The Macau Government Tourism Office’s (MGTO) new local tours will comprise six itineraries, and they will only be available at weekends and public holidays during the first phase, Taipa and Coloane Community Service Consultative Council Deputy Convener Lam Ka Chun told reporters after a closed-door meeting with MGTO and Economic and Technological Development Bureau (DSEDT) officials at the Islands District Public Services Centre in Seac Pai Van yesterday.
Lam said that the first phase’s itineraries include Taipa ecotourism and Coloane routes. According to Lam, the new tours will include family activities and traditional gourmet experiences. He pointed out that during the first phase, the tours will only be available at weekends, adding that depending on how many people sign up, the government might consider organising tours on weekdays in the future.
Lam noted that up until yesterday about 500 tour guides have signed up for the new local tours. He said that the government was looking over their records and those who did not violate any rule in the past would be recruited.
Lam said that the MGTO and DSEDT representatives told the council that there will be a light festival this December, and there will also be other events from the “tourism +” programmes to be held in the city. He said that the officials told them that they hoped the events would promote small-and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and boost the local economy.
Last week MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes told reporters that she expected the tours to start by the end of this month, adding that the new local tours would also feature last year’s popular helicopter ride. She also pointed out that this year’s tourism subsidy scheme will include a 280-pataca subsidy for each resident to join a local tour group, and a 200-pataca subsidy for local hotel staycations. Senna Fernandes said she expected her office to spend 120 million patacas on the new round of its local tours scheme.
Moreover, during yesterday’s Taipa and Coloane Community Service Consultative Council regular meeting, council member Leong Chon Kit suggested a few ways to help promote SMEs in Taipa Village, such as urging them to cooperate with big hotel chains and social media platforms to create a Macau travel guide, as well as to encourage influencers to visit local shops.
Taipa and Coloane Community Service Consultative Council Deputy Convener Lam Ka Chun briefs reporters after a closed-door meeting with MGTO and DSEDT officials at the Islands District Public Services Centre in Seac Pai Van yesterday. Photo courtesy of TDM
