Macao & Fujian make a splash

MACAO has teamed up with the Chinese province of Fujian to mount a joint promotion in the Australian market, beginning with a watery launch event in Melbourne’s Sea Life aquarium on Mon night.

About 100 Victorian travel agents were wined and dined in a virtual fish bowl surrounded by the aquarium’s resident sharks, sting rays and colourful fish, hosted by the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), Fujian Tourism and Xiamen Airlines.

The event marked the launch of “The Maritime Silk Road”, a co-operative marketing initiative linking the two destinations.

Before dinner, guests were presented with theatre-style workshops and updates on each of the destinations.

MGTO director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes spoke of Australia’s importance in promoting the twin destinations.

“We encourage more Australians to holiday in our region, to see and experience its traditions and cultures,” she said.

The initiative builds on the success of a MGTO and Xiamen Airlines co-operative campaign held last year which saw the creation of a “Two Cities, One Airfare” offering twin-destination fares from Sydney & Melbourne.

Pictured at the event are Shuanghong Ye, deputy general manager of Fujian Travel; Teresa Tong, general manager of Xiamen Airlines, Melbourne; Alex Lu, Vice-Consul (Economic and Commercial) Consulate-General of China; Zeming Huang, head of the Department of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs of Fujian Tourism Development Committee; Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, director of the MGTO; Ying Chen, deputy director H.R Secretariat Foreign Affairs Office, Fujian Provincial Government; Boqun Li, director general of Quanzhou Tourism Bureau; and Helen Wong, general manager of the MGTO (Australia and New Zealand).