Foreigners accounted for 6.9 percent of all visitors to Macau in the first quarter, according to official records, and as the city continues to work its way towards attracting more international visitors, the Post again wanted to hear their thoughts and opinions on Macau as a travel destination, with another round of street interviews conducted around the city centre yesterday afternoon.
A good first impression
Snapping photos around Largo do Senado, Max, a 19-year-old from Germany who is currently studying in Singapore, travelled to Macau with his father. Originally, Max said that they just wanted to take a trip to different cities across the mainland together, but Macau and Hong Kong, from where they had just arrived, had also popped up on their radar as they found both places to be interesting. And even though both men had only been in Macau for about an hour when they spoke with the Post, Max said he had a good first impression, noting that he was very amazed so far.
Though they had not done intensive research on Macau, Max said that he found the city to be very interesting, particularly because of its architecture and the European influence present in an Asian context, along with being well preserved. In the next three days that he and his father will be here, the youngster said he hopes to explore the city further and try delicacies like egg tarts.
‘Where is Macau? Is it in Africa?’
At the Ruins of St. Paul’s, two Russians in their twenties were cooling down from yesterday’s heat. Currently staying in Hong Kong, the pair said they had only been in Macau for a few hours, but found it to be an interesting place to visit, one that they had just decided to travel to out of sheer curiosity.
Both men admitted that neither of them were really familiar with Macau, but being able to come here, they said, was almost like an “achievement”, being akin to being in a place that some might not know much about or where it even is. “Where is Macau? Is it in Africa?”, one of them joked. However, both agreed that it is a place worth visiting.
‘People are friendly, smile very much’
Meanwhile, another group of Russian visitors, this time from Siberia, were enjoying the sun on the steps of the Ruins of St. Paul’s, with one of them, a 40-year-old woman named Anna, saying that they liked it here. Staying in Macau for two days, Anna said: “I think people are friendly, smile very much”. “It’s warm here, warmer than Siberia”, while also remarking that she liked seeing the mix of cultures found in the architecture and culture. When asked if it would be a place that she would recommend to other groups, Anna answered with a resounding “yes!”
Good food and many tourists
Andy, 29, said that he last visited Macau a decade ago and coming back yesterday for a quick day trip, the Hongkonger said that there were still “a lot of good food and restaurants, and a lot of tourists”, while a lot of attractions continued to be well maintained.
Overall, Andy also said he found Macau to be a tourist-friendly city, but noted that navigating and getting around was not always as easy or convenient, though he found that this got better once arriving at more touristy areas.
Recommendations to others
Meanwhile, Ana and Jason, two Filipino tourists in their twenties, are staying in Macau for two nights after having just finished their stay in Hong Kong. For them, a highlight was being able to visit the Ruins of St Paul’s, which Ana referred to as “one of the best spots in Macau”.
For other Filipinos visiting Macau, Jason said that visiting the Ruins of St Paul’s and resort hopping were activities, just as they were doing right now, that they would recommend. Ana added that food was another highlight, particularly the local delicacies that one can find when walking up to the Ruins of St Paul’s, in addition to finding other photo spots and shopping. They added that both were looking forward to what the next two days might bring.
Tourists explore, take photos or just take a rest at Macau’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ruins of St. Paul’s yesterday afternoon. – Photo: Rui Pastorin
