Thursday, March 7, 2024
Launching a grand roadshow in Tokyo, MGTO aims to rejuvenate Macao’s appeal among Japanese travelers with enticing offers and a rich “tourism +” experience.
Launching a grand international promotional effort, the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) is set to kick off its premiere large-scale roadshow in Tokyo, Japan, starting on 8 March for a continuous three-day event. Leading a group of Macao’s tourism industry representatives to Japan, the Office conducted the “Macao Tourism + MICE Product Updates Seminar & Travel Mart” in Tokyo in advance on 6 March. This event offered Japanese guests and travel industry professionals a glimpse into Macao’s tourist attractions and the latest trends in Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE), aiming to enhance its presence in global markets.
The seminar and travel mart took place at the Palace Hotel in Tokyo on 6 March. In attendance were MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Kazuhiro Ito, Executive Director of the Office of International Tourism at the Japan Association of Travel Agents, Sam Lei, Executive Director of the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM), Vic Lam, Head of Division of Culture, Tourism, MICE, Trade and Commerce at the Economic Development Bureau of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, and Ringo Chan, Deputy General Manager – Japan and Executive General Manager – Osaka at Air Macau Company Limited, along with other dignitaries and representatives from Macao’s tourism sector and the six major integrated resort companies, gathering over 210 attendees.
Interactions Between Macao and Japanese Industry Representatives
Initially, MGTO provided a briefing on the current state of tourism in Macao to the Japanese industry attendees, followed by a presentation from IPIM outlining Macao’s business landscape. These presentations enabled attendees to gain a comprehensive insight into the tourism, MICE, and business dynamics within Macao. A representative from the Economic Development Bureau of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin shared updates on the latest developments within the zone, and a delegate from Air Macau discussed the revitalization efforts of Macao’s aviation sector. The afternoon networking event offered a platform for Japanese and Macao travel industry members to engage and collaborate on creating new travel packages and products specifically designed for Japanese tourists, thereby promoting reciprocal tourism.
Tactical plans for revitalizing the Japanese market
The Office is set to launch its premier large-scale exhibition of the year at COREDO Muromachi Terrace in Tokyo this coming Friday, 8 March, extending over three days. This marks the first such event in Japan by Macao since the easing of travel restrictions last year, taking place in a bustling commercial area close to Tokyo Station, surrounded by approximately half a million professionals within a one-kilometer radius. The exhibition features a creative integration of Macao’s “tourism +” concept in its main visual design. Air Macau, along with the six major integrated resorts in Macao, will have booths to display their tourist attractions and latest offerings. Operators in the industry will also introduce special deals on a variety of tourism products to enhance Macao’s appeal as a destination.
In 2019, Macao saw nearly 300,000 visitors from Japan, ranking it as the third largest source of international visitors. By January 2024, flight services between Macao and the Japanese cities of Tokyo and Osaka were restored to a daily round-trip frequency.
The MGTO is capitalizing on this opportunity to intensify its marketing initiatives, including collaborating with airlines to offer promotions on flights between Macao and Japan. These efforts aim to invigorate the interest of Japanese tourists in exploring the vibrant “tourism +” experience in Macao, thereby broadening the range of international visitor markets.
Following the lift of travel restrictions in Macao in 2023, the MGTO has been actively promoting the destination in Southeast Asia and Northeast Asia through a series of campaigns, including digital and traditional advertising, roadshows, familiarization trips for trade, and travel exhibitions. With the global travel sector and aviation industry poised for further recovery in 2024, the MGTO is introducing an array of enticing incentives for international tourists, such as discounts on flights, cross-border transport, accommodations, dining, and tickets for entertainment and shows. Through a comprehensive multichannel marketing strategy, these initiatives are designed to attract a larger influx of visitors from various distances to Macao, offering a rich “tourism +” experience. This effort aims at diversifying the visitor profile and contributing to a stronger rebound of the tourism economy.
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Sunday, April 28, 2024
