The Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) said in a statement on Friday that it hosted a Hong Kong delegation with 105 members who took part in a two-day “familiarisation programme” of Macau on Friday and Saturday.
The statement noted the delegation arrived in the city by ferry on Friday, comprising 11 Hong Kong officials from the Tourism Commission, Hong Kong Tourism Board and Travel Industry Authority; 63 representatives from travel agencies and Hong Kong-Macau cross-border transport operators; and 31 media representatives, which also included key opinion leaders (KOLs).
MGTO, the statement said, also held a Spring Luncheon & Exchange Session for the Hong Kong & Macau Travel Trade, which is normally held in Hong Kong, in Macau for the first time on Friday, where Secretary for Economy and Finance Lei Wai Nong, welcomed the delegation.
In the afternoon, the statement added, a joint meeting was held by the Hong Kong and local tourism authorities. An overview of topics such as the two special administrative regions’ (SARs) tourism situation and policies was presented. A Macau and Hengqin destination presentation was also held.
A Hong Kong-Macau travel trade networking seminar was then held after the presentation session, which the statement said would hopefully rebuild “a platform for face-to-face exchanges and discussions between industry operators” from both SARs. Over 80 industry delegates from Macau’s hotels and travel agencies, among others, were invited to join the seminar to discuss business opportunities with over 60 industry operators from Hong Kong.
MGTO and the Economic Development Bureau of the Guangdong-Macau In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin officials were also present, the statement underlined.
Moreover, in a separate statement on Saturday, MGTO said that the delegation also visited Macau’s tourist attractions, hotels and tourism-related facilities.
They visited places such as the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Historic Centre of Macau and the Macau Grand Prix Museum, as well as Macau’s integrated resorts and their facilities.
The statement underlined that after visiting Macau’s tourism facilities and experiencing its “tourism +” elements, the city’s tourism resources and the delegates’ trip experience can be expected to be shared with Hong Kong residents. Moreover, the delegates “can also update their promotional content and sales of Macau’s latest tourism products to Hongkongers”, the statement said.
The statement noted that MGTO has also launched promotional offers aimed at the Hong Kong market with border-crossing procedures returning to normal such as special transport offers between the neighbouring SARs.
This handout photo provided by MGTO on Saturday shows members of the Hong Kong delegation posing with MGTO’s mascot “MAK MAK” in front of the Macau Grand Prix Museum in Zape.
