“Fair in Ervanários” (關前薈 , Arraial na Ervanários)
An open-air fair in the peninsula’s “Herbalists’ Street” near the city’s main thoroughfare, Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro, is using augmented reality (AR) technology as a new element to foster local tourism, the Economic and Technological Development Bureau (DSEDT) announced during the open-ended event’s opening ceremony of the event entitled in the street.
The fair is known in Chinese as 關前薈 and “Arraial na [Rua dos] Ervanários” in Portuguese.
Rua dos Ervanários (“Herbalists’ Street”) is known as “Kuan Chi’n Kai” (關前街) in Cantonese.
The fair is hosted by the Industry & Commerce Federation Macau Central and Southern District (ICFMCSD), and co-organised by the Macau Historical Districts Developments Promotion Association.
Zhu Hong, deputy director of the Department for Economic Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macau SAR, DSEDT Director Tai Kin Ip, Hoi Io Meng, deputy director of the Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO), Ferreira Manuel Lok Pui, president of the ICFMCSD, Cheang Ka Hang, president of the Macau Historical Districts Developments Promotion Association, and Lao Cho Chon, the vice president of the Macau New Chinese Youth Association, attended the opening ceremony.
According to a statement by the host, the event promotes “technology + tourism”. It aims to enrich visitors and locals’ experiences and interests in visiting local attractions with the assistance of AR technology. The statement also said that participants can use discounts and join lucky draws offered by shops that are participating in this event.
The statement pointed out that the event combines activities in AR and snapshot spots. Participants will need to scan the QR code in the area in order to join the AR activities. The statement added that there are three AR interactive activities. They are located at the entrance of Rua dos Ervanários, Calçada do Amparo, and inside Rua dos Ervanários. The titles for the three AR activities are “time travel portal”, “flowers in full bloom”, and “capture the moment”.
According to Tai, the event is a new idea for his bureau. Tai also mentioned that the number of young visitors to Macau has increased recently. Therefore, Tai said he believed that Macau needed to put in creative and new concepts to further develop the city’s attractiveness.
When asked by reporters why AR was chosen as the major element for the event, Ferreira said that most mainland tourists’ ages range from 15 to their twenties, according to official statistics from January to September. Ferreira said he believed that tourists could experience the city’s historic culture with the help of AR technology including its treasure hunting and snapshot sections.
When asked by reporters about the estimated number of participants in this event, Ferreira pointed out that 15 shops are participating in it, adding he hoped that the shops could increase their turnover by 30 to 40 percent. Moreover, Ferreira said he hoped the fair could attract 20 to 30 percent of the city’s tourists.
Reporters also asked about the event being further promoted in the mainland. Ferreira responded that MGTO, DSEDT and other related associations would further promote the event through social media.
This photo taken yesterday shows the entrance of the “Herbalists’ Street Fair’. Photos: Ula Cheang
The prime movers behind the event give the thumb-up in Rua dos Ervanários during yesterday’s opening ceremony of the open-ended fair.
