Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) organized grand promotion events once again in Australia, featuring Macau - A New Dimention, Macau Food Week and Macau Festival to attract the young and families to Macau.

The Macau Festival Opening Ceremony was held today (October 20) at the outdoor area in Tumbalong Park at Darling Harbour. Deputy Lord Mayor of City of Sydney, Robyn Kemmis, Deputy Consul-General of the People’s Republic of China in Sydney, Hu Xiaolan, Cultural Representative of Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council, Donna Ingram and Director of MGTO, João Manuel Costa Antunes, among other guests, officiated the opening ceremony.

“Macau Festival 2012” was scheduled to take place on weekends and Sundays around the theme “Touching Moments, Experience Macau”. MGTO Representative in Australia prepared a rich variety of entertainment and food stalls, whilst promoting next year’s 60th Macau Grand Prix and the 25th Macau International Fireworks Display Contest during the event.

Macau Food Week took place at the Sheraton on the Park during October 19 – 26. 50 representatives from Australia’s travel and food media sampled many classic Macanese delicacies such as Caldo Verde, African Chicken, Serradura and Macanese Egg Tarts at the opening ceremony.

In addition, MGTO hosted a special dinner themed around “Macau: A New Dimension” at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia to showcase Macau’s past, presence and future, and the Consul of the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Sydney, Wang Hao and Consul General of the Consulate General of Portugal in New South Walses, Sofia Batalha, together with over 100 Australia’s leading travel trade and media partners attended.

There was an increase of 5 percent in the arrivals from Australia, amounted to more than 83,000 in total from January to September this year, making Australia the second largest long haul source market for Macau.