Spanning seven days (1st – 7th October) in total, the 1st October Golden Week will start on 1st October. The Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) has carried out an array of preparative measures as follows: advising visitors via mobile text message to pay attention to various concerns and leverage the “smart application for visitor flows”, presenting festive and holiday activities while supporting entities in organizing such activities, delegating manpower at tourist spots to attend to visitor enquiries, distributing food guide, conducting more rigorous inspections and sending reminders to industry operators, among other measures. Through the diverse measures above, MGTO strives to cater for the needs of residents and visitors as well as to optimize the tourism environment and service quality in Macao continuously.
Statistics in hand eases preparation for trip
Besides providing statistics about visitations to Macao during the past Golden Weeks since 2017, MGTO’s online platform Macao Tourism Data plus (http://dataplus.macaotourism.gov.mo) will post provisional visitor arrival figures of every previous day between 2nd and 8th October. For the public’s information, MGTO’s website (www.macaotourism.gov.mo) and the Macao Tourism Industry Net also regularly publish the declared room rates of local hotels and guest houses in all room categories. Via WeChat the Office has also advised visitors to make room reservation and prepare itineraries in advance of their trips to Macao.
Use of smart tool enhances itinerary planning
MGTO encourages visitors to harness the “smart application for visitor flows” for easing their travel experience. To enhance itinerary planning, visitors and industry operators can view the predicted density of visitor flows at various tourist attractions in Macao via the corresponding website: https://poimonitor.macaotourism.gov.mo, mobile app “Step Out, Macao” or MGTO’s WeChat ID “MGTOweixin”.
Via mobile text message, MGTO will advise visitors to leverage the “smart application for visitor flows” to learn more about the forecast level of visitor flows at major attractions in Macao before making suitable itinerary arrangements, hence guiding visitors to visit attractions in other districts during peak hours for visitor flows. Visitors can also learn about the forecast level of visitor flows by accessing the “smart application for visitor flows” from the introduction pages about Macao and its tourist attractions on the mobile app Baidu Map.
Thoughtful reminders facilitate visitor flow diversion
MGTO continues to collaborate closely with Public Security Police Force to enable users’ awareness about crowd control measures implemented by Public Security Police Force through the “smart application for visitor flows”. MGTO’s website also offers a direct link to the Public Security Police Force’s "Real-Time Information Platform of Border Ports", which visitors can access to check real-time border-crossing images at Border Gate, Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal, Taipa Ferry Terminal, Cotai Frontier Post, Zhuhai-Macao Cross Border Industrial Zone Border Checkpoint as well as Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Frontier Post at Macao Port, hence choosing the suitable timing to leave or enter Macao.
From 28th September to 6th October, MGTO will arrange for personnel to provide visitors with tourism information and guidance at ten tourist spots while assisting in diverting the flow of visitors, with the aim to channel visitors off the beaten path and minimize their impact on traffic conditions and neighborhoods near popular tourist sites, thus maintaining the positive destination image of Macao.
Fascinating programs in celebration of National Day
MGTO will present a special mapping show titled “Glorious Splendour in Celebration of the 70th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China” at the Ruins of St. Paul’s on the nights from 29th September to 1st October, while the 30th Macao International Fireworks Display Contest (featuring the fireworks teams from France and China; Japan and Australia respectively) and the Fireworks Carnival will continue on 1st and 5th October. The Office also supports local associations in organizing a series of festive and holiday activities as well as activities which enrich community travel experiences, including the 4th Macau International Lantern Festival on Anim’Arte NAM VAN and Avenida de Sagres from 7th September until 15th October, as well as a youth art program and a weekend program of DIY workshops for the 30th Macao International Fireworks Display Contest on Anim’Arte NAM VAN every fireworks evening, adding leisure and fun elements and vibes during the National Holiday.
Handy information for an enjoyable trip
Residents and visitors can conveniently learn about events and festivals as well as the latest tourism information in Macao through MGTO’s website or by following MGTO’s Wechat ID “MGTOweixin”. Visitors can also download a range of free mobile apps from App Store or Google Play, including "What's On, Macao", "Experience Macao" and "Step Out, Macao", and learn about the newest tourist attractions as well as upcoming events and festivals, performances, exhibitions and activities in town, with a wealth of travel information in hand. To attend to visitors’ enquiries, manpower will be adjusted in accordance with the situation at Tourist Information counters, while MGTO's tourism hotline (853) 2833 3000 will maintain its 24-hour operator service.
Enjoy local dining scene withfood guide
MGTO partners with the General Union of Neighbors Association of Macau, the United Association of Food and Beverage Merchants of Macao, the Industry and Commerce Association of Macau Northern District, the Industry and Commerce Federation of Macau Central and Southern District as well as the Industry and Commerce Federation of Islands of Macao to publish the Macao Food Guide for 1st October Holiday (Chinese version only). Offering a contact list of restaurants and eateries open during the National Holiday, the handy food guide familiarizes residents and visitors with relevant restaurants’ operation information. Visitors can acquire the food guide at MGTO's Tourist Information counters or download the food guide from MGTO's website and WeChat ID.
Rigorous patrol to safeguard quality travel in Macao
MGTO maintains regular communication and exchange of information with the Consumer Council, Public Security Police Force, Macao Customs Service, Marine and Water Bureau, Transport Bureau and so forth. During the Golden Week, the Office will also carry out more rigorous inspections at various tourist spots, ports of entry and districts, besides taking concerted action with police authorities to combat illegal accommodation, with MGTO inspectors standing by round-the-clock.
In order to safeguard visitor rights and ensure tourism quality, MGTO has sent letters to industry operators to raise their awareness about hygiene, fire safety, guest capacity, opening hours, occupational guideline on tour group operation, requirement for hotels and catering establishments to declare price lists as well as for hotels to keep records of hotel guest information upon check-in, hotel swimming-pool management guideline and so forth.
Visitors can obtain the promotional pamphlet “Enjoy Macao” at MGTO’s Tourist Information counters.
MGTO continues to consider opinions from different sectors and maintain sound communication with various stakeholders to optimize the tourism environment and service quality continuously in Macao.