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A Hong Kong tourism delegation led by the Commissioner for Tourism, Miss Au King-chi, met the Director of the Macao Government Tourist Office (MGTO), Eng Joż’o Manuel Costa Antunes, in Macao this morning (April 16) to exchange views on tourism issues of mutual concern.
The Tourism Commission and the MGTO recently agreed to establish an annual tourism exchange mechanism. This was the first exchange arranged under this new mechanism.
The delegation was also received by Dr Chui Sai On, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao SAR Government, and attended a lunch hosted by Dr Chui after the meeting.
Among the representatives of the Hong Kong delegation were Executive Director of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, Mr Anthony Lau, and Chairman of the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong, Mr Ronnie Ho.
The exchange meeting discussed honest and quality tourism and joint efforts in the development and promotion of multi-destination itineraries, as well as the impact on Hong Kong and Macao tourism of the new holiday and paid leave policies on the Mainland.
Miss Au said, ?The mechanism provided an effective platform for officials and tourism organisations of both sides to exchange views on tourism policy issues of mutual concern and to deepen collaboration and foster partnership in tourism development and promotion between the two places,??Miss Au said. ?It has been a useful discussion.??br/>
Miss Au added that Hong Kong and Macao were part of a larger tourism area, and had unique appeal to their visitors.
?With our different tourism attractions, we complement and supplement each other, and enrich our visitors??tourism experience.??br/>
Eng Joż’o Manuel Costa Antunes, Director of the MGTO, said, ?Macao and Hong Kong have their own distinctive tourism features that, when complemented with each other, can achieve a win-win situation for the tourism industry of the two places. The meeting today offered a very valuable opportunity for the tourism authorities and organisations to further strengthen co-operation in tourism aspects.??
The next tourism exchange meeting between the two sides will be hosted by Hong Kong and is expected to be held early next year.
Ends/Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Issued at HKT 18:00
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