Stepping into the joyful Year of the Horse, Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) presented the “Touching Moments Experience Macau” float at the “2014 Cathay Pacific International Chinese New Year Night Parade”, which is organized by the Hong Kong Tourism Board in the evening of the first day of Chinese New Year (31 January). MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes attended the parade to celebrate with Hong Kong residents as well as overseas visitors.

This year, MGTO float continues to employ the promotional theme “Touching Moments Experience Macau”. Using drum as the main design element, together with LED wall playing the themed video, it showcases the festive and dynamic elements of Macau. Colourful festive photos are also displayed on the panels to further symbolize Macau as a vibrant and diversified city with a blend of Chinese and Western cultures. Scrolls of photo light-boxes surrounding the float depict the “Enchanting”, “Fascinating”, “Surprising”, “Tasteful” and “Vibrant” moments of Macau. The float uses mainly gold colour to signify the joy and prosperity of Chinese New Year.

In 2014, MGTO will continue its effort to develop Macau as a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure by promoting the diversified tourism products of Macau. For this purpose, promotional activities targeting consumers, trade partners as well as niche markets such as students, wedding couples and business incentives etc will be launched. Innovative promotional platforms especially social media will be employed to tap in the upcoming markets alongside the traditional print and electronic media. As an integral partner, MGTO will spare no efforts to capitalize and contribute to the collective promotions of the multi-destination tourism of the Pearl River Delta.

The number of visitors to Macau in 2013 reached 29,324,000, representing an increase of 4.42% over 2012. Being the second largest tourist source market, over 6.7 million Hong Kong residents traveled to Macau last year.