Organized by Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) and coordinated by Macau Travel Agency Association, the 8^th Macao International Travel (Industry) Expo (referred to as the “Expo” or “MITE”) was unveiled at Cotai Expo of the Venetian Macao today (6 November) to be held until 8 November. The Expo brings together physical and virtual exhibitions in cloud series for the first time, alongside the debut of the Pavilion of Macao’s “Distinctive Shops” and other highlights, to bolster the local travel trade’s confidence in spurring economic revival in the sector. The Expo is keenly participated by local industry operators, with a 1.2 time increase in local exhibitors than last year.

The opening ceremony was officiated by major guests including Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Ho Hau Wah; Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao Special Administrative Region, Yao Jian; Vice Minister of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China, Zhang Xu; Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao Special Administrative Region Government, Ao Ieong U; Acting Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Macao Special Administrative Region, Wang Dong; Secretary of the Party Committee and Senior Inspector of the Department of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China, Man Hongwei; Director of the Committee on Liaison with Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan of the Guangdong Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Liao Jingshan; Chief of Office of the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao Special Administrative Region Government, Ho Ioc San; Deputy Secretary-General of the Permanent Secretariat of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao), Ding Tian; Director General of the Department of Culture and Tourism of Guangdong Province, Wang Yiyang; MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Acting President of the Board of Directors of Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute, Vong Vai Lon Agostinho, and President of Macau Travel Agency Association, Alex Lao, among other guests.

In speaking at the opening ceremony, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao SAR Government, Ao Ieong U indicated, “Despite the immense challenge brought by the global COVID-19 pandemic upon Macao’s tourism industry, capitalizing on our city’s unique strengths and significant development opportunities gifted by our Country, we embrace unwavering faith in stepping up to the challenges with our industry partners, jointly steering the tourism industry towards more diverse, innovative and sustainable development.” She added that while the pandemic situation is relatively under control in Macao, it remains an important mission for the SAR Government to foster economic recovery. Continuous endeavors will be made to further expand the visitor source market in the Mainland and promote Macao as a safe destination. The Expo aspires to strive for innovative cooperation and a better future, inspiring new thinking and creating a fresh momentum for the tourism and related industries to move forward.

Delivering an address at the opening ceremony, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China, Zhang Xu, stated that the COVID-19 pandemic has made an unparalleled hit upon the global tourism industry, extensively affecting the cultural and tourism development across the Mainland and Macao. Under such prospect, it becomes especially significant to initiate progress in culture and tourism once again in pursuit of prosperity. At present, the Belt and Road development is steadily moving forward while the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development is advancing in depth. “The Cultural and Tourism Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area” is set to be launched and unfold a broader horizon for cultural and tourism exchange and cooperation between the Mainland and Macao.

Six fascinating highlights

The 8^th MITE is held at Hall D – E, Cotai Expo of the Venetian Macao from 6 to 8 November with free admission for the public. The exhibition floor covers a total area of 22,000 square meters this year, accommodating over 660 booths. To bolster local industry operators’ confidence in spurring economic revival in the sector, the Expo exempted all local exhibitors from registration fee this year. Over 130 local exhibitors are joining the Expo, 1.2 times more than that of last edition. The Macao Street features over 200 exhibition booths, 1.6 times more than last year. The Expo brings together the physical and virtual exhibitions in cloud series this year for the first time. There are around 350 on-site exhibitors from Macao and the Mainland, whereas close to 50 exhibitors mark their presence at the virtual exhibition, mainly comprising tourism offices and entities from different countries and regions. The Expo encompasses six major highlights including local and Mainland tour products for sale, innovative and interactive confluence of virtual “Cloud” series and physical exhibitions, focusing on tourism cooperation and product development in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, showcasing Portuguese-speaking countries as a Sino-Portuguese exchange platform, “Community Cultural Creative Achievement Exhibition” and “MAK MAK Pavilion”, as well as manifesting brand stories of “Distinctive Shops”.

Cloud online and offline exchange for business opportunities

The Forum kick-started a three-day program of virtual cloud series and physical exhibitions, destination presentations, forums and so forth. International hosted buyers discuss business opportunities with on-site exhibitors online via “Cloud B2B”, whereas local industry exhibitors connect virtually with overseas professional buyers at the “Trade Gathering – Tourism Business Matching Session”. Mainland and international exhibitors showcase their tourism resources via “Cloud Promotion”. Exhibitors can also advertise their products via “Cloud Live Broadcast” anchored by KOLs. On the opening day of MITE, the “Greater Bay Area Forum Series 3: New Retail, New Service Concept, New Opportunities” was held by the Alliance for Developing Macao into the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Tourism Education and Training Base, while the Promotion Seminar of Tourism Products for Portuguese Speaking Countries was jointly organized by MGTO and the Permanent Secretariat of Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao). At “Cloud Contract Signing” tomorrow (7 November), contracts will be signed electronically over long distance and multilaterally, or concurrently online and offline.

The 8^th MITE is supported by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China, organized by MGTO and coordinated by Macau Travel Agency Association. The co-organizers of the Expo include Cultural Affairs Bureau, Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute, Macao Chamber of Commerce, General Union of Neighbors Association of Macau, Macao Federation of Trade Unions, Women’s General Association of Macau, Association of Returned Overseas Chinese Macau, Association of Macao Tourist Agents and Travel Industry Council of Macau.
 

The Expo adopts a series of preventive measures against the pandemic, requiring visitors to present Macau Health Code and have their temperature checked upon entry, as well as to wear mask and maintain one-meter social distance. Venue disinfection, crowd management and other regulatory measures about public catering are carried out as well.

The public can log into the appointment scheduling system on MITE’s official website: www.mitexpo.mo to make an appointment for visit to the Expo. Admission quotas are offered to conduct staggered admission hours. Without an appointment, the public can also queue for entry as per the on-site situation. For more information about the 8^th MITE, please visit MITE’s official website: www.mitexpo.mo, WeChat ID and Facebook page.