Month: November 2021

Macao, 24 November 2021 – Organized by Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), “Macao Light Festival 2021 – Travellers from Mars” will light up different communities across Macao Peninsula, Taipa and Coloane with light installations, interactive games and projection mapping shows from 4 December 2021 to 2 January 2022, weaving together “tourism + culture and creativity” for economic revival in communities, and filling the festive holidays with sparkling memories for residents and visitors.

Sparkling extravaganza to begin on 4 December

In the press conference held on 18 November 2021, MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes expressed that the Macao Light Festival will once again illuminate local communities, weaving together “tourism + culture and creativity” to widen the choice of nighttime entertainment and enrich the offer of travel experience. The event is anticipated to lead more visitors into different communities for sightseeing and spending, create more economic benefits for local businesses, and foster the nighttime and community economy. She added that the Macao Light Festival is scheduled to unfold this December just as most of the past editions and dazzle the city until 2 January 2022. The event period will cover many festive holidays including the Anniversary of the Establishment of the Macao SAR, winter solstice, Christmas, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. What’s more, the Macao Light Festival will be unveiled on 4 December concurrently with the Light up Macao Drone Gala, another extravaganza newly presented by MGTO, in the hope of attracting more travellers to Macao for a memorable festive vacation.

Held for the seventh year, the Macao Light Festival will take place from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. from 4 December 2021 until 2 January 2022 (the last projection mapping show will start at 9:50 p.m. per night). The Festival carries the theme of “Travellers from Mars” to radiate sparkling joy and positive vibes for residents and visitors while highlighting Macao’s profile as a healthy and quality travel destination.

Propel community economy and benefit SMEs

Sprawling across different local streets and lanes, the Macao Light Festival will illuminate new locations such as Macao Science Center and Barra Pier, offering a captivating experience to enjoy as night falls. The event is expected to entice residents and visitors into different communities for sightseeing and spending, benefit small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and inject new impetus into the nighttime and community economy. What’s more, the Light up Macao Drone Gala will adorn the night sky every Saturday and on the Anniversary of the Establishment of the Macao SAR this December at Nam Van Lake as well, joining the Macao Light Festival to offer wonderful spectacles of light and sound.

The Macao Light Festival will cover locations as follows: 

1. Zona Nova de Aterros do Porto Exterior (NAPE): the front square and waterfront of Macao Science Center, as well as the footbridge between Macao Cultural Centre and the Leisure Area of Kun Iam Statue Waterfront;
2. Nam Van District: Anim’Arte NAM VAN, Nam Van Lake Nautical Centre as well as the Promenade between both locations;
3. Northern District: Leisure Area at Rua do General Ivens Ferraz;
4. Praia do Manduco District: No. 1 Pier and Barra Pier;
5. Central District: Calçada do Amparo, Pátio de Chôn Sau, Rua dos Ervanários, Rua de Nossa Senhora do Amparo and Largo do Pagode do Bazar;
6. Taipa: Staircase between Rua Direita Carlos Eugénio and Calçada do Quartel, Carmo Fair, Largo dos Bombeiros and Vila da Taipa Historical Center Archway;
7. Coloane: Largo do Bazar, Chapel of St. Francis Xavier and Largo Eduardo Marques.

Fusion of “tourism + culture & creativity” to foster integrated development across industries

“Macao Light Festival 2021 – Travellers from Mars” will be a radiant confluence of light installations, interactive games and projection mapping shows. There will be four different projection mapping shows presented by performance teams from Macao, Hengqin, Changsha and Tokyo, alongside fun games to give away themed gifts in special design. The event incorporates elements of tourism, culture and creativity, not just to manifest Macao’s image as a unique destination with diverse travel experience to offer, but also to propel the concerted development between tourism and the cultural and creative industries, and deepen cross-sector integration of “tourism +”.

New place to experience projection mapping

Four projection mapping shows will dazzle upon different unique architectures and travel attractions. Macao Science Center will become a new place to experience projection mapping in the city, while project mapping will dazzle the Chapel of St. Francis Xavier in Coloane as a new show venue of the Festival this year. MGTO once staged mapping shows at the Chapel of St. Francis Xavier and other locations in celebration of the 15th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Macao SAR in 2014. Largo do Pagode do Bazar at the Central District and Largo dos Bombeiros in Taipa, on the other hand, had both served as mapping show venues in the past editions of the Macao Light Festival.

