Themed “Gata da [Rua dos] Ervanários”, the new phase of the Economic and Technological Development Bureau’s (DSEDT) annual “Arraial na [Rua dos] Ervanários” (關前薈) featuring “the attraction of affectionate cats scattered around the neighbourhood” with a number of large-scale installations for photography spots, kicked off yesterday.
“Arraial” is an open-air fun fair or neighbourhood festival in Portuguese-speaking countries. “Ervanários” and “Gata” are the Portuguese words for “herbalists” and “female cat” respectively.
Arraial na [Rua dos] Ervanários takes place from Rua dos Ervanários (關前正街) to Rua da Tercena (果欄街).
DSEDT Director Tai Kin Ip said in a speech during the opening ceremony that with the combination of innovative visual technology applications in the neighbourhood and the discount offers by the area’s 32 participating small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as well as a lucky draw, he expected the three-month-long event, which was first launched in 2021, to attract more residents and tourists to visit and consume in the area, thus boosting the foot traffic there.
According to Tai, the event also has an exclusive mini-programme, which offers visitors various methods of fun such as recording the schedule of their visit to the area and photo sharing while, at the same time, their phones can receive an electronic stamp after purchasing items from the participating SMEs, accumulating points for the opportunity to enter the lucky draw.
Delivering a speech during the opening ceremony, the chairman of the Industry and Commerce Federation of the Macau Central and Southern District, Lei Cheok Kuan, urged the two neighbourhoods’ SMEs to “actively” participate in the government’s events and seize the opportunities for getting their business recovery off the ground.
Meanwhile, according to DSEDT Technology Department Acting Chief Raphael Chan Chou Weng, the installation featuring technology attractions was already set up in the Rua dos Ervanários during the mainland’s “May Day” Golden Week.
Chan told the reporters yesterday after the opening ceremony that during the five-day May Day holiday from April 29 to May 3, the number of people entering the area through Calçada do Amparo (大關斜巷) had increased by eight to nine percent, demonstrating the installation’s attractiveness.
Chan noted that a budget of over four million patacas has been earmarked for the event, covering the cost of demolition of the previous facilities and reinforcement of the installation for the typhoon season, among others.
Chan also said he did not rule out holding similar themed events in other local neighbourhoods in the near future, but depending on those areas’ conditions such as their specific characteristics.
Economic and Technological Development Bureau (DSEDT) Director Tai Kin Ip delivers a speech during yesterday’s opening ceremony of its three-month-long “Arraial na [Rua dos] Ervanários” which features, among other things, “affectionate cats”.
– Photo: Yuki Lei
