The Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao Special Administrative Region Government, Dr. Alexis Tam, has led a delegation to organize a mega promotional event “Experience Macao – Korea” in Korea this week. Targeting at Korean residents, travel trade and media, the spectacular promotion has adopted a brand new style to showcase how Macao has combined tourism, culture, sports, gastronomy as well as other attractive dimensions to unleash a greater synergistic effect and radiate its destination glamour. The event is launched to leverage the advantages of the city as part of the region and foster new growths of the Korean market, currently the largest international visitor market for Macao, as part of the SAR Government’s policy to attract more international visitations.

Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) kicked off its mega promotional “Experience Macao – Korea” in Korea today (18 April). The event features an array of highlights including “Experience Macao   Your Own Style” Road Show (18 – 25 April), “Taste of Macao: East meets West” food promotion (19 April – 18 May), “Macao．Korea Travel Mart” (19 and 21 April), “Experience Macao” Gala Dinner, “Meet the Press” session as well as site inspection of tourism, cultural and creative landmarks. During the visit, Secretary Tam will also have a meeting with the 2^nd Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Korea, Kim Chong.

Concerted collaboration brings out greatest effect
The delegation led by Secretary Tam includes representatives from the Office of the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Macao Government Tourism Office, Cultural Affairs Bureau, Sports Bureau, Cultural Industries Fund, airport company, airlines, ferry operators, hotels, travel agencies, media and so forth. Magicians and chefs are also joining the delegation to promote Macao in Korea. Through concerted collaboration across different departments and sectors, the SAR Government is hoping to bring out the most far-reaching effect from this promotion. The official delegates include Chief of Office of the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Ip Peng Kin; MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes; Advisors of Office of the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Charles Lam, Stella Leong, Olivia Lam and Rafael Gama; Vice President of Cultural Affairs Bureau, Chan Peng Fai, Vice President of Sports Bureau, Lam Lin Kio, Directors of Board of Administration of Cultural Industries Fund Davina Chu and Mok Ian Ian, among others.

The “Experience Macao   Your Own Style” Road Show was inaugurated today at COEX Mall, the mega shopping mall in Seoul, Korea. Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao SAR Government, Dr. Alexis Tam; Head of International Tourism Division, Korea Tourism Organization, Min Min Hong; Chief of Office of the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Ip Peng Kin; MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes; Chairman of Korea Association of Travel Agents, Yang Moo Seung; MGTO Korea representative, Lew Hwan Kyu, and Art Director and Ambassador of G5 & Friends, LG Electronics, Jang Jin, officiated the opening ceremony.

Innovative ideas foster tourism growth
Secretary Tam remarked that Korea is the top international visitor-source market for Macao. This year, MGTO has adopted cutting-edge technology to showcase how Macao has been exploring a synergy among tourism, culture, sports and food elements to enrich visitors’ experience. As a major tourist destination in the region, Macao will continue to offer attractive and exciting opportunities to visitors and investors in identifying and branding our city as a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure. He believes that tourism growth is driven by fresh ideas and more efficient ways of collaboration.

Secretary Tam will have a meeting with the 2^nd Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Korea, Kim Chong tomorrow (19 April) to exchange views on the developments in the tourism and cultural industries in Macao and Korea. The meeting is expected to uncover opportunities to boost the bilateral cooperation between both sides. During the visit in Seoul, the members of the Cultural Industries Fund will visit the city’s cultural and creative landmarks as well, hoping to learn from the Korean experiences in the field.  

Brand-new promotion inspires journey to Macao
The “Experience Macao   Your Own Style” Road Show features various Macao’s attractions around the World Heritage Site in miniature replicas. The setting is designed to exude the unique ambience of the city where East meets West. The event also marks MGTO’s first-ever partnership with LG Electronics from Korea to present a technology-fueled promotion for Koreans to experience Macao in an exciting way. Once putting on the latest “360 VR headset”, visitors can virtually climb up to the summit of Macau Tower for a breathtaking panoramic view of the city or dive into the air for bungy jump. In the virtual world, they can also experience the thrill of motorcycle stunt in the House of Dancing Water, take a Gondola ride or enjoy the “Experience Macao   Your Own Style” promotional video in the Dom Pedro V Theatre in Macao, the first western-style theatre in China. The VR headset can even take the audience to a sightseeing walk along the streets in Macao.  

The MGTO promotion also debuts a 4D racing simulation of Macau Grand Prix. Virtual racers can even enjoy the trophy moment on the Formula 3 award podium provided that they can reach the finishing point within the designated lap time. In addition, the Road Show will present a LED show as the latest innovation and a Macao travelogue starring famous Korean chef Choi Hyun Seok. Visitors can also participate in other fun activities including a game to win Portuguese egg tarts, take dynamic photos or share their on-site experience via social media. Participants can choose or create their own style to experience Macao.

Macao tourism information and enquiry service are offered on-site along with Macao tour packages run by Korean travel agencies, drawing a large number of local residents who come to obtain more travel tips about Macao.

Highlight activities cater to various needs
Another highlight of the “Experience Macao – Korea” mega promotional event is the month-long “Taste of Macao: East meets West” food promotion. To promote “Macanese Gastronomy”, a listed Macao Intangible Cultural Heritage, MGTO has invited three Macao chefs to prepare signature Macanese dishes for locals and visitors in Seoul. In the buffet restaurant and bar of JW Marriot Dongdaemun Square, patrons can embark upon an extraordinary palate tour of Macanese delights.

During the visit, MGTO will also host “Macao．Korea Travel Mart” in Seoul and Busan, while continuing to present the “Macao Tourism Product Promotion Scheme” and encourage travel trade to participate and forge partnerships. Korean trade attendees of the travel marts may receive sponsorship from the Office by launching brand-new Macao tourism products.

Continuous effort to draw international visitors
Korea stands out as Macao’s largest international visitor market with a bright prospect ahead. Throughout last year, the city recorded over 554,000 visitor arrivals from Korea, making the country rank as the fourth largest visitor-source market; entering 2016, the number of overnight visitors from Korea surged by 16.8% in the first two months. Riding on the momentum, MGTO will make a continuous effort to foster Korean market growths through a variety of ways and channels, as part of its ultimate goal to attract more international visitors and extend their length of stay in Macao.