Year: 2020

Residents are welcome to pre-schedule visit for travel updates

The 8^th Macao International Travel (Industry) Expo (referred to as the “Expo” or “MITE”) will be held at Cotai Expo of the Venetian Macao from 6 to 8 November. The Expo will bring together physical and virtual exhibitions in cloud series for the first time, alongside the debut of MAK MAK Pavilion and the Pavilion of Macao’s “Distinctive Shops” among other fascinating highlights, to bolster Macao’s travel trade in spurring economic revival in the sector. Residents are welcome to log into the appointment scheduling system online to pre-schedule a visit to the Expo, where they can obtain the latest travel information and shop from a diversity of travel products.

A kaleidoscope of themed pavilions in spotlight

A variety of distinctive and themed pavilions will come into spotlight at the Expo as follows: Over 70 tourism businesses from across nine cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area will mark their presence at the “Greater Bay Area Tourism Street”, offering residents a wealth of signature souvenir products from their destinations. 16 renowned hot spring enterprises from Guangdong Province, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Fujian Province will recommend various leisure vacation and hot spring packages for residents and visitors after the pandemic at the “Hot Spring Street”. Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute will set up the “Pavilion of Portuguese-speaking Countries Products” to promote Macao’s business environment and more. The MITE organizer and Cultural Industry Fund will jointly stage the “Community Cultural Creative Achievement Exhibition” to foster the development of the tourism, cultural and creative industries. The “MAK MAK Pavilion” will debut this year to provide custom-built booths for local small and medium-sized enterprises to promote and sell their authorized Macao Tourism Mascot MAK MAK-themed souvenirs already launched into the market under subsidy, while the lucky draw “Touring Macao with MAK MAK” and the game “MAK MAK Jigsaw” will be rolled out at the Expo. The Pavilion of “Distinctive Shops” will also debut in the event, showcasing 16 distinctive shops with local characteristics arranged by Economic Bureau. Spectators can have a first-hand experience of the unique products, traditional skills and culture offered and carried on by these shops.

Other themed pavilions include Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) Pavilion, Pavilion of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China, Zhuhai and Hengqin Pavilion as well as Congjiang Pavilion to showcase the latest travel information.

In terms of virtual activities, the Expo will bring together the physical and virtual exhibitions in “Cloud” series – “Cloud B2B”, “Cloud Promotion”, “Cloud Contract Signing”, “Cloud Live Broadcast” and so forth for the first time. Over 40 Mainland and international exhibitors will connect with the on-site exhibition via “Cloud Promotion” to showcase their tourism resources and interact with spectators. Live stream studios will be set up at the Expo for exhibitors to advertise their products via “Cloud Live Broadcast” anchored by KOLs.

Ongoing presentation sessions and forums

The Expo will feature a range of forums and presentation sessions spotlighting various travel destinations and sharing the latest industry trend, including the “Trade Gathering – Tourism Business Matching Session”, Destination (Macau) tourism promotion, Destination (Pidu District, Chengdu) tourism promotion, “Greater Bay Area Forum Series 3: New Retail, New Service Concept, New Opportunities”, and Promotion Seminar of Tourism Products for Portuguese Speaking Countries on 6 November; 2020 “Sichuan, More than Pandas” Sichuan Culture & Tourism Promotion & Sichuan-Chongqing Culture & Tourism Promotion Fair, “5G Times Under The Number Of Intelligent Tourism Development”, 《Meet Romance • Stone Forest on Sea》Naqin Peninsula Geological Ocean Park, and Tourism Brand Creative Sharing Forum on 7 November, as well as the Culture & Tourism Promotion Fair for the Famous Counties of Sichuan Province on 8 November, among other activities.

Cultural performances will be staged for the public’s enjoyment at the public days of  MITE while local signature delicacies will be sold at the “Food Pavilion” to manifest Macao’s glamour as a Creative City of Gastronomy.

From today, the public can log into the appointment scheduling system on MITE’s official website: www.mitexpo.mo to make an appointment for visit to the Expo. Admission quotas are offered to conduct staggered admission hours. Without an appointment, the public can also queue for entry as per the on-site situation. Free parking will be available to residents at Hall A, Cotai Expo of the Venetian Macao during the Expo, while free shuttle bus service around four routes will be provided between the venue and various points in Macao and Taipa. The Expo will adopt a series of preventive measures against the pandemic, requiring visitors to present Macau Health Code and have their temperature checked upon entry, as well as to wear mask and maintain one-meter social distance. Venue disinfection, crowd management and other measures related to public catering will be carried out as well.

