June 17, 2026 Statement by the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in the Macao SAR
From June 24 to 28, the 13th APEC Tourism Ministerial Meeting and the 67th APEC Tourism Working Group Meeting will be held in Macao. This marks the return of this high-level international tourism exchange to Macao after 12 years.
The event will contribute Macao’s insights and solutions to deepening regional tourism collaboration in the Asia-Pacific, showcase the fruitful achievements in developing Macao as a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure (the “One Centre”), and highlight the successful practice of the unique “One Country, Two Systems” policy with Macao’s distinct advantage of being “backed by the motherland and connected to the world”.
Backed by the motherland, the “One Centre” shapes its vision for the future. Macao’s positioning as the “One Centre” is bolstered by strong national policy support and solid regional cooperation. The 15th Five-Year Plan explicitly supports Macao in deepening the development of the “One Centre”.
As the construction of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area accelerates, initiatives such as multi-destination tourism itineraries, the “one exhibition, two locations” MICE model, and joint overseas promotions have unlocked vast growth potential for the tourism industries of Guangdong and Macao. Furthermore, the Central People’s Government has rolled out a succession of preferential measures for Macao, including expanding the Individual Visit Scheme for Chinese mainland residents visiting the city.
Blending East and West, the “One Centre” becomes increasingly prominent. With nearly 500 years of history in cultural exchanges between Eastern and Western civilisations, Macao boasts a diverse urban landscape and a rich historical and cultural heritage. The Historic Centre of Macao is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, with iconic landmarks like the Ruins of St. Paul’s, the Guia Lighthouse, and the A-Ma Temple highly favoured by domestic and international tourists alike. Eleven of Macao’s intangible cultural heritage items – including the Drunken Dragon Festival, Nanyin [Naamyam] Cantonese Narrative Song, Mazu [A-Ma] Customs and Beliefs, Macanese Gastronomy, and Macanese [Patuá] Theatre – have been inscribed on the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. These comprehensively showcase Macao’s unique historical and cultural heritage, alongside its cultural creativity born from the fusion of East and West.
Striving for Excellence, the “One Centre” continuously enriches its core offerings. The Macao SAR’s cultural and tourism economy is growing increasingly diversified. Accolades such as Creative City of Gastronomy, Culture City [of East Asia 2025], and a City of Events have poured in. New designations as a City of Performing Arts and a City of Sports are reshaping the Macao SAR’s tourism image, while signature events like the Macau Grand Prix, the Macao International Parade, and the Macao International Music Festival enjoy worldwide renown. New concepts and strategies, such as “Tourism+”, are driving the transformation and upgrading of Macao’s tourism sector. The Macao International Integrated Tourism and Cultural District, a project currently being actively planned and developed by the Macao SAR Government, will further elevate the city’s comprehensive tourism quality and international competitiveness.
Expanding international exchanges, the “One Centre” shines brighter as Macao's calling card. Macao fully harnesses its role as a “precise connector” for China-Portuguese-speaking countries cooperation, continuously deepening engagement across various fields with Portuguese-speaking, Spanish-speaking, and Southeast Asian nations, welcoming friends and visitors from all corners of the globe. The number of international forums and diverse MICE, cultural, and sports events hosted or organised by Macao – spanning infrastructure, tourism, environmental protection, and mutual learning among civilisations – has been steadily rising. For three consecutive years, Macao has been named Best Conventions Destination (Asia) and Best Convention and Business City.
Data shows that in 2025, visitor arrivals to Macao surpassed 40 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 14.7 percent and hitting a historic high.
With the APEC “China Year” arriving in the Greater Bay Area (GBA), Macao stands fully prepared. During the upcoming 13th APEC Tourism Ministerial Meeting, over 300 distinguished guests –including tourism ministers and official representatives from 21 APEC economies, as well as delegates from international organisations such as UN Tourism and the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) – will gather in Macao. They will engage in in-depth discussions focused on topics such as Asia-Pacific tourism integration, industrial convergence, smart tourism, and low-carbon development. We firmly believe that by seizing the opportunity presented by the APEC Tourism Ministerial Meeting, Macao will further strengthen its deep exchanges and cooperation with Asia-Pacific nations in tourism, trade, culture, and other fields. This will bolster the development of “One Centre, One Platform, One Base”, drive appropriate economic diversification, and enable Macao to play a greater role in serving the country’s high-level opening up to the world.
As the wind rises across the South China Sea, the tide surges along the Hao River. Macao is going all out to prepare for this international cultural and tourism extravaganza with a rigorous, professional attitude, an open and inclusive mindset, and pragmatic, impactful measures. Let us look forward to this grand event together – cheering for Macao, applauding the Greater Bay Area, and celebrating China’s achievements!
N.B. Translation from Chinese arranged and edited by The Macau Post Daily. Words in square brackets added by the Post.
