Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) hosted yesterday a “mega delegation” from Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand visiting Macau for Southeast Asia market development, and MGTO Deputy Director Ricky Hoi Io Meng expressed the hope that the five-day visit would promote exchanges between Macau and the overseas travel trade and speed up the recovery of the local tourism market.
Hoi made the remarks on the sidelines of the delegation’s meeting at the Galaxy International Convention Centre aimed at sparking Southeast Asians’ interest in Macau as a “preferred destination” and expanding the range of Macau’s international source markets, gaining new momentum for local tourism and the city’s economic recovery.
Hoi added that the overall visitor market has recovered to 62 percent of its pre-pandemic level, with mainland and Hong Kong visitor numbers recovering fast, while overseas visitor numbers are growing steadily, from an average of less than 1,000 per day in January to over 3,000 per day last month.
According to Hoi, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand are Macau’s main sources of tourists from the Southeast Asian market, and the three countries’ inhabitants have a growing desire to travel after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hoi said that MGTO will hold a major tourism roadshow promotion in Thailand early next month and also participate in major conferences and exhibitions in Singapore and Malaysia, such as the MITM travel fair 2023 in Malaysia, to directly target potential visitors to Macau there with promotions and offers.
Hoi said that discounts, including buy-one-get-one-free flight tickets, are being offered to foreign visitors to boost the recovery of international visitor numbers as the local airport has gradually recovered its capacity.
Galaxy Macau Assistant Hospitality & MICE Sales Senior Vice President Victor Lau Cheuk Yuen told the meeting that the overseas business tourists had not visited Macau for a few years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but now Macau was ready with new tourism products, including the opening of new hotels and convention centres, adding that the local tourism sector would strive to develop the Southeast Asian market.
Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) Deputy Director Ricky Hoi Io Meng talks to reporters on the sidelines of the Southeast Asian delegation’s meeting at the Galaxy International Convention Centre yesterday. – Photo courtesy of TDM