The 8^th MITE is supported by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China, organized by MGTO and coordinated by Macau Travel Agency Association. The co-organizers of the Expo include Cultural Affairs Bureau, Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute, Macao Chamber of Commerce, General Union of Neighbors Association of Macau, Macao Federation of Trade Unions, Women’s General Association of Macau, Association of Returned Overseas Chinese Macau, Association of Macao Tourist Agents and Travel Industry Council of Macau.

For more information about the 8^th MITE, please visit MITE’s official website: www.mitexpo.mo, WeChat ID and Facebook page.

Source : Macao Government Tourism Office

The Macau Grand Prix has been cut from its usual four days to three this year, from 20 to 22 November, with only five races to be held due to the impact of COVID-19.

According to an update provided by the Macau Grand Prix organizing committee on Wednesday, the five races will include the Macau Touring Car Cup, Greater Bay Area GT Cup, Macau Guia Race, Macau GT Cup and Formula 4 Macau Grand Prix.

The traditional flag-ship FIA F3 Championship and Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix had already been cancelled due to difficulties in bringing in foreign drivers.

Only one foreign driver has arrived in Macau to race this year – British touring car driver Rob Huff, who is a 9-time winner of the Macau Guia Race and is eying win number 10 this year. He is currently undergoing 14-day quarantine in a designated hotel, while the other 94 drivers participating in races are mostly from Macau, mainland China and Hong Kong.

Ticket prices for formal races of the 2020 Macau Grand Prix will remain the same as last year, ranging from MOP$150 (US$20) to MOP$1000 (US$125), but the numbers of seats will be reduced from 14,000 to 10,000.

The Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) has also confirmed it will launch the Macau Food Festival from 13 to 29 November in collaboration with CCTV-5 and other media, KOLs and social media platforms in mainland China to attract more mainland visitors.

The Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Ao Ieong U, hopes to further promote Macau as a virus-free and quarantine-free travel destination for mainland travelers and emphasized the importance of holding large-scale activities during the post-COVID-19 period.

“It is estimated that the Macau Grand Prix, Macau Food Festival and other activities in the series will create job opportunities of more than 100,000 man per day in total for the construction, catering, wholesale and retail, advertising and manufacturing industries,” she said. “It will generate a significant positive impact against the downward spiral of the economy.”

All staff working at either event must receive virus tests every seven days, while viewers at Grand Prix races and customers at the Food Festival are not required to be tested. Other preventive measures such as wearing face masks, checking body temperature and submitting health codes will remain in all campaigns.

MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes recently revealed that visitor arrivals have continued to rise since the October Golden Week, stating that that holding a series of mega events could attract more mainland visitors in the 2021 New Year and the Chinese New Year holiday.

Source: Inside Asian Gaming

The Maldives is a picture-perfect archipelago, situated in the middle of the Indian Ocean, and home to tiny coral islands which provide for natural isolation. The island nation is famous for its beauty and is celebrated as one of the most popular travel destinations in the world.

Due to the ongoing global pandemic, COVID-19, tourism had to come to a standstill and the country had to close its borders as part of the stringent public health measures taken to curb the outbreak.

After almost four months of closure, on 15th July, Maldives reopened its borders to tourists of all nationalities and welcomed them back to the sunny side of life. As the world recovers from the current situation, the government made the decision, fully confident in the safety measures and preparations to ensure the protection of tourists and people working in all tourist establishments. The resumption of the tourism industry was only given the go-ahead following extensive protocols, after important consultations with health professionals and relevant stakeholders.

During the first phase, only resorts and liveaboards in uninhabited islands resumed operations. The signature “one-island-one-resort” concept also ensures that visitors to the country are based in their respective resorts. Together, these unique arrangements make it easier for visitors to maintain social distancing, whilst enjoying a truly safe and secluded holiday.

On 15th October, guesthouses in inhabited islands resumed operations as well. Wearing masks is mandatory for tourists and locals at all times in these islands. The development of local tourism is further aided by the introduction of “Split-Stay.” At first, this was only permitted between resorts but as of 23rd October, the local Health Protection Agency (HPA) has permitted split stay between all tourist establishments, with prior approval as per the guidelines by the Ministry of Tourism (MoT).

All tourist establishments have been regulated to ensure that they are in line with the COVID-19 tourism guidelines; a COVID-19 safe tourism guideline was issued by the Ministry of Tourism along with a certification program to uphold proper safety and hygiene standards.

