The Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Mr Tam Chon Weng, said the prospects were bright for Macao and the Republic of Korea to cooperate in promoting further ties regarding culture and tourism.

The Government pays great attention to cooperation with the Republic of Korea. The country last year contributed the highest number of international visitors in the Macao tourism market, said Mr Tam. Macao and the Republic of Korea have a number of similar characteristics, such as cultural diversity, friendly people and vigorous tourism markets, he added.

Mr Tam’s comments were made on Tuesday (19 April) during a meeting in Seoul with the Republic of Korea’s 2nd Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kim Chong. Mr Tam was in Seoul to officiate at a Government promotional event called “Experience Macao – Korea”.

The Secretary stated the Government would step up efforts to organise a greater number of international events relating to tourism, culture, sports and food, in a bid to diversify visitors’ experience in Macao. These would help Macao on the path to its development goal of becoming a world centre of tourism and leisure, he added.

The Republic of Korea’s successful experience in promoting cultural and creative industries was an important reference point for Macao. Mr Tam also said he hoped to see more exchanges between the two places regarding cultural and creative industries.

Mr Kim Chong said he was impressed by Macao’s cultural variety, the coexistence of Eastern and Western traditions, and the Government’s efforts to promote the tourism industry. He said he looked forward to further cooperation between the Republic of Korea and Macao on tourism, and that this would be effected via the country’s tourism office in Hong Kong.

Macao officials attending Tuesday’s meeting in Seoul included: the Chief of Office of the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Mr Ip Peng Kin; the Director of the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), Ms Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes; and MGTO’s Republic of Korea representative, Mr Lew Hwan Kyu.

“Experience Macao – Korea” is a month-long promotional event aiming to appeal to the travel trade and designed to launch new Macao tourism products tailored to fit different market segments in the Republic of Korea.