MGTO hopes to complete report on tourist tax survey by year-end

The Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) hopes to complete its report on the findings of a three-phase survey about the feasibility of introducing a tourist tax by the end of this year, MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes said yesterday.Senna Fernandes made the remarks while talking to reporters after the opening ceremony of the 13th Global Gaming Expo (G2E) Asia at the Venetian in Cotai yesterday. The three-day expo is expected to attract 18,000 trade visitors, according to the

May 22, 2019 | BY admin

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African swine fever doesn’t affect pork supply: IAM

Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) Administrative Committee member Ung Sau Hong said yesterday that African swine fever hasn’t affected the city’s supply of fresh pork, adding that the number of pigs imported and the price of pork are stable.Ung made the remarks in response to a reporter’s question about Macau’s fresh pork supply. Ung added that about 300 to 400 live pigs are imported from the mainland every day as usual, adding that demand for pork was “not that big”. She pointed out

May 22, 2019 | BY admin

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IAM picks 13 market & vendor stall lucky draw winners

The Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) yesterday hosted its 2nd lucky draw for stall applicants of this year, picking 13 winners for vacant market stalls and vendor stalls.The draw was held at the IAM Inspection and Health Department Hall at Fortune Tower in Avenida do Ouvidor Arriaga. Some of the applicants for the 13 vacant stalls attended.IAM Administrative Committee member Ung Sau Hong remarked during the event that the bureau provided 11 vacant market stalls and two vacant vendor stalls for

May 22, 2019 | BY admin

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May Day holiday boosts local restaurant & retail sectors: govt

The Economic Services Bureau (DSE) said in a statement yesterday that the findings of a face-to-face survey of business outlets conducted by its personnel earlier this month show that the mainland’s May Day Golden Week this year – from May 1 to 4 – stimulated the business of the city’s restaurant sector and retail sector.According to the statement, the bureau carried out a business climate survey from May 6 to 8, when its staff members interviewed 1,562 business outlets comprising

May 22, 2019 | BY admin

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Driver, passenger leave scene after crash: police

A woman who drove her female friend, who had been drinking, home in the latter’s car left the scene after crashing the car into the roadside barriers in the Guia Hill area last week, and the friend then drove her car away from the scene, with neither reporting the crash to the police, Public Security Police (PSP) spokesman Kam Ka Kit said during a regular press conference yesterday.Kam identified the car owner as a 30-year-old surnamed Ho who told the police that she works as an

May 22, 2019 | BY admin

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Marketing expert suggests ‘art tourism’ to diversify

Macau has a lot of non-gaming entertainment offerings but compared with Las Vegas the city is still catching up in terms of diversification, Macau International Cultural and Sports Industries Association President Patricia Cheong Sai said yesterday, suggesting that Macau develop “art tourism” as part of its economic diversification strategy.Cheong made the remarks while speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the opening of the “ArtBiz Asia 2019” forum, which her association is

May 22, 2019 | BY admin

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‘Curious’ Taiwan tourist takes 17 upskirt videos, 7 female victims: police

A tourist from Taiwan was arrested on Saturday for taking upskirt videos of females in different areas of Macau, Public Security Police (PSP) spokesman Kam Ka Kit said during a regular press conference yesterday.Kam said the suspect surnamed Jhan is in his forties. He told the police that he works for an engineering company in Taiwan.One of the victims is a 30-year-old female surnamed Li. Her husband surnamed Lin, who witnessed the incident, is about 30 years old. Both are tourists from the

May 21, 2019 | BY admin

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Govt launches online survey on tourist tax

The Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) said in a statement yesterday that it launched an online survey yesterday to collect opinions from residents on the possible implementation of a tourist tax – an “entry fee” to be paid by tourists.The one-month online survey will end on June 20. Residents can fill in a questionnaire, choosing Chinese, English or Portuguese, on http://www.macaotourism.gov.mo/r/zh/ottr, the statement said. According to the website for the survey, the questionnaire

May 21, 2019 | BY admin

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Govt implements stricter emission standards

The government has raised the official required standards for pollutant emissions for imported new vehicles powered by diesel and natural gas, from the equivalent of Euro 5 to the equivalent of Euro 6, the Transport Bureau (DSAT) said in a statement yesterday.The new emission standards come into effect today, the statement said.The statement noted that the implementation of the new standards came after the government raised the required emission standards last year for imported new light

May 21, 2019 | BY admin

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Commission sets campaign period for CE Election Committee candidates

Song Man Lei, the president of the Chief Executive Electoral Affairs Commission, yesterday announced that the campaign period for the candidates of Macau’s Chief Executive Election Committee will run from June 1 to June 14.The election of the election committee members is scheduled for June 16.The Electoral Affairs Commission held a regular meeting at the Public Administration Building in Rua do Campo yesterday to discuss the campaign regulations and campaign period for the candidates.Chief

May 21, 2019 | BY admin

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2 drivers face dangerous driving, causing bodily harm by negligence charges: police

The police have transferred a scooter rider and a car driver involved in two separate traffic accidents on Sunday – in which a 90-year-old local man was hit on a zebra crossing and a 15-year-old schoolgirl was hit on a traffic light-controlled crossing – to the Public Prosecution Office (MP), both facing possible charges of dangerous driving and causing bodily harm by negligence, Public Security Police (PSP) spokesman Kam Ka Kit said during a regular press conference yesterday.According to

May 21, 2019 | BY admin

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Group presents 4 ideas to tackle illegal tour guides

Grassroots group People Power Macau Chairman Si Tou Fai told reporters yesterday that his group has provided the government with four suggestions of how to clamp down on illegal tour guides and illegal tour groups.Si listed four ways to tackle the issue: setting up a cross-departmental joint law enforcement team; improving crime detection and evidence gathering; cooperating with law enforcement agencies on the mainland; and checking if illegal tour guides are using “new tricks” to avoid

May 21, 2019 | BY admin

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Police probe fatal stabbing outside hotel in Cotai

The Judiciary Police (PJ) are investigating a homicide which occurred on Saturday night outside the Four Seasons Hotel in Cotai in which a male mainlander was stabbed to death, while another three mainland men were injured, according to a PJ statement on Saturday night.No one had been arrested as of last night in connection with the case.The PJ statement did not mention what kinds of wounds the four men sustained. Neither did the PJ statement clarify whether the four mainlanders knew each

May 20, 2019 | BY admin

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Community voluntary service group aims to promote love & care

The Macau Community Voluntary Service Association held an event yesterday in the sitting-out area of Lok Yeong Garden estate in Fai Chi Kei district with the aim of promoting “love and care” through a string of performances and game booths.The event began with a dancing performance by young children and volunteers from the organisation. The organisation, according to the statement, was keen to promote their slogan, “Care for others every day, care for others all the way” during the

May 20, 2019 | BY admin

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