Visitors to the MacaoSpecial Administrative Region (SAR) would feel even better over their tours as Joao Manuel Costa Antunes, director of the Macao Government Tourist Office (MGTO), posted Thursday the launch of a tourism awareness campaign as early as next month.
"Now it is time that our citizens learn more about the importance of tourism," Antunes said at a press conference, citing that the industry is facing new challenges and opportunities in the wake of the opening-up of the gambling sector and a new policy of China's inland on allowing many more travel agencies to handle Macao-bound tours.
The city -- covering only 20-odd square kilometers -- received more than 10 million tourists last year.
In the upcoming campaign, a series of activities will be launched to enhance local citizens' know-how on the tourism industry and to build up their sense of pride in Macao's unique culture.
One example will be a competition called "Discover Your District," in which residents are requested to find new tourist attractions of their own districts, such as unique restaurants, tourism spots and monuments.
Taxi and bus drivers can learn the basics of English conversation.
Still, various training courses will be provided for employees in the tourism industry and students to improve their service quality and to promote a culture of hospitality in Macao, in tune with the MGTO's promotional slogan "Be My Guest, Feel At Home."
Antunes called for support and commitment of all members of the public, including private enterprises, educational institutes, professional bodies, neighborhood associations, government departments and all citizens.
This awareness campaign, scheduled to take place from April to September, is set to cost about five million patacas (US$ 625,000).
Macao is awaiting more visitors, especially those from China's interior. The surge in inland visitors to Macao, which broke the three million barrier last year, continues unabated with a 17.4 percent jump or 270,000 arrivals in January, statistics show.
The MGTO is moving to select a raft of travel agencies with good reputation to host the inlanders, coupled with a law passed recently by the Legislative Assembly to crack down on fake and shoddy products and stores that blackmail tourists.
Moreover, the 2002 Tourism Promotion Plan calls for Macao to look into cooperative chances with new markets in India and Indonesia while further exhibiting its sound image in traditional sources including Hong Kong, China's inland, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines.
( People's Daily March 22, 2002)
