MACAU BUSINESS
economic diversification. A couple of days later, at a debate on the 2010 Policy Address, the Secretary for Economy and Finances, Francis Tam Pak Yuen elaborated on this idea.
“It is hoped that the gaming operators won’t solely
pursue development in their own business and an increase in the gaming tables. Macau’s future economic development is heading towards a world leisure and tourism hub and I hope that the gaming companies can contribute to this goal while achieving individual success at the same time,” Tam told lawmakers.
The official plan is for gaming companies to include more MICE facilities in their projects, in order to promote economic diversification. A total of 1,485 MICE events were held in Macau in
2009, the first year data on the sector was compiled by the Statistics and Census Service. The events had an average duration of two days, attracting 660,881 people. Meanwhile, last month, the government created a commission dedicated to the development of the MICE industry, headed by Tam. It was also announced that a special bureau would be set up to support and promote the growth of the sector. According to experts in this area, Macau does have a competitive edge. “The territory is a market with huge potential for meetings and exhibitions: the destination, the amenities, the venues, the hotels… and it is easy to access,” said the president of the International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO), Philippe Fournier, who was in Macau last month.
24 MAY 2010
Newcomers
Deputy director of the Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO), Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, is more cautious: “We are still at the beginning of our MICE industry, the local sector has to improve a lot,” she said. However, Macau needs to take advantage of the global economic recovery to promote itself as a MICE destination, she added: “As the global economy revives, we should take this opportunity to strengthen our fundamentals and be well equipped with necessary training to grasp more business opportunities.” The government’s commitment to push forward the MICE industry has already passed the financial support process. The “Plan to Support Macau’s Tourism Industry” budgeted MOP21.83 million to support MICE events just for the first quarter of 2010. But the final goal is that the sector will operate independently, without the need for subsidies. At present around half of the MICE events held in Macau have some kind of official support, according to Chui Sai On.
But some still doubt whether gaming operators are
truly keen to invest in the sector. One such voice is lawmaker Vitor Cheung Lup Kwan, who accused the Venetian of having transformed its convention floor area into a “concert venue’’.
Although believing regional competition in this
sector will increase in the future, Fournier adds that the link to mainland China offers Macau – and Hong Kong – an edge.
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