The government announced earlier this year that it planned to hold a concert at its newly-established open-air performance venue in Cotai in the middle or the end of this month, with an estimated audience capacity of about 20,000 – however, Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) President Deland Leong Wai Man told reporters yesterday that while applications for performances at the venue were still being collected, “no suitable performances have been identified for the [originally planned] March event”, adding that an announcement regarding the concert schedule at the venue for May would be made later this week.
“We had announced that we were calling for [two separate] events in March and May [at the open-air performance venue], and we have received numerous applications. However, we are currently reviewing the criteria, and there are currently no [applicants] that meet the criteria for the March concert,” Leong said, pointing out that the reasons for non-compliance were either the scheduling of the performance or failure to meet the required audience size.
According to Leong, following the announcement in January calling for applications for the two concerts in March and May, about 30 applications have been received so far. She said: “We hope to progress gradually,” starting with performances designed for an audience capacity of 20,000 and then gradually increasing that capacity.
No concerts have been planned for next month.
Leong made the remarks while speaking to the media during a wrap-up briefing about yesterday’s “2025 Macao International Parade”, at the Macau Tower Convention and Entertainment Centre in Nam Van.
Describing yesterday’s three-hour parade as “highly effective”, Leong said that the number of spectators had “significantly” increased compared to last year and was estimated to have exceeded the pre-event estimate of around 150,000. She expressed hope that the event would bring benefits to the entire community and various stakeholders, while also giving a boost to businesses in the surrounding areas and even across different districts.
Leong revealed that the bureau is considering holding various events in local neighbourhoods. However, asked by the media whether the annual parade route would be extended to the northern district in the future, she said that, due to considerations involving traffic and route arrangements, “we need to further evaluate” how to incorporate the parade into different communities.
Leong pledged that in the future, the bureau will strive to collaborate with the relevant public entities to achieve better traffic coordination and, as much as possible, strike a balance with community stakeholders to enhance the smooth flow of the parade.
Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) President Deland Leong Wai Man poses before speaking to the media during her wrap-up briefing about yesterday’s “2025 Macao International Parade”, at the Macau Tower Convention and Entertainment Centre in Nam Van. – Photo: Yuki Lei
