To celebrate the Year of the Snake, Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) hosted a spring luncheon in Hong Kong today (22 Feb) to thank the local travel trade, business partners and media for their support to the tourism industry of Macau.

Director of MGTO, Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes led a delegation to join the spring luncheon. Present at the luncheon were over 200 guests, including Commissioner for Tourism of the Hong Kong SAR Government, Philip Yung, Director of Asia Tourism Exchange Centre, Xu Hui Fang, Deputy Executive Director of Hong Kong Tourism Board, Daisy Lui and Chairman of Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong, Michael Wu and many others who all shared the joy of the party.

The number of visitor arrivals to Macau in 2012 amounted to 28,082,000, representing a slight increase of 0.3% over 2011. Hong Kong constituted the second largest tourist generating market of Macau. Over 7 million Hong Kong visitors traveled to Macau last year.

In the Year of the Snake, MGTO will spare no effort in promoting quality tourism, developing diversified tourism products and elevating service quality, in order to build Macau the World Center of Tourism and Leisure. Innovative promotions on Macau tourism will be used under the theme "Touching Moments Experience Macau".

In line with the promotion strategies of MGTO, the Representative in Hong Kong will carry out promotional activities targeting different market segments and special events' promotion on 60th anniversary of Macau Grand Prix and the 25th anniversary of Macau International Fireworks Display Contest this year, to augment their interests to visit Macau. In addition, seminars, product presentations, thematic familiarization tours and joint promotions will also be organized to strengthen the communication and collaboration with trade partners and the media.