Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) delivers the report of the “Analytical Study on Optimization of Nighttime Tourism Activities and Products”. The study report proposes short-term measures to optimize current nighttime tourism activities and products, as well as suggestions on development of new nighttime tourism activities and products in the future. Suggestions offered in the study report will serve as significant reference for optimization and development of nighttime tourism activities and products in Macao.
Follow up with the Macao Tourism Industry Development Master Plan
MGTO commissioned a research institute to carry out the “Analytical Study on Optimization of Nighttime Tourism Activities and Products” in the fourth quarter of 2018, to probe into the status of current nighttime tourism activities and products in Macao and offer suggestions for their optimization and future development of pertinent activities. The study was conducted to resonate and follow up with the planning proposal of “enriching iconic tourism events and experiences” and the action plan of “adding more night activities and programmes” devised in the Macao Tourism Industry Development Master Plan, in parallel with Macao’s positioning to become a world centre of tourism and leisure.
Research into current status and case study
The study focused on 21 nighttime tourism activities organized by MGTO, other governmental entities and organizations for further examination and analysis of their current status. Through research methods such as literature review, field research and in-depth interview, multidimensional analysis was conducted upon the chosen activities, especially regarding their types and categories, when they are held and their on-site situation, etc. Besides examining the status of current nighttime activities in Macao, the research team also selected nighttime activities in Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Taipei for case analysis and comparison.
Current issues
Through analysis and overview of current nighttime tourism activities in Macao, the study points out a series of current issues as constraints against nighttime activities: difficulty in extending the time and scale of nighttime activities because of limited land area, high population density and the noise regulation in Macao; inadequate venues and supporting facilities for outdoor activities, lack of suitable new outdoor venues and insufficient capitalization on maritime and waterfront areas, among other issues.
Suggestions
After going through a range of surveys and case studies, as well as reviewing current issues identified through this study, the research team discovered that Macao is not in lack of a diversity of regular nighttime tourism resources and nighttime events. Therefore, the study proposes an array of short-term measures to optimize current nighttime tourism activities and products, including: utilize current resources to radiate competitive strengths; effectively connect and integrate activities in similar nature and time periods as well as in close proximity; optimize venue conditions and enhance promotional efforts for regular nighttime activities, among other measures. The study also offers guidelines and suggestions on time and location arrangement as well as planning of activity types for future nighttime tourism activities and products. A range of suggestions are also provided such as creating new possibilities for tourism development through suitable urban planning.
MGTO organizes a range of nighttime events and activities including the Parade for Celebration of Chinese New Year, Macao International Fireworks Display Contest, Macao Light Festival and more, to enrich the spectrum of nighttime activities and programmes in Macao, with the aspiration to enhance visitors’ overall trip experiences in Macao and extend the length of their visits.
