Macau government boosts tourism via roadshow in Hangzhou

The government is holding numerous roadshows across mainland China, as it is currently the only country permitted to enter the city without quarantine 

As reported on Macau Daily Times, the Macau government has scheduled a roadshow in Hangzhou from March 26 to 28 as an attempt to promote the city’s tourism offerings amid its goal to stimulate economic recovery.  

A statement issued by the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) revealed that the “Macao Week in Hangzhou” will display travel experiences and commercial opportunities to visitors and local residents at the Hangzhou Hubin Pedestrian Street.  

The roadshow is also designed to bump Macau’s image as a “healthy, safe, and quality destination,” targeting mainland visitors for travel and spending in the SAR to expand the city’s visitor base.  

The MGTO has been holding such tourism roadshows across China, as currently, it is the only country permitted to enter without quarantine, making it the only source of revenue for Macau’s tourism sector.  

As a result, the upcoming roadshow in Hangzhou will incorporate various fields, including “Tourism + MICE, Tourism + Culture and Creativity, Tourism + E-commerce, and Tourism + Sports,” said the bureau.  

The event will also feature themed booths, such as an overview of Macau, events and cultural tourism, Intangible Cultural Heritage, sports events, as well as ‘Made in Macau’ products.  

Throughout the event, pertinent integrated tourism enterprises and airline companies will offer a series of special travel packages for air tickets, hotel accommodation, dining, and more, valued at over MOP90 million (USD11.2 million).  

Earlier this year, the MGTO revealed its five strategic foci to boost tourism recovery, aiming to reach six to 10 million visitors in 2021.  

More: New convention centre to open in Macau to encourage “Tourism+MICE” incentive

This includes stimulating the “Tourism +” cross-sector integration to strengthen the synergy between Macau’s tourism industry and MICE, culture, e-commerce, and sports industries.  

Since the arrival of the coronavirus, overall visitor arrivals have dropped to 5.8 million in 2020, a whopping 85 percent year-on-year drop. Around 96.7 percent of tourists came from the Greater China markets, including mainland China, Hong Kong, and the Taiwan region.  

The bureau mentioned that international tourism is expected to recover within this year and emphasised the large dependence on the mainland China market.