As we welcome in the Year of the Dog, expectant of good luck and prosperity, Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) cordially wishes Macao residents and visitors a fruitful and blissful year, with good health for family and friends. Best wishes also for the local tourism industry to continue to march toward diversified and sustainable development while unleashing the enchanting dynamic of Macao as a City of Gastronomy that is also poised to become a world centre of tourism and leisure.
On the first day of Lunar New Year (16 February), MGTO partnered with the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau to unfold Chinese New Year celebrations at the Ruins of St. Paul’s and Senado Square to share the festive joy with residents and visitors.
Last year, Macao welcomed over 32 million visitors, with a surge of 6.2% in international visitor arrivals. This January, one of the international source markets even rose to rank among the top three visitor source markets for the first time in record. During Chinese New Year holidays, a great number of visitors are expected to come from the Mainland and neighboring regions to spend their vacation in Macao. Visitors of different nationalities also choose to visit Macao during this time of the year to experience the ambience of Chinese New Year. MGTO thus seizes the opportunity to express New Year wishes to residents and visitors and extend warm hospitality to the latter on behalf of the city.
MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, President of Management Committee of Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau, José Tavares, President of Cultural Affairs Bureau, Mok Ian Ian, and MGTO Deputy Director Cheng Wai Tong officiated the eye-dotting ceremony for the golden dragon and dancing lions with representatives of the local trade and other guests at the Ruins of St. Paul’s. Together they also lit firecrackers at Senado Square to kick off the celebrations on the first morning of Lunar New Year. Following that, they joined the God of Fortune to distribute “Lai Si” and festive souvenirs to residents and visitors at Senado Square, filling the heart of the city with joyful blessings and a festive atmosphere. “Lai Si” given by the God of Fortune conveys the best wishes to the city for a flourishing and prosperous New Year.
The 238-meter-long golden dragon undulated across major tourist districts, drawing many local and visiting spectators along the way. The spectacle was both harmonious and bustling. The golden dragon demonstrated vigorous moves accompanied by vibrant young lions. The lively performance carries the meaning that Macao will thrive with unparalleled vitality in the Year of the Dog and reach new milestones of development. The Chinese zodiac animal “Dog” symbolizes prosperity and auspiciousness. The performance also conveys these auspicious wishes to Macao residents in the Year of the Dog as all join hands to unfold a brighter future for the city.
MGTO maintains the tradition to distribute “Lai Si” to visitors during Lunar New Year. Starting on the first day of Lunar New Year, “Lai Si” containing phrases of New Year blessings are distributed at MGTO’s Tourist Information counters while stock lasts. Each “Lai Si” contains 10 cents and symbolizes auspicious wishes.
MGTO will present the mega celebration event – the “Parade for Celebration of the Year of the Dog” – on the 3rd night (18 February) and 9th night (24 February) of Lunar New Year, with a fireworks display on the 3rd night of Lunar New Year as well. This year, the Parade unfolds the story about a kennel of dogs known as Wong Choi (literally meaning “fortune” in Chinese) gathering blessings in the past twelve years and all kinds of delicious cuisines, to lay before local residents and visitors like a splendid banquet, conveying best wishes for a fruitful, energetic and flourishing year ahead.
As another highlight, eight performance groups coming from different countries and regions for the Parade are giving performances in advance at various tourist spots on the first and second day of Lunar New Year. Among them, the performance groups from France, Portugal, Mainland China and Hong Kong will perform at Rua do Cunha and the Taipa Houses on Taipa, as well as Iao Hon Market Garden and Macau Fisherman’s Wharf on Macao Peninsula respectively on the first day of Lunar New Year. The groups from Germany, Russia, Spain and Japan will perform at the Ruins of St. Paul’s, Senado Square, Anim'Arte Nam Van and A-Ma Temple on the second day of Lunar New Year. Each performance lasts for 15 to 30 minutes. Please visit the website for the performance schedule: http://content.macaotourism.gov.mo/uploads/mgto_events_festivals/parade_2018_promote.pdf
MGTO rolls out an array of activities during Chinese New Year. Residents and visitors are welcome to browse the program on MGTO’s website: http://www.macaotourism.gov.mo.
The Office will allocate personnel at ten major tourist attractions to provide guidance and tourism information for visitors between the 1st and 10th day of Lunar New Year (16 – 25 February), thus assisting in the diversion of visitors. For local dining, visitors can find award-winning restaurants and eateries listed in the publication “Star Merchant Award – Restaurants and Eateries Guide”. MGTO has also published the "Macao Food Guide during Spring Festival" (Chinese version only) together with the General Union of Neighbors Association of Macau, the United Association of Food and Beverage Merchants of Macau, the Industry and Commerce Association of Macau Northern District, as well as the Industry and Commerce Federation of Islands of Macao. Offering a contact list of restaurants and eateries open during Chinese New Year, the handy food guide familiarizes visitors with operation information of the relevant restaurants in Macao.
During Chinese New Year, MGTO's Tourism Hotline 2833 3000 maintains its 24-hour operator service to answer enquiries and attend to visitors’ needs: http://en.macaotourism.gov.mo/useful/hotline.php
