With the year-round roster of events marking the 20th anniversary of its handover to China in 2019, coupled with an ever-growing crop of products and attractions, Macau is confident that the destination remains much sought after by visitors from Chinese mainland and the region alike.
Among key events held this year was Art Macau (June to October), during which visual artworks and installations were presented at the Macao Museum of Art, hotels and integrated resorts, foreign consulates, and public outdoor spaces, alongside a line-up of diverse musical and theatrical performances.
The first TheArsenale showroom in Asia – following launches in Paris, Miami and Dubai – also kicked off in the City of Dreams this year, featuring over 40 rare items from land, sea and air, including private jets, submarines, custom motorcycles and timepieces, among others.
Infrastructure development continues to keep pace with tourism development. When Macau International Airport (MIA)’s passenger terminal building south extension is completed this year, the annual handling capacity of the terminal building will increase to 10 million passengers.
As well, the MIA Zhongshan Service Centre is now connected via the Express Link service to MIA, providing convenient travel services to passengers in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area with a more integrated transportation network.
Cruise tourism is also a key focus for Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO). Said a MGTO spokesman: “We have also embraced a proactive approach in pushing forward the development of maritime tourism products.”
Moreover, MGTO has also joined forces with Alibaba Cloud in its push for smart tourism, with a trio of projects – Tourism Information Interchange Platform, Application for Visitor Insights, and Smart Application for Visitor Flow – put into operation this year.
MGTO has also launched a redesigned tourism promotion website with enhanced functionalities, featuring a more responsive design, visually-oriented content, and social media integration to create a seamless browsing experience for visitors seeking travel inspiration and tips in Macau.
During January-August 2019, Macau recorded 27.4 million visitor arrivals, an increase of 18 per cent over the same period in 2018.
