it expected to spend 120 million patacas on the new round of its local tour scheme, which will run between this month and December. Each local resident will be eligible to receive a 280-pataca subsidy for a local tour group, as well as a 200-pataca staycation subsidy.
Senna Fernandes also said that her office expected to announce details of the programme around the middle of this month.
The tourism chief also said that all the six itineraries this time will be “community-based tours” – i.e. no “leisure tours” as previously, because the staycation subsidy this time would enable participants to enjoy hotel resorts’ leisure facilities. Last year’s scheme comprised “community-based tours” and “leisure tours”.
Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes speaks to reporters at the Macau Grand Prix Museum (MGPM) in Nape on Saturday. – Courtesy: TDM
