Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) launches the Macao Courtesy Campaign (the “Campaign”) to inspire warm hospitality towards travelers among residents and members of the trade, brand Macao as a hospitable destination and reinforce the city’s status as a world centre of tourism and leisure. The launch ceremony of the Macao Courtesy Campaign was held at the 11^th Macao International Travel (Industry) Expo (MITE) today (1 July), seizing this great occasion to raise Macao’s profile as a hospitable city among industry participants from worldwide.

The guests who attended the launch ceremony include Secretary for Economy and Finance, Lei Wai Nong; President of the United Association of Food and Beverage Merchants of Macao and member of the Legislative Assembly, Chan Chak Mo; member of the Legislative Assembly, Angela Leong; President of Association of Macau Tourist Agents and member of the Legislative Assembly, Cheung Kin Chung; Vice Director-General of Macao Federation of Trade Unions and member of the Legislative Assembly, Lei Cheng I; MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes; President of Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute, Vincent U; President of the Macao Institute for Tourism Studies, Fanny Vong; Director of Labour Affairs Bureau, Wong Chi Hong; member of the Administration Committee of Municipal Affairs Bureau, Mak Kim Meng; Vice President of Cultural Affairs Bureau, Cheang Kai Meng; Assistant Director-General of Macao Customs Service, Lei Iok Fai; Supervisor for Air Transport of the Department of Air Transport and International Relations of Civil Aviation Authority, Chan Wai Kuok; MGTO Deputy Directors Cheng Wai Tong and Ricky Hoi. Other guests include President of Macau Travel Agency Association as coordinator of the 11^th MITE, Alex Lao, representatives of governmental entities as well as enterprises, associations or community organizations from the following areas: trade and commerce, small and medium enterprises, education, neighborhoods, women, religion, sports, catering, retail, transportation and other tourism-related sectors. Representatives of accredited merchants and member entities in the judging committee of the Quality Tourism Services Accreditation Scheme (QTSAS) were also present at the ceremony. The attendees of the ceremony totaled 230 approximately.

“Be My Guest ∙ Feel At Home”

MGTO Director Senna Fernandes expressed that the Macao Courtesy Campaign is rolled out among Macao residents, tourism employees and students at different stages by promotion, education and other means, with the vision to engage the population at large. The slogan of the campaign is “Be My Guest ∙ Feel At Home”. She believes that the collaborative efforts of all will shape Macao into an integrated leisure travel destination of warm hospitality in visitors’ eyes and consolidate the city’s status as a world centre of tourism and leisure.

Release of promotional video

The launch ceremony played the promotional video entitled “Be My Guest ∙ Feel At Home”for the Campaign. The video disseminates the concept and awareness of warm hospitality for visitors among the general public, to instill a deeper sense of courtesy and a wide-spread understanding of its significance to Macao as a travel destination.

Extensive campaign promotes awareness

MGTO will unfold a series of promotional activities and dissemination to cultivate residents’ hospitable approach to visitors, highlighting its relevance and importance for a tourist city. The Campaign will carry out extensive promotions through different ways and channels such as video, poster, radio, television and social media. The message about courtesy will also be conveyed through the support of community organizations, institutions and travel trade associations towards local communities and industry personnel. MGTO will also ride on QTSAS activities and industry training occasions to play the promotional video and incorporate illustrations of courtesy for visitors, to enhance relevant awareness in the travel trade and related sectors.

Carry out the campaign by stage and engage the public at large

The Macao Courtesy Campaign is unveiled in July to go on by stage and continuously:

• Launch the “Public awareness – Be My Guest ∙ Feel At Home” in July and invite all residents in Macao to join;

• Launch the “Industry expertise – Learn more about quality service” in August and invite members of the tourism and related sectors to join;

• Launch the “Courtesy at start of school – Become an ambassador” in September and invite youths and students to join.

Through the Campaign, MGTO extends the invitation to members of different sectors in Macao, inspiring the public’s respect and hospitality for visitors to feel at home in Macao.

In the past, MGTO had conducted a tourism awareness campaign to raise residents’ awareness of tourism and its importance to Macao among the general and professional public. The imminent launch of the Macao Courtesy Campaign is set to upgrade the quality of tourism services and encourage the spirit and practice of courtesy for visitors among the population at large, which will be a boon for sustainable tourism development and the city’s transformation into a world centre of tourism and leisure.