4 new routes to run from Rua do Cunha in Taipa and Ruins of St Paul’s to 8 community locations
The second phase of the government’s ongoing ‘Tourism and Leisure Buses’ programme will start tomorrow, introducing four new routes designed to encourage visitors to explore local neighbourhoods. Operated by the local tourism sector, the new routes will run from two major tourist landmarks to eight locations across the city, including Fai Chi Kei.
Officially named ‘Tourism and Leisure Buses: Exploring Community Charms’, the free shuttle bus scheme was launched in late April this year. With the introduction of the second phase tomorrow, the programme has now been extended to run until January 3 next year.
Combined with the 10 existing routes operated by the city’s six gaming concessionaires, the programme will offer a total of 14 routes starting tomorrow.
While the 10 existing routes cover nine stops in various neighbourhoods, the four new routes will serve eight stops. Seven of these overlap the existing routes, alongside a newly established stop in Fai Chi Kei. Consequently, the 14 routes will cover 10 community stops in total.
During the summer holiday period this month and next, the 14 routes will operate on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. From September, the service will run on Saturdays and Sundays, as well as during the National Day, Christmas, and New Year’s Day public holidays. Each route will run six trips per day, with departures every 60 minutes.
The programme is jointly managed by the Economic and Technological Development Bureau (DSEDT), the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), and the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ). It is supported by four other public entities: the Transport Bureau (DSAT), the Public Security Police Force (PSP), the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM), and the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC).
Officials from the seven public entities announced the second phase during a press conference yesterday. The event was held at the newly established bus stop outside the Trust Leisure Garden residential estate in southern Fai Chi Kei, near the Lam Mau Tong area.
Since its launch in late April, the programme has leveraged the free shuttle bus resources of the six gaming operators. Specifically, select trips on existing shuttle routes running between Cotai and the peninsula now stop at various community locations, aiming to direct visitors to different districts and boost the local economy.
Officials at yesterday’s press conference noted that the second phase aims to further support Macau’s community economic development by expanding the network of free shuttle buses serving local neighbourhoods.
Two of the four new routes will depart from Rua do Cunha in Taipa, while the other two will depart from the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ruins of St Paul’s. The new routes will be operated by local travel agencies.
According to a statement released at the press conference, the four new routes are:
Zape Line: Departs from Rua do Cunha, stopping at the Kun Iam Statue Waterfront Leisure Area in Nape before terminating at Rua de Xangai in Zape.
Barra & Anim’Arte Nam Van Line: Departs from Rua do Cunha, stopping at Barra before terminating at Anim’Arte Nam Van.
Patane Food Court & Fai Chi Kei Line: Departs from the Ruins of St Paul’s, stopping at the Patane Municipal Market Complex (where the Patane Food Court is located) before terminating at the Trust Leisure Garden estate in Fai Chi Kei.
Rotunda de Carlos da Maia & Iao Hon Line: Departs from the Ruins of St Paul’s, stopping at Rotunda de Carlos da Maia (commonly known as Three Lamps) before terminating at Rua Seis do Bairro Iao Hon.
Officials concluded that, alongside the 10 existing routes run by the city’s six integrated resort enterprises between the peninsula and Cotai, the initiative now forms a core community tourism network consisting of 14 routes, 10 community stops, and two major tourist hubs.
Officials also said that since the programme’s launch in late April, some 20,000 passengers have so far used its free shuttle bus services, underlining that the programme has been able to divert visitors to community neighbourhoods and boost spending there.
The nine community stops served by the six gaming operators’ 10 existing routes (five round trips between their resorts in Cotai and the ones in the peninsula) are at the Macau Grand Prix Museum, Rua de Xangai, the Kun Iam Statue Waterfront Leisure Area, Rua Seis do Bairro Iao Hon, Rotunda de Carlos da Maia, Hong Kung Temple, the Patane wet market municipal complex, Anim’Arte NAM VAN, and Barra.
This photo taken yesterday shows one of the “Tourism and Leisure Buses” programme’s buses parked outside the Trust Leisure Garden residential estate in Fai Chi Kei. – Photo: Tony Wong
Officials address yesterday’s press conference outside Trust Leisure Garden in Fai Chi Kei, including Lau Fong Chi (centre), who heads the Macao Government Tourism Office’s (MGTO) Destination Marketing Department, and Lao Kit Lon (third from left), who heads the Economic and Technological Development Bureau’s (DSEDT) Economic Activities Development Department. – Photo: Tony Wong
