As of Sunday, the Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) received 2,300 applications for its subsidy scheme for tour groups covering those from the mainland, Taiwan and foreign countries, MGTO Deputy Director Ricky Hoi Io Meng told reporters after an event at Macau Fisherman’s Wharf yesterday, adding that of the total number of package tours applying for the government’s financial support, 14 are Southeast Asia tour groups, with its first group from Thailand arriving in Macau on Sunday.
The government’s subsidy scheme for tour groups got off the ground early this year, in which a subsidy of up to 400 patacas for each overnight visitor in a tour group from the mainland and Taiwan, as well as a subsidy of up to 500 patacas for each foreign visitor, will be given to local travel agencies that organise the tours in Macau.
According to Hoi, the majority of tour groups to Macau are still from Guangdong province. He said MGTO hoped to “invite” more international tourists to travel to Macau through its subsidy scheme.
In response to a media query as to why the “Golden Bus” service on the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge (HZMB) is not participating in MGTO’s buy-one-get-one-free offers for cross-border transportation services targeting Hongkongers, Taiwanese and foreigners, Hoi said that MGTO has extended an invitation to all transportation service providers to participate, and some may have not replied yet “for their own reasons”.
Meanwhile, Hoi said that considering past experience, the number of tourists during the mainland’s Labour Day “Golden Week”, which will run from April 29 through May 3, would be higher than during the usual weekend holidays.
He added that MGTO will continue to prepare well in response to this year’s May Day Golden Week, such as by liaisoning with the tourism sector, including the hospitality industry, hoping that they will do a good job in providing visitor services, while also holding a meeting with the Consumer Council (CC) and representatives of travel agencies and shops, reminding them of the matters that should be paid close attention to when receiving tourists.
Hoi also said that MGTO will continue to strengthen its inspections with other government entities such as the Public Security Police (PSP) and Macau Customs Service at the city’s border checkpoints and scenic spots.
Hoi noted that so far this year six cases of illegal tour guide activities have been discovered, adding that written statements have been taken from those involved.
Meanwhile, according to Hoi, MGTO is planning to resume its “Macao Week” tourism promotion campaign in the mainland, the next one of which is slated to be held in Qingdao in June.
Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) Deputy Director Ricky Hoi Io Meng talks to the media yesterday on the sidelines of an event at Macau Fisherman’s Wharf.
– Photo courtesy of TDM