The Livelihood Affairs Bureau of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin will present a projection mapping show in the Macao Light Festival for the first time, to project a splendid vision for the future development of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin. This year also marks the first time for the Macao Light Festival to feature a projection mapping team from Changsha as a UNESCO Creative City of Media Arts.

The projection mapping shows revolve around Macao’s history, culture and dynamic as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy as part of the themes:

1. Macao Science Center: “Original Flavour of Macao” is presented by a performance team from Changsha as a UNESCO Creative City of Media Arts;
2. Largo do Pagode do Bazar at Central District: “We” is presented by the Livelihood Affairs Bureau of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin;
3. Largo dos Bombeiros in Taipa: GLID is presented by a performance team from Tokyo. The team cannot come to Macao in person owing to the pandemic situation but will pass on its production through the Internet to a local coordinator that will offer equipment and technicians to assist with projection mapping;
4. Chapel of St. Francis Xavier in Coloane: “In Pair” is presented by a local performance team.

Online and on-site games in exchange for gifts

After playing the online game on the website of Macao Light Festival 2021 (mlf.macaotourism.gov.mo/index_en.html), taking a screenshot for share on social media and completing the instructions, participants can present the pertinent proof at any of the gift redemption counters for Macao Light Festival 2021 to obtain themed gifts. Spectators can also enjoy the interactive games on site and share the photos in exchange for the themed gifts. All gifts are available in limited quantity on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more details, please visit MGTO’s website for Macao Light Festival 2021 (mlf.macaotourism.gov.mo/index_en.html) and official Wechat ID.

“Macao Light Festival 2021 – Travellers from Mars” is organized by Macao Government Tourism Office, and co-organized by Municipal Affairs Bureau, Cultural Affairs Bureau, Sports Bureau, Marine and Water Bureau, Economic and Technological Development Bureau, and Macao Science Center. Livelihood Affairs Bureau of Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin is the supporting entity.

Pandemic prevention measures

A range of pandemic prevention measures are adopted for Macao Light Festival 2021. Entrances and exits will be set up for the designated areas for the Festival with implementation of crowd management measures. According to the actual situation on site, audience can line up for admission and are required to present their Macao Health Code in green color, undergo temperature checks and maintain at least one-meter social distance, in addition to wearing masks throughout the time on site. MGTO will closely monitor the pandemic situation and rigorously comply with Health Bureau’s pertinent guidelines to make prompt arrangements in accord.

MGTO is organizing the Macao Light Festival for the seventh year in a row since the inaugural edition in 2015. The Office will forge ahead to deepen cross-sector integration of “tourism +”, strengthen interactive development of tourism and other related industries, promote tourism diversification and innovation, as well as steer the community tourism and economy forward. In the future, MGTO will continue to present a diversity of spectacular events and activities to enrich travellers’ experience in Macao.

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Media inquiries:

Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), Representative in Malaysia
Tel: +603 2144 2500
Email: mgto@pacificworld.travel
Facebook & Instagram Page: Macao Tourism Malaysia
YouTube: MYMacao TV

Macao, 12 November 2021 – As a new event organized by Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), the “Light up Macao Drone Gala” will dazzle the city concurrently with the Macao Light Festival 2021 in December. There will be ten sessions of drone shows at Nam Van Lake at 19:00 and 21:45 per night on 4, 11, 18, 20 and 25 December. Drone shows under different themes are scheduled for each of the five evenings while the same themed show will be staged for two sessions per night. Residents and visitors can go to Nam Van Lake area and Anim’Arte NAM VAN to enjoy the shows at their preferred time slots. 300 drones will light up the sky during each show which lasts for 10 to 15 minutes.

Newly introduced drone shows to deepen “tourism +” cross-sector integration
Under the vast impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Macao as well as various countries and regions have adopted travel controls and preventive measures. Pyrotechnic teams from worldwide hence could not come to Macao for the Fireworks Contest. Cancelled last year, the Macao International Fireworks Display Contest is once again beyond reach this year. MGTO therefore ventures upon a brand-new project — “Light up Macao Drone Gala”. Owing to the earlier pandemic situation, the “Light up Macao Drone Gala” is rescheduled to unfold in December. With the Anniversary of the Establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region and Christmas on the way, the drone shows are also reinvented to manifest corresponding new themes, to fill this festive season with more sparkling delight for residents and visitors to savor.

