Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) President Leong Wai Man said yesterday that the government expects to roll out a project to offer virtual reality (VR) to those visiting the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ruins of St Paul’s, at the end of this year.
Leong made the remarks at the Taipa Houses while speaking to reporters yesterday after attending a ceremony marking the launch of the bureau’s annual “Encounter in Macao – Arts and Cultural Festival between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries”. A string of events under this year’s arts and culture fest will be held from later this month to next month.
The government said earlier this year that it was planning to set up virtual reality at the landmark and tourist attraction.
Leong said yesterday that the VR project to be set up at the Ruins of St Paul’s aims to bring “innovative experiences” to residents and tourists while they are visiting the landmark. According to Leong, the bureau plans that VR will be available in a designated area behind the Ruins of St Paul’s, where participants will need to wear a VR headset for a simulated experience, Leong said.
According to Leong, the simulations will enable participants to experience the interior and exterior of the original Church of St Paul. In addition, Leong said, the VR experiences will also include the respective historical figures.
Leong underlined that the bureau is preparing the launch of the VR project, aiming to roll it out at the end of this year.
The Church of St Paul was built by the Jesuits in 1637-40. It was destroyed by a fire during a typhoon in January 1835. It is one of Macau’s best-known landmarks.
Possible resumption of New Year’s Eve countdown
Meanwhile, Leong also said that the government is planning to resume its annual New Year’s Eve countdown this year, i.e., on December 31.
The city’s annual government-organised New Year’s Eve countdown was cancelled in 2020 and last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Leong said yesterday that after careful assessment, the government has concluded that this year’s New Year’s Eve countdown can be held again, adding that her bureau is now preparing the event.
Leong also said that in addition to local singers, the bureau will also invite counterparts from the mainland and Hong Kong to join the countdown event.
Currently, those arriving in Macau from Hong Kong are subject to the Macau government’s seven days of hotel quarantine plus three days of self-health management. In general, those arriving in Macau from the mainland are not required to undergo quarantine, except those arriving from regions affected by COVID-19 local transmissions in the mainland.
Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) President Leong Wai Man talks to reporters at the Taipa Houses yesterday. – Photo courtesy of TDM
