To enhance tourism cooperation with Singapore, Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) will organize a large-scale promotional activity 'Macau Promotion Week' in Singapore from August 28 to September 3, 2000. MGTO will be organizing a 90-member promotion delegation to launch a series of promotional activities highlighting Macau's charm.

While in Singapore, MGTO and Singapore Airlines (SIA) will sign a Memorandum of Understanding for a comprehensive effort to promote and develop Macau as a tourist destination in a sustainable way. The cooperation will raise Macau's profile as a tourist city and attract more tourists from Southeast Asian countries.

The signing ceremony will be held in the afternoon of August 29 at the Singapore Oriental. The Memorandum of Understanding will be signed by Mr João Manuel Costa Antunes, Director of MGTO and Mr Huang Chen Eng, Senior Vice President Marketing Planning of SIA, and witnessed by Mr Chui Sai On, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macau Special Administrative Region and Mr Michael Tan, CEO of SIA. The ceremony will be followed by a press briefing to answer questions regarding the joint activities of the two entities.

Chief Executive of Macau Special Administrative Region Edmund Ho Hau Wah will preside the opening ceremony of the Food Festival of 'Macau Promotion Week' and attend a dinner hosted for the travel trade. Mr Edmund Ho will also have a brief meeting with Mr Michael Tan from SIA.

Mr Chui Sai On, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Mr Joao Manuel Costa Antunes, Director of MGTO, Ms Helena Senna Fernandes, Deputy Director of MGTO and other officials will attend the promotional activities in Singapore.

To further foster cooperation and exchange between the two destinations in tourism, representatives of Macau's travel trade will take the opportunity to visit the National Association of Travel Agents of Singapore (NATAS) and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB).

This is the second large-scale promotional activity in Singapore organized by MGTO this year. One of the highlights of this event is the 'Macau Promotion Week' at the Oriental Singapore, an event that showcases Macau's gourmet, its famous sightseeing spots and tourist facilities (from August 29 to September 3). Masters of fortune telling and palm reading, paper-cut silhouette, finger painting and Chinese calligraphy will stage their skills in the event. "Tuna Macanese", a Macanese Band will turn the hotel into their recital.

Another highlight of the promotion is the launching of a Road Show at Great Wall City (from August 30 to September 3). There will be Portuguese folk dance performances and games, which local citizens can enjoy. Beginning noon of August 30, chefs of Macau's traditional snacks will demonstrate how to make mouthwatering delicacies, including Maltose, spongy peanut candy, almond cookies etc. at the shopping center.

The delegation to Singapore comprises MGTO officials, representatives of the travel trade, chefs, folk dancers, band and 13 journalists from Macau covering the promotion tour.