In conjunction with the reopening of borders, a marketing campaign called “Rediscover Maldives…the Sunny Side of Life” was launched by Visit Maldives, during a virtual campaign where top international media from 21 countries including the main source markets joined in. In September, the second segment of this campaign, “Rediscover Maldives Webinar Series”, also commenced in which 4 sessions targeted to different markets were conducted over a span of 2 weeks. During this webinar series, “A Dozen Must do Experiences in Maldives” was also launched. The aim of this campaign was to take viewers on a spectacular journey with a dozen unique experiences; some of them only attainable in the Maldives. It also showcased the uniqueness of the destination and created excitement by giving a rare glimpse of the destination through videos on several online and social media platforms.

As of 14th October, there are 3 COVID-19 hospital facilities in the greater Male’ region with 263 beds and an additional 5 COVID-19 hospital facilities across the country with 183 beds. Currently, there are over 11,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with a total of 37 deaths. These cases are saturated in the greater Male’ region. Further to this, there are 21 active cases in inhabited islands and in 23 resorts, including 22 tourists and 34 staff.

However, the government, together with relevant stakeholders, are ensuring that the Maldives remains a safe haven for tourists to travel to and have enforced several measures to warrant this.
Firstly, all tourists are required to fill an online Traveler Health Declaration form within 24 hours prior to their departure to Maldives. At first a negative COVID-19 test result was not required but in September, the government made it mandatory for all tourists to present a negative COVID-19 test certificate within 72 hours prior to departure to Maldives. On 14th October, the government extended the validity time to within 96 hours prior to departure to Maldives, easing access for tourists embarking on long-distance and time-consuming flights. Additionally, all tourists are required to wear masks and will undergo thermal screening on arrival.

Maldives has been gaining recognition in the efforts to make it a safe destination for travelers. The country received the “Safe Travels Stamp” by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), in recognition of the efforts to implement enhanced health and safety measures, in line with the WTTC global Safe Travels protocols.

Additionally, Velana International Airport received the ACI Airport Health Accreditation for consistent measures, which are in line with ACI’s standards in the “new normal” during the pandemic. Velana International Airport is the second airport in the Asia Pacific Region to receive the Health Accreditation.

The Ministry of Tourism, in collaboration with Allied Insurance, has also introduced the first COVID-19 Travel Insurance in Maldives. This policy covers charges for services including isolation costs, medical treatment and transportation costs to isolation/medical facilities and consists of two plans; “Allied Inbound” and “Allied Inbound Plus.” The package covers 7 or more days and can be purchased before arriving in Maldives through the Allied Insurance website. More information can also be acquired through the toll free hotline 1600.

There are indications of tourism recovery as the tourism sector continues to gather momentum in getting back to its normal level of operations. This is evident with increased flight movements and tourist arrivals, as they gradually increase.

Source : VisitMaldives.com

Allied Insurance Company, in association with the Ministry of Tourism, has launched a COVID-19 insurance policy focusing on tourists visiting Maldives.

In a collaborated press conference held on 8th October 2020 by both parties, the insurance plan was launched by the Minister of Tourism, Dr. Abdulla Mausoom.

“Allied Inbound” consists of two options covering medical charges, isolation facility charges, emergency medical transportation charges and interment charges following a positive diagnosis for COVID-19 of a tourist during their stay in Maldives. This plan only includes isolation centers designated by the local Health Protection Agency (HPA).

Tourists who do not hold a valid resident visa of Maldives will be eligible for this plan which comes in two options; Allied Inbound and Allied Inbound Plus. Tourists who are interested in this insurance should apply for the plan 24 hours prior to their arrival in the country through Allied’s website. The resort establishment in which the tourist is staying can also take this plan on their behalf, provided that the beneficiary will be insured.

Choose this plan prior to your journey and enjoy your holiday in the Maldives with assurance of safety and peace of mind. More details and relevant information are also available on https://allied.mv/ and the toll free hotline 1600.

For more info, please download the brochure here.

Source: VisitMaldives.com

Visit Wine Yard - Château Fourcas Hosten
At Château Fourcas Hosten, where you were given a simple brief about the wine and how they keep it after the process has been done.They are committed to an environmentally responsible approach that focuses on protecting our human and natural surroundings as a central objective in our everyday activity. We aim to reveal the qualities of our terroir in our wines, thereby underlining how essential itis to preserve it. Come and witness their practices and take part in the experience of tasting wines.