The Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) announced in a statement yesterday that it has been conducting various preparations for the Spring Festival Golden Week to welcome visitors, as well as distributing information on COVID-19 pandemic prevention to “ensure safe and quality travel”.
The statement noted that the Golden Week will take place between Monday (January 31) and next Sunday (February 6), adding that MGTO will hold festivities in line with the novel coronavirus pandemic prevention guidelines.
The statement pointed out that MGTO uses different channels to inform visitors about pandemic prevention such as through its website, MGTO’s Tourist Information counters, apart from encouraging visitor compliance via its official WeChat and Weibo accounts.
MGTO also reminded travel industry operators to carry out measures in line with the Health Bureau’s (SSM) guidelines, with hotels and tourism businesses also continuing to help distribute relevant information to visitors.
Moreover, the statement emphasised that MGTO-supervised licenced businesses were informed about the need for contact-tracing QR codes (venue codes), which were also issued to them. Establishments such as hotels, restaurants, nightclubs, saunas and karaoke lounges must remind visitors to scan the codes using the Macau Health Code app.
Venue codes are also posted at MGTO venues such as the Macau Grand Prix Museum and Ritz Building, the statement added. MGTO will also patrol tourist spots, border checkpoints and districts, as well as oversee measures taken by hotels and other licenced businesses.
The statement said that enquiries can be made by phoning its 24-hour hot line 2833 3000, while information can also be found at http://dataplus.macaotourism.gov.mo.
The statement noted that various activities will be provided for the CNY holiday, such as celebratory activities on February 1 and February 2, and the “2022 Parade for Celebration of the Year of the Tiger” on February 3 and February 12.
Parade floats will also be displayed on the seafront next to the Macau Science Centre and in Praça do Tap Seac, the statement said. The CNY programme can be found by visiting https://www.macaotourism.gov.mo/en/
Two free guided tours will also be held from February 1-7 under MGTO’s “Development of community tourism and economy”, which are “Splendid Island – Community Tourism guided tour” at the Taipa Houses and Ká Hó Village, and “Discovering Macao – Community Tourism guided tour” in Rua dos Ervanários and St. Augustine’s Square. The statement noted that the tours will be conducted daily at 11:30 a.m., 3 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
MGTO also uses online and offline platforms for destination marketing and promoting CNY festivities such as through social media posts and inviting travel influencers to conduct livestreams on their channels. MGTO has also launched a hashtag challenge for Douyin and Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book) to attract visitors and encourage community tourism and spending, the statement said.
This undated handout photo provided by MGTO shows a visitor scanning a venue code prior to boarding a shuttle bus.