Like fireworks shows, the “Light up Macao Drone Gala” is a visual art extravaganza that takes place upon the canopy of the night sky. It orchestrates a symphony of technology, integrated 2D and 3D design, light and sound effects, resembling a constellation of stars which adorn the city’s night skyline. The Gala will conjure nighttime entertainment experience fresh for the eyes of residents and visitors, deepening integration across sectors of “tourism +”.

Performance teams of professional companies
With drone technology advancing in recent years, drone shows have become a kind of widely popular performances nowadays. Professional drone teams from the Mainland demonstrate fine standards in their artistry of drone shows. After taking into consideration different drone formation shows in the past, five teams from Shenzhen, Tianjin, Guangzhou and Beijing are invited to dazzle Macao’s night sky with drone formation shows for the Gala. Boasting rich experience in drone show creation, the invited teams have staged drone shows at different major occasions including performances for the Mainland’s App of Yangshipin, Countdown of Asian Games and China Media Group Spring Festival Gala among others. Three of the teams  even set world records for the longest drone flight time and for most drones flying simultaneously.

Five themes manifest festive, tourism and cultural hues
Themed as “Drone Gala ‧ Macao Light Festival”, “Charm of Macao”, “Embrace your Journey in Macao”, “Macao Lotus in Full Bloom” and “Christmas in Macao”, the shows of the “Light up Macao Drone Gala” will merge technology, humanities and arts while manifesting Macao’s festive aroma and mesmerizing cityscape as a safe and quality destination, as well as integration across various sectors of tourism, culture, festivals and sports. What’s more, the shows are set to embody the friendship and exchange between Macao and other Mainland cities. The drone shows will be choreographed in sync with music and narration, which will be played from loudspeakers installed at the lakeside pavements along Avenida Panorâmica do Lago Nam Van spanning from Anim’Arte NAM VAN to the vicinity of the great white canopy, bringing the effect and ambience to a new level for spectators to enjoy the shows with both visual and auditory entertainment.

Strict compliance with pandemic prevention Free choice of time slots for staggered admission Live broadcast on TV channels
Upon admission to the designated audience area from Anim’Arte NAM VAN to the vicinity of the great white canopy, spectators are required to present their green Health Code and undergo temperature checks, as well as to maintain at least one-meter social distance and wear masks throughout the time on site. As each show will be staged twice per night, audience can enjoy the shows at their preferred time slots, enabling staggered admission to minimize overcrowding. Audience can also enjoy the shows’ live broadcast on TDM – Macao TV Channel (21:45 every show night) and TDM Entertainment TV Channel (19:00 and 21:45 every show night) with the synchronized music streaming from TDM - Radio Macao's Chinese Channel (FM100.7) every scheduled evening.

Adverse weather contingency plan
The function/performance and communication channel of drones are subject to variations in wind speed and rainfall rate. The shows can take place under suitable conditions at the wind speed of 31 – 40 km/hour or below without any rainfall. MGTO will consider the weather forecast of the Macao Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau and assess the actual situation. If the situation requires postponement or cancellation of the shows, the Office will seek to announce the news to the public two hours before the show if possible.

MGTO will continue to deepen cross-sector integration of “tourism +”, joining hands with different sectors to steer Macao’s tourism industry towards diversification, innovation and sustainable development. The Office will present a great diversity of events and activities in the future to enrich travelers’ experience in Macao.

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Media inquiries:Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), Representative in Malaysia
Tel: +603 2144 2500
Email: mgto@pacificworld.travel
Facebook & Instagram Page: Macao Tourism Malaysia
YouTube: MYMacao TV

25% discount on the Swiss Travel Pass
Book from 11 November to 11 December 2021
Travel up to 11 months after the issuance date
Enjoy full flexibility, free cancellation

Swiss Travel Pass
1st and 2nd class, including Flexibility at
25% discount

Includes

• Unlimited travel on train, bus and boat
• Unlimited travel on premium panorama trains: Glacier Express, Bernina Express, Golden Pass MOB, Gothard Panorama Express and Luzern Interlaken Express (seat reservations cost extra).
• Unlimited use of public transit in more than 90 towns and cities.
• Free admission to more than 500 museums
• Pass includes mountain excursions to Brunni, Klewenalp, Rigi, Stanserhorn, and Stoos.

Bonuses

• Up to 50% discount on mountain railways and cable cars (25% on Jungfraujoch).
• Passholder fares on Lyria
• Passholder fares on NightJet routes including Switzerland. Bonuses are subject to change and may require use of a travel day.
  Travelers should confirm bonuses locally.

