Macao’s economy has registered a stable growth in recent years. Being designated as the World Tourism and Leisure Centre, Macao SAR Government supports the city’s moderate economic diversification and one of the policies is to expedite the development of leisure tourism. With the increasing tourist number over the years, Macau Government Tourist Office is keen on exploring new tourism & leisure routes to diversify the city’s tourism & leisure products.

Students and academics from Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao are invited to conduct research, planning and design for the area where links the Macau Ferry Terminal to the Mong-Há area as a new leisure and tourism attraction for both locals and tourists. Four teams comprising 25 students and 7 teachers from Institute for Tourism Studies, University of Saint Joseph, The University of Hong Kong and Jiangnan University studied the subject and presented their findings and plans on 10 June after a 6-day intensive research workshop from 4 to 9 June, with an aim to foster research collaborations in the area. Representatives from Macau Government Tourist Office, Macau Tourism Development Committee, Macau Town Planning Board, Macau Urban Planning Institute and renowned architect from Macau were invited to the presentation. The research teams incorporated new attractions, facilities, streetscape (i.e. signage, lighting, public facilities) and events into the area. Carrying capacity, accessibility and transport, theme and opinions of both the local residents and tourists are essential factors for planning the project.

The workshop allowed students from different universities to exchange ideas and gain hands-on experience. It also equipped students with the knowledge and skills to conduct a comprehensive tourism planning project. Through the participation, they also learned a lot about urban planning and architecture. Findings of the workshop will be written as a report and submitted to the Government for reference to Macao tourism planning and development.