Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) played host today (September 9) to the 2016 PATA Gold Award Luncheon and Presentation, held in Jakarta, Indonesia. The prestigious awards ceremony is one of the program highlights of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Travel Mart 2016, where MGTO has been promoting Macao as a travel destination for the last three days. In addition, from September 9 to 11, MGTO Director is attending the meetings of the governing body of the association.

MGTO and travel trade promote Macao at PATA Travel Mart

MGTO Director, Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, attended the PATA Travel Mart 2016 (PTM), held in Jakarta from September 7 to 9, together with the Head of MGTO Communication and External Relations Department, Kathy Iong, and Macao travel trade representatives from the hotel, maritime transportation, exhibition centre and travel agency sectors. Under the theme ‘Experience Macao Your Own Style’, MGTO’s booth at the travel mart promoted the city’s old and new attractions, while serving also as a platform for Macao trade to conduct business with their international counterparts and to tap into the Indonesian market.

PATA Travel Mart is the association's premier annual travel trade show, attracting annually over 1,000 international buyers, sellers and travel agencies from over 60 countries and regions.

PATA Gold Award for MGTO 'Step Out, Macao' Mobile App

One of the highlights of PATA Travel Mart each year is the PATA Gold Awards Luncheon and Presentation, which was held today in Jakarta. For the 21st consecutive year, MGTO supported the prestigious initiative, as an opportunity to raise the profile of Macao as a tourism destination and contribute to the sustainable development of tourism industry in the Asia-Pacific region. Senna Fernandes handed the awards to this year's winners, with a total of 31 Grand and Gold Awards presented to separate organizations and individuals with remarkable entries in seven broad categories: Marketing Campaign, Environment, Corporate Social Responsibility, Heritage and Culture, Education and Training, Marketing Media and Travel Journalism. The luncheon was attended by around 800 delegates.

This year MGTO also featured among the winners of the PATA Gold Awards, bringing home a Gold Award for 'Marketing Media – Mobile Travel Application' for its 'Step Out, Macao' Mobile App. The app includes MGTO’s launched eight themed walking tour routes, covering Macao, Taipa and Coloane. It is available in Chinese (traditional and simplified), English and Portuguese, providing maps, descriptions of tourism spots, including the UNESCO-listed Historic Centre of Macao, and other information related with the routes.

MGTO Director’s agenda in Jakarta also includes attending the PATA Board and Executive Board Meeting, scheduled for September 9 to 11, as a PATA Executive Board elected-member, along with other PATA internal meetings. PATA Executive Board determines industry policies and positions of PATA as the governing body of the association. It is also responsible for governing the corporate affairs and operations of PATA.

Founded in 1951, PATA is a non-profit membership association dedicated to building responsible development of the Asia-Pacific travel and tourism industry, including among its members government tourism bodies, travel trade operators and tourism educational institutions. Macao has been a PATA member since 1958. For decades, PATA has been a valuable platform for Macao to promote its tourism image and connect local travel trade stakeholders to the world.