The Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) said in a statement that it joined its industry partners and community organisations in a launch ceremony yesterday to present a broader sign language eLearning programme to enhance accessible tourism.
Aside from the launch of the programme, which is called “Power in Our Hands, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Sign Language Community Outreach eLearning Programme – Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin Tourism & Hospitality Chapters”, the “Inclusive Tourism in GBA” symposium was also held yesterday, according to the statement, which did not say where the symposium was held.
The statement noted that travel trade members can use the eLearning Programme to learn sign language conveying cultural tourism information about Macau, the Guangdong-Macau In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin and the Greater Bay Area (GBA).
The “Power in Our Hands” Community eLearning Programme of Macao Sign Language was co-launched by MGTO, MGM and the Macau Deaf Association in 2019. The “Power in Our Hands, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Sign Language Community Outreach eLearning Programme”, meanwhile, was launched by the three entities last year in conjunction with the Guangdong Deaf Association and Guangdong Province Sign Language Association, the statement said.
Following the launch of the Master Plan of the Development of the Guangdong-Macau In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, the programme’s new feature is the Guangdong-Macau In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin Tourism & Hospitality Chapters to give “practical information on cultural tourism in the In-Depth Cooperation Zone”.
MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes said in the statement that MGTO hopes that industry professionals’ awareness of accessible tourism in Macau, the In-Depth Cooperation Zone and the GBA can be raised through the programme series and symposium. Senna Fernandes said she also hopes that industry professionals can master the sign language provided by the programme to apply it at work and in daily life, the statement added.
The programme can be accessed at http://industry.macaotourism.gov.mo.
Meanwhile, the symposium had invited four experts and scholars who offered their insights into the application and development outlook of accessible tourism in the GBA to around 150 industry participants, according to the statement.
It was jointly organised by MGTO, the Macao Institute for Tourism Studies (IFTM), Macau Federation of Trade Unions (commonly known as Gung Luen in Cantonese) and MGM, with the support of the General Union of Neighbourhood Associations of Macau (commonly known as Kai Fong in Cantonese), and the Macau Deaf Association.
The statement said that the event was attended by a number of guests such as Senna Fernandes, Deputy Secretary-General and Director of the Department of Social Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao Special Administrative Region, Huang Huagai; and IFTM President Fanny Vong Chuk Kwan.
This handout photo provided by the Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) shows a sign language demonstration during yesterday’s launch ceremony and symposium. An MGTO statement did not say where the symposium was held.
