The Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) announced in a statement yesterday the launch of a new tour series, the Educational Student Tours, as part of the “Stay, Dine and See Macao” project.
The statement noted that the tours are expected to run between tomorrow and July 31, and they will be launched for primary, secondary and special education students who hold a Macau ID card. Each student is able to join one of the tours for free. Students without a Macau ID, meanwhile, can join the tours at the original price.
Schools, the statement said, have started applying for tour participation at designated travel agencies or the “Stay, Dine and See Macao” control centre.
The statement pointed out that MGTO has partnered with the Education and Youth Development Bureau (DSEDJ) and the “Stay, Dine and See Macao Project’s Task” Force. The tours will enable students to learn about Macau’s history and Chinese culture, “instilling local youth with a deeper sense of belonging to the motherland”, and it also will “promote patriotic education alongside popular science and ecological education”, according to the statement.
The statement added that MGTO held briefing sessions for participating travel agencies and tour guides to elaborate on the 10 itineraries for the new tours, tour logistics and “what tour guides should attend to in leading student tours”. The sessions were conducted by MGTO Deputy Director Cheng Wai Tong and DSEDJ’s Secondary Education Division Chief Leong I On, among others.
The 10 itineraries, the statement said, revolve around eight themes in Macau: “ecology, popular science, World Heritage, Chinese culture, popular science education, application of technology, love for Macau and China, and Macau’s history”, with the “love for Macau and China” and “Macau history” tours coming with two different itineraries, the statement added. The tours last about five hours and each will include lunch and visits to tourist attractions.
Moreover, the statement noted that the DSEDJ has also familiarised schools with the tours, adding that the tours “will not take up students’ quota for participation in other local tours” as Macau residents.
The tours will be led by tour guides fluent in Cantonese, Putonghua, Portuguese or English, while all tour groups will be accompanied by teachers, and schools can choose the itineraries for students.
The statement said that in line with the Health Bureau’s (SSM) COVID-19 pandemic prevention guidelines, participants must wear a facemask, undergo temperature checks, and present a valid Macao Health Code, among others.
Through the tours, the statement said that MGTO hopes to create a “win-win situation” for students and tour guides, with students able to step out of classrooms to learn and interact with tour guides during field trips, while tour guides can obtain more experience in leading student tours to become equipped for similar opportunities in the future.
This undated handout photo provided by the Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) yesterday shows attendees at a trade briefing session on the new Educational Student Tours.
