The Macau Government Tourist Office truly inspires passion at this year's International Travel Fair from November 23 to 26. The director of Macau Government Tourist Office will also participate in the travel fair to guarantee a wonderful time for the audience.
In a speech during a media luncheon held in Taipei yesterday, Director of Macau Government Tourist Office Joao Manuel Costa Antunes said, "In recent years, tourism has played an increasing important role in Macau's economic development. The Macau SAR government has clearly positioned itself as a leisure-gaming destination, coupled with a policy to develop into a regional entertainment, exhibition and convention center. As the economies of the nearby regions are once again on the march, the number of visitors to Macau has significantly increased, scoring a historic record of over 10 million in 2001 compared with nine million in 2000."
The mixture of the Chinese and Portuguese cultures have harmoniously substained and developed for over 400 years making Macau a unique city for millions of tourists around the world. Just a few months ago, we have successfully filed documentation of a total of 12 historic sites to UNESCO for the application of World Heritage Status, said Antunes.
Although Macau is a small city with a population of 436,000, its cultural, artistic and sporting events are a year-round business. With the liberalization of the gaming industry in Macau, three concession contracts have been awarded and we are expecting to see various large-scale, multi-themed, tourism-related infrastructure and upscale hotels in Macau within a few years.
According to Joao Manuel Costa Antunes, Macau and Taiwan have very close ties in the tourism arena. Taiwan is the third largest source market for Macau. For the first 10 months of this year, Macau received 1.3 million Taiwanese tourists, a rise of 6 percent over the same period of 2001. There are currently three airlines operating around 200 flights between Macau and Taiwan per week. Benefiting from the simplified entry procedures and convenient transportation links, many Taiwanese travelers also choose Macau as a transfer hub between Taiwan and the mainland.
Macau is an ideal destination for the Taiwanese visitors. It takes only 80 minutes flying time and Taiwanese visitors can enjoy the panoramic and picturesque scenery of Macau and Zhuhai from Macau Tower.
The Macau Government Tourist Office will set up nine exhibition booths at this year's International Travel Fair. The display theme uses the image of Macau's characteristic pink Portuguese architecture, such as that of the Macau Special Administrative Region Building. This dramatic theme is enhanced with dazzling south European-style streetlights as the MGTO promises to fill the Taipei World Trade Center with a romantic south European ambience.
Macau's charm remains in the mixture of cultures. It is a city where eastern and western influences met long ago and have continued to coexist in harmony for centuries. The bequest of those glorious bygone days can been seen in pastel-colored palaces, baroque-style churches and temples, imposing fortresses with silent cannons, winding narrow streets and the people who created a unique blend of cultures.
The famous Macaense artist and goodwill ambassador of Macau Government Tourist Office Miro Wong will host the opening ceremony. Miro is a rising star in the entertainment business in China; his music albums are very popular in both Macau and China. Moreover, the top Macaense music group, Tuna Macaense, is also invited to stage a live performance in the opening ceremony to rejuvenate everyone's hearts with joy.
One of their performing songs, Sino-Portuguese Touchy, has won many awards in various countries such as Spain, Canada, Japan, Malaysia, and New Zealand. Tuna Macanese has never performed in public in Taiwan before, and in addition to the ITF opening ceremony performance, visitors will also have a unique opportunity to see them perform live at the Victoria Square Breeze Center.
The Macau Government Tourist Office has planned quizzes with various prizes for the audience; prizes include free return tickets to Macau donated by Air Macau.
Quizzes will be held Nov 23, 2:30 - 3:00 pm; Nov 24, 10:30 - 11:00 am and 2:30 - 3:00 pm, and Nov 25, 10:30 - 11:00 am and 2:30 - 3:00 pm.
Tuna Macaense live at Victoria Square, Breeze Center is scheduled on Nov 23, 3:00 - 7:30 pm and Nov 24, 3:00 pm - 7:30 pm.
Free information brochures will be distributed. For more information, contact Christina Loo, Christy Lee, Margo Chao at (02) 2546-6086 ext 38, 24, 31.
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