Sales conditions

• Rail Europe Promotion: 25% discount
• Sales dates: up to December 11
• Travel dates: No travel restrictions
• Available for adult and youth travelers in first and second class. Youth travelers must be under 26 years old on the first day of travel.
• Valid for residents outside of Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
• Passes are pre validated at time of purchase and can be purchased 11 months in advance. The Swiss map is required to travel.

After sales policy

• Refundable up to 1 day prior to first date of validity. Thereafter, a 15% penalty applies to unused passes. If pass is used or flexi days are activated, nonrefundable.

Ticketing method

• For Swiss Travel Pass, consecutive days, will be attached to your booking confirmation email as a pdf. Please, print your pass prior to boarding your first train. For Swiss Travel Pass Flex, the pdf that will be attached to your confirmation email is a receipt and not a valid travel document! You will need to activate your travel days on www.activateyourpass.com. You will receive a valid ticket for each activated travel day. Please show this either in printed form or on your mobile device when tickets are being checked. Activated tickets can be deactivated/changed any number of times until 1 day prior to the selected travel day.

For further enquiries, please contact us at: RAILEUROPE@pacificworld.travel or any of our offices at:

GSA OFFICE: PACIFIC WORLD TRAVEL SDN BHD
Kuala Lumpur
Level 6, Lion Office Tower, 1, Jalan Nagasari, 50200 Kuala Lumpur
T: +603 2141 3080 | F: +603 2148 1357

Penang
Unit 118, 1st Floor, Penang Plaza, 126 Jalan Burmah, 10050 Penang
T: +604 229 3754 | F: +604 226 9654

Kota Kinabalu
Suite M1-03A,Mezzanine Floor, Menara MAA, 6 Lorong Api-Api Satu, 88000 Kota Kinabalu
T: +6088 484 730 | F: +6088 484 740

Maldives was promoted virtually on Southeast Asia’s largest B2B travel & trade show, ITB Asia 2021 Virtual. The event was held from 25th - 29th October 2021.

ITB Asia 2021 Virtual, alongside MICE Show Asia 2021 Virtual and Travel Tech Asia 2021 Virtual, provided five days of back-to-back business appointments for co-exhibitors to maximize their networking opportunities via the enhanced virtual meeting platform. Co-exhibitors were provided with an interactive networking profile and five complimentary virtual trade visitor tickets to the event. The event also featured a comprehensive supplier directory, knowledge library and on-demand videos.

Maldives was marketed at the event by Visit Maldives and 15 industry partners. The participation in ITB Asia 2021 Virtual was conducted as part of the strategy to gain momentum and increase tourist arrival numbers from Southeast Asia. It provided a platform for Visit Maldives and the industry partners to connect and network with key stakeholders from the Southeast Asian market, and to inform the travel trade about the latest information regarding the destination. Through this event, Maldives was promoted as a safe haven for travelers from Southeast Asia, emphasizing the geographical advantage of our islands which allows natural social distancing for tourists.

This is Asia’s largest B2B travel trade show, bringing more than 13,000 show attendees. Over 132 countries & territories took part in the five-day virtual event, making it the largest international travel trade show held in the region. Over 3,200 exhibitors and more than 1,250 pre-qualified buyers from the MICE, Corporate, and Leisure segment took part in ITB Asia 2021 Virtual.

The South Asian market has been an important market for the Maldives during the past several years. By 24th October this year, Maldives welcomed 962,490 tourists, however with borders of important markets in the Southeast Asia region still closed, the region has contributed 1,766 arrivals to this figure.

So far this year Visit Maldives has held several activities such as webinars, roadshows, and joint marketing campaigns targeting this market. Visit Maldives also participated in minor and major fairs and exhibitions held for the travel trade from this market, to increase arrivals and brand awareness of the Maldives.

Ongoing activities for this market include a Campaign with TripZilla, Digital Campaign with Malaysia Tatler and a Campaign with Travel Weekly Asia. Future activities planned for this market are Maldives E-Learning Program for Southeast Asia, Reimagine: Halal in Asia 2021 Virtual Event, Cabvertising Campaign with MyBump Media and participation at the Malaysia International Dive Expo 2021 (MIDE).

Visit Maldives prioritizes holding marketing activities targeting top, new and emerging markets, to maintain destination momentum, increase bookings and arrivals and keep Maldives as a top of the mind destination globally.

