Festive joy fills the city as the Year of the Horse arrives. Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) sincerely wishes Macau citizens and visitors a New Year overflowing with vitality and bliss. MGTO also wishes the tourism industry will continue to flourish in Macau and steer toward diversification. The Office will spare no efforts in building Macau into a “World Centre of Tourism and Leisure”.

MGTO joined hands with Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau (IACM) to present Spring Festival celebrations together at the Ruins of St. Paul’s and Senado Square on the first day of Lunar New Year (31 January), sharing the delight of Lunar New Year with both citizens and visitors.

Last year Macau welcomed over 26 million visitor arrivals from the Greater China market, a year-on-year increase of around 5.4%. During Chinese New Year holidays, a great number of visitors are expected to come from the Mainland and neighboring regions to spend their vacation in Macau. Macau has also become a choice of destination for international visitors who wish to experience the Chinese festive season. MGTO and IACM thus took the opportunity to express New Year greetings to citizens and visitors, showing the destination’s warm hospitality.

MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Acting Chairman of IACM’s Administration Committee Vong Iao Lek, MGTO Deputy Directors Manuel Pires and Cecilia Tse hosted the eye-dotting ceremony for the dancing lions and golden dragon along with the trade representatives at the Ruins of St. Paul’s and together lit firecrackers at Senado Square to kick off the celebrations in the morning on the first day of Lunar New Year. The guests then joined the God of Fortune to distribute “Lai Si” and souvenirs to locals and visitors at Senado Square, filling the area with joyful blessings. “Lai Si” given by the God of Fortune means best wishes and prosperity for Macau. Folk and Dance Performance of Tibet was also invited to present artistic performance, adding color to the celebrations.

A 238-meter-long golden dragon led a parade across major tourist spots. The golden dragon demonstrated vigorous move accompanied by lively young lions. Their vivacious performance symbolizes that Macau will brim with vitality and opportunities in the New Year while marching bravely ahead like horses. The Chinese Zodiac sign “Horse” represents strong will and courage, inspiring Macau citizens to confront challenges with unremitting efforts and work hard together for the welfare of Macau.

MGTO keeps the tradition to distribute “Lai Si” to visitors during Lunar New Year. Starting on the first day of Lunar New Year, MGTO’s Tourist Information counters distribute “Lai Si” containing phrases of New Year blessings while stock lasts. Each “Lai Si” also contains 10 cents for auspicious wishes.
The Lunar New Year celebrations are held on the first and second day of Lunar New Year. Citizens and visitors are welcome to browse MGTO’s website for the program: http://www.macautourism.gov.mo.

MGTO is also presenting the mega outdoor Chinese New Year festivities under the theme “Joyous Celebration to the Bountiful Year of the Horse” on the third and ninth night of Lunar New Year, which offers a range of highlights including the “Parade for the Celebration of the Year of the Horse”, performances jointly presented by 1,000 performers, fireworks show, float exhibitions and so forth. On the third day of New Year, a fireworks show will brighten the evening with two themes – “Flourishing Age” and “Blessings”. A series of dazzling spectaculars are orchestrated with seven pieces of auspicious music and songs during the 23-minute show, including fireworks on water and special effects of character appearance for the first time. It will make a splendid show to look forward to.

In addition, MGTO will arrange personnel to dress up as the twelve Zodiac characters; the Gods of Happiness, Prosperity and Longevity; Entourage Boy and Girl as well as the God of Fortune riding on tricycle to go on a parade along with dancing lions and dragon along the first four walking tour routes under the theme “Step Out, Experience Macau’s Communities” from the third to fifth day of Lunar New Year. They will greet the public and distribute “Lai Si” to pedestrians along the way, hoping that more visitors will find it a fascinating experience to explore different quarters in Macau for hidden gems while enjoying the atmosphere of Spring Festival in town.

MGTO has arranged the five Macau Tourism Ambassadors and staff to answer visitors’ enquiries at each of five designated locations in the city’s central area and introduce visitors to various tourist spots from the first to fifteenth day of Lunar New Year. The five locations include Senado Square, B.N.U. Building on Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro, St. Dominic’s Square, the intersection between Rua de S. Domingos and Rua da Palha as well as the Ruins of St. Paul’s. They will also distribute the brochure “Step Out, Experience Macau’s Communities”, encouraging locals and visitors to take a stroll on the routes. MGTO introduced the first four walking routes under the theme “Step Out, Experience Macau’s Communities” last September including “A Tour of Historical Trails”, “A Tour of Nature and Creativity”, “A Tour of East Meets West” and “A Tour of Arts and Culture”:
http://en.macautourism.gov.mo/plan/our_suggested_tours.php

During Lunar New Year, MGTO's "Tourism Hotline 2833 3000" maintains its 24-hour operator service to answer tourists' enquiries:
http://en.macautourism.gov.mo/useful/hotline.php