Macau Government Tourist Office held a Public Release of Macau Task Force Report on "Towards a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure" produced by expert members of Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) task force today (June 19). Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Cheong U attended the event and received the report, while Director of MGTO, João Manuel Costa Antunes gave a speech.

MGTO entrusted PATA to produce the Macau task force report and offer professional suggestions on Macau development into a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure. It is anticipated that the report will serve as an important reference during the process from tourism policy formulation to goal realization for Macau.

During his speech, Antunes stated that PATA has appointed experts to contribute more comprehensive strategic suggestions at policy level regarding Macau's development into a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure. He hoped that this report not only serve as a significant reference but also foster different sectors to reflect and raise various opinions in terms of tourism polices through collective wisdom, jointly building a better future and Macau into a genuinely-acknowledged World Centre of Tourism and Leisure.

PATA has appointed six experts from different sectors including aviation, brand and tourist destination management to conduct research and produce the report. The members of the PATA task force are Andrew Drysdale, Executive Director of Mentor Aviation Services Pty Ltd., Australia, Jonathan Hutchison, Managing Director of Business Events Sydney, Alastair Morrison, Chief Executive Officer of Belle Tourism International Consulting Ltd., China, Professor Lindsay Turner from Victoria University, Australia, Susan Warren, Director of Making Tourism Work Associates, New Zealand and UK, and Stewart Raymond Moore, Chief Executive Officer of EC3 Global, Australia. The experts have paid numerous visits to Macau for site inspection and data collection, with significant assistance from local sectors, related organizations/institutes and government entities. 

Andrew Drysdale, the Chairman of the PATA task force, gave a speech on behalf of the task force, followed by the task force members who introduced the content of the report.  The report foremost recommends Macau to formulate a comprehensive master plan for tourism development. It also contributes practical suggestions regarding traffic network perfection, business tourism as well as conventions and exhibitions, diversification of tourism products, marketing and branding of Macau, fostering quality tourism, human resource allocation, strategies for sustainable tourist development, establishment of overall planning and management institutes, etc. to facilitate Macau development into a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure.

The attendees of the Public Release include Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Cheong U, officials from MGTO, members of the Tourism Development Council, overseas representatives of MGTO, representatives from PATA, related departments, trade and media, approximately 200 in total.

PATA is a leading and influential tourism association in the Asia Pacific region and has bestowed continuous support on Macau tourism development. Macau became a member of PATA since 1958 and has since maintained a close cooperative relation with PATA. In the past, PATA has conducted five task force study projects related to Macau tourism, including "Macau - A study of Tourism Development" in 1980, regarding balance of relic preservation and tourism development; "Macau Education Task Force" in 1990, regarding the training scheme which met mid and long-term manpower demand; "Macau Tourism in Transition" in 1994, regarding Macau development as a MICE destination; "Macau Tourism Marketing - A new Focus for the Millennium" in 1996, regarding establishment of overseas representative offices; "A study of the Future of Macau's Tourism and its International Airport in the Context of the Pearl River Delta Region" in 2002, regarding diversified development and interrelation between aviation network and marketing promotion. These studies have provided valuable advice for Macau tourism development.