Interview by Yuki Lei
The “Old Taipa” pedestrianisation ends today, and the government said in a statement yesterday that “it’s been running smoothly since its launch”, while Taipa and Coloane Industry and Commerce Federation Chairman Yeong Keng Hoi told the Post that the temporarily pedestrianised area received significant daily footfall, averaging 30,000 visitors per day during the first four days of the Chinese New Year (CNY), i.e., from last Wednesday to Saturday, with a peak of 38,000 visitors on Saturday, the fourth CNY day.
According to a joint statement by the Economic and Technological Development Bureau (DSEDT), Transport Bureau (DSAT), Public Security Police (PSP), Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO), Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) and the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) yesterday, until this evening the pedestrianisation scheme runs from noon to 7 p.m. every day during the mainland’s eight-day CNY holiday, which began last Wednesday.
The car-free zone, covering the junction of Rua de Fernão Mendes Pinto (飛能便度街) and Rua do Supico (素啤古街), the junction of Rua Correia da Silva (告利雅施利華街) and Rua Governador Tamagnini Barbosa (巴波沙總督街), as well as the section between Calçada do Quartel (澳門兵房斜巷) and Avenida de Carlos da Maia (嘉路士米耶馬路), has been implemented with the aim of optimising the pedestrian and vehicular traffic management in the area, striking a balance between the needs of residents and business operators there as well as visitors, while facilitating the smooth flow of people and traffic in the area to foster a comfortable and safe environment.
Speaking to the Post during an interview in the area yesterday, Yeong mentioned that the pedestrian-only zone has been organised three times, with the first during the mainland’s 2024 Chinese New Year and the second during its National Day “Golden Week” holiday last year, all of which yielded “certain results” in enhancing the area’s tourist attractiveness and business environment.
While visiting the pedestrianised area, the Post was briefed by Yeong on the new attractions there, including stalls selling cultural creative products, as well as the federation’s expectation that the government and integrated resort operator Sands further revitalise the erstwhile Iec Long Firecracker Factory. Yeong also said that the federation hoped to use the pedestrianised area as a pilot to create a “recognised” district, with designated “entrances” to guide tourists to spend money in different places with the help of various landmarks there, in order to enhance the overall visitor experience, while also ensuring safety in crowded conditions.
Talking to the Post at the Iec Long Firecracker Factory revitalisation zone, Yeong said he felt sad that the area was “quiet” even during public holidays, saying that the “Old Taipa” area has its own geographical advantages, with a number of integrated resorts around, which are within a short walk, on top of the scenic views of the Taipa Houses attraction along the way as well as the ancillary facilities such as carparks: “We don’t want to sabotage such a strong poker card”.
According to Yeong, the evaluation and feedback of the pedestrianised zone will be carried out by the government, in the hope that the views and suggestions of residents and tourists collected during the CNY holiday can further improve its design and layout.
Taipa and Coloane Industry and Commerce Federation Chairman Yeong Keng Hoi poses after yesterday’s interview with the Post in the “Old Taipa” temporary pedestrianisation zone. – Photos: Yuki Lei
This photo taken yesterday shows the footfall in the temporarily pedestrianised area, which ends today.