A colorful celebration was held at Velana International Airport on 29th October 2021 to welcome the 1 Millionth Tourists to the Maldives. The 1 Millionth Tourist Mr Victor Vincent Corentin from France arrived from EK652 flight.

He was received by officials of Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC), together with the Ministry of Tourism, Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), Maldives Immigration, Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI), and representatives of the Maldives tourism industry.

The commemoration of the event started with the stamping of the passport of the 1 millionth tourist by the Maldives Immigration officer. Victor and his spouse were escorted with a traditional Maldivian bodu beru procession to the VIP lounge area. They were welcomed by Deputy Managing Director of MMPRC Neesha Shahid, Deputy Minister of Tourism Ahmed Athif, CEO & MD of MACL Gordon Andrew Stewart, Chief Principal Immigration Officer Sheeneez Ali and the Chief Guest of the ceremony Secretary General of MATI Ahmed Nazeer. The venue was decorated for the ceremony and they were awarded with a congratulatory certificate and special gifts representing traditional Maldivian culture and tourism.

Victor and his spouse were given a complimentary holiday package sponsored by Villa Hotels & Resorts for 6 nights at Paradise Island Resort which can be redeemed during a period of 1 year. This is the couple’s 20th time visiting the Maldives. In addition to this, Club Med Kani upgraded their accommodation and also prepared a warm welcome for the tourists.

Commenting on the achievement of this important milestone, Minister of Tourism Dr. Abdullah Mausoom said that “today we turn yet another page of the remarkable success story of Maldives tourism. Reaching our target tourist arrivals of One Million for the year 2021, two months in advance is a remarkable achievement. Congratulations to His Excellency President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, industry partners & employees, health professionals, local councils, related Ministries, authorities and agencies, NGOs and volunteers, tourists, fellow Maldivians; and MMPRC and Ministry of Tourism team for the continuous engagement and support towards Maldives tourism recovery. Thank you all for the valuable contributions to Maldives tourism success story.”

Speaking about this CEO & Managing Director of MMPRC, Mohamed Thoyyib congratulated the industry stakeholders for this achievement “This milestone is only possible due to the perseverance and dedication shown by the government and all the industry stakeholders. Regardless of the predicaments faced due to the pandemic MMPRC ensured the destination was promoted in the most effective and efficient manner so as to maintain destination momentum, create brand awareness and market Maldives as a safe haven. The roles of industry stakeholders in delivering what we market abroad is what brings tourists to our shores.”

CEO & Managing Director of MACL, Gordon Andrew Stewart said reaching this milestone is truly remarkable in the most challenging of times in travel and aviation history. “Today is a wonderful day as the Maldives receives the one millionth visitor this year. I am really impressed by the work done by Team Maldives in promoting this destination around the globe. We are seeing huge demand and our airport is now almost running at pre-covid capacity numbers, which is a unique success story in the current world of aviation. I thank all the stakeholders who have contributed to this extraordinary achievement and congratulate the lucky 1 Millionth visitor this year”

Controller General of Immigration Mohamed Ahmed Hanafy noted this is a truly remarkable milestone achieved during testing times and thanked the Immigration officers who work on the frontline to welcome visitors to the Maldives. “Resilience of the tourist arrivals has been a surprise, but the devotion of everyone involved in the tourism industry, both directly and indirectly, is compelling for the landmark, as we pass 1 million visitor arrivals today. I would like to express my gratitude to all of the contributors, particularly the immigration officers who have welcomed tourists a million times this year.”

While we celebrated the arrival of the 1 millionth visitor to the country this year, all this could not have been possible without the collective effort of the Government, Ministry of Tourism, MMPRC, MACL, Immigration Maldives, MATI, Customs and Port Health and the rest of the industry stakeholders. The continuous effort by MMPRC to market the destination as a safe haven at a time when people were reluctant to travel following the pandemic is especially noteworthy.

So far this year, MMPRC has taken part in 25 leading fairs across the world and conducted 5 physical roadshows and 1 virtual roadshow. We have also conducted over 39 campaigns with leading travel agencies across the globe, world- famous publications, major airlines such as Qatar Airways, and on TV channels such as CNN, among many others. We have also conducted 22 familiarization trips so far this year. Through these campaigns, we have reached a staggering 59,738,116,794 with a market value of $119,595,365.

The government, MMPRC and all industry stakeholders hope for nothing but success in the future to come. We are also confident that whatever crisis comes our way, we are well-equipped and prepared to face the challenges head on and take the tourism industry to the next level.