Macao’s efforts to keep visitors safe lauded

SAR has seen no new cases of COVID-19 for over five months

While effective pandemic control is a prerequisite to economic revival, close public-private partnerships are the key to Macao’s success in demonstrating the resilience and innovation of its tourism industry, speakers at the ninth Global Tourism Economy Forum said on Dec 9.

In a keynote address sharing Macao’s success in reviving its tourism sector during the pandemic, Lei Wai-nong, Macao Special Administrative Region secretary for economy and finance, said tourism-related economic activities are gradually resuming in Macao thanks to effective control and prevention measures.

Since its first imported case of COVID-19 was reported on Jan 22, Macao has seen only 46 infections and no deaths, according to the

Macao Health Bureau.

“Macao has experienced a challenging period during the pandemic,” Lei said. “After evaluating the situation, the SAR government rolled out various supporting measures and devised plans for reviving the tourism economy.”

After the COVID-19 situation became relatively stable, Macao started to promote local tourism, launched online promotions, and even held offline promotional events in Beijing, Lei said. “During the whole process, we received strong support from all sectors in society.”

From June through September, Macao conducted the “Macao Ready Go! Local Tours” program. Twentyfive local tour routes were introduced, including new tourism products like helicopter tours, Lei said. The program not only helped sustain jobs, but also boosted consumption and supported the revival of the tourism and related industries, he added.

The fact that the Chinese mainland resumed issuing tourist visas for visitors to Macao on Sept 23 showed that it recognized Macao as a safe tourism destination and offered an opportunity for the SAR, Lei said.

“The occupancy rate of hotels has been steadily recovering, with individual tourists spending an average of 2.8 days in Macao,” said Lei, adding that other supportive measures have been introduced, including collaboration with e-commerce platforms and airlines as well as expos and conferences both online and offline.

Hu Heping, Chinese minister of culture and tourism, noted that Macao has not reported any new COVID-19 cases for over five months, and he expects Macao’s tourism industry to further take off.

“Under the leadership of the central government, and supported by key strategies and policies like the GuangdongHong Kong- Macao Greater Bay Area and the establishment of a functional platform in Macao for the Belt and Road Initiative, as well as the joint efforts from the Macao government and its people, I am confident that the socioeconomic development of Macao will resume rapidly and embrace new achievements,” said Hu, speaking at the forum’s opening ceremony.

“Macao is an important part of the Belt and Road Initiative,” said

Edmund Ho Hau-wah, GTEF forum chairman and vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.

“With the advantages from the ‘one country, two systems’ principle and the strategic position of ‘one center, one platform, one base’, Macao will play its role as a key city in the Bay Area, integrate into the national development plan, and support the ‘dual circulation’ development pattern,” said Ho, who served as the Macao SAR’s first chief executive.

The term “one center, one platform, one base” refers to a world center of tourism and leisure, an economic and trade cooperation platform for China and Portuguese-speaking countries.