Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng visited the city centre on Tuesday last week, the third day of the first month of the lunar calendar, with the aim of having a better understanding of businesses’ operations during the Chinese New Year (CNY) holiday period, as well as how residents and visitors alike spent their time during the holiday period, the Government Information Bureau (GCS) said in a statement that day.
According to the statement, Ho and his wife visited Largo do Senado, the city’s main square, as well as areas around Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro, the city’s main thoroughfare, Rua de Cinco de Outubro, and Rua da Felicidade.
Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro is popularly known as San Ma Lou in Cantonese – New Road.
Ho also experienced the pedestrianisation of San Ma Lou, a three-day programme which ran from January 22 to 24, i.e., from the first to the third day of the first month of the lunar calendar, according to the statement.
Ho told public broadcaster TDM during his fact-finding visit that Macau has now got rid of the “darkness” of COVID-19. He also noted that the pedestrianisation of San Ma Lou has been well received by residents and visitors alike. He also underlined that the government will study possible improvements to the programme in the future.
The programme, officially known as Strolling through Almeida Ribeiro – Pilot Scheme for a Pedestrian Area, will run again on the upcoming Saturday and Sunday.
Ho also told TDM that Macau’s next challenge is to continue to have good a good performance in its tourism sector during low seasons in the year.
Ho was accompanied by several senior officials during his visit such as Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Elsie Ao Ieong U and Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) President Leong Wai Man, according to the GCS statement.
Ho also visits 6 gaming operators’ resorts
Meanwhile, Ho and his wife also visited resorts run by the city’s six gaming operators on Wednesday with the aim of having an understanding of their respective businesses generated by non-gaming facilities during the CNY period, according to a GCS statement that day.
According to the statement, Ho underlined that the six gaming operators must fulfil the requirements listed in their agreements signed with the government to strengthen their investments in non-gaming facilities.
The current six gaming concessions, which started operating on January 1, have a duration of 10 years.
During his visit to the resorts, according to the statement, Ho was briefed by senior representatives of the six respective gaming operators.
According to the statement, Ho told the representatives that it is very important for gaming operators to strengthen the development of their non-gaming facilities. He said that the operations of non-gaming facilities will be well received if Macau has a sufficiently large number of visitor arrivals.
Ho underlined that non-gaming facilities will enable Macau’s gaming sector to have a healthy and sustainable development.
According to the statement, Ho was accompanied by senior officials during his visit such as Secretary for Economy and Finance Lei Wai Nong, Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, and Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ) Director Adriano Marques Ho.
According to the GCS statement, Ho visited MGM COTAI, City of Dreams, Wynn Palace, Grand Lisboa Palace Resort, Venetian, and Galaxy Macau.
Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng waves on Tuesday last week during his visit to the pedestrianised Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro. – Photo: GCS
