Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) is consolidating its promotional efforts into the Middle East, highlighting its unique and unparalleled offerings in family travel, culture, luxury and adventure.
A recently concluded roadshow, organised by Aviareps Middle East in Dubai and attended by a large number of travel trade professionals, business leaders and industry stakeholders, saw participation from important Macanese government entities and major integrated resorts like Sands Resorts Macao, Wynn Resorts Macau, Galaxy Hotel and MGM. A newly launched Arabic-English travel guide, developed in collaboration with Halaltrip, was introduced to help Middle East travellers plan their perfect trip to Macao. “The goal of this roadshow in Dubai is to build connections and partnerships for future tourism collaborations. It underscores our commitment to strengthening ties with the UAE market and the broader region. It is an important step towards activating the Middle East market to welcome them into Macao Special Administrative Region of China,” Wai Tong Cheng, Deputy Director at Macao Government Tourism Office, told TTN on the sidelines of the event. “With eight direct flights from Dubai to cities across China that connect to Macao, we are eager to position Macao as the leading destination for both leisure and business travel, through new initiatives and partnerships not only in the UAE but also across the Gulf Cooperation Council,” Cheng said. BEYOND GAMING Together with the local trade, MGTO promotes local tourism products and services in the leading and emerging tourism markets, meanwhile evaluating and exploring potential markets, Cheng tells us. The office works to strengthen its connections with overseas travel trade as well as regional and international tourism organisations to boost Macao’s tourism development. Macao is known as the Las Vegas of Asia - the gaming capital of the eastern world – but the MGTO tasks itself with promoting the less-discovered aspects of the autonomous region located on the south coast of China. “Our focus is on promoting Macao’s non-gaming elements such as our extensive MICE offering, including hosting some world-class concerts, our history, our varied gastronomy. Macao was designated as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy in 2017. We have a variety of halal food offerings, appealing to Muslim tourists from across the Middle East, Indonesia and Malaysia. We also have a UNESCO World Heritage site right in the heart of the city.” A Portuguese territory until 1999, Macao reflects a mix of unique cultural influences. The Historic Centre of Macao is an urban area within the old city of Macao with 8 squares and 22 historic buildings. It is the product of cultural exchange between East and West spanning over 400 years and is currently the oldest, the most complete and consolidated array of European architectural legacy standing intact on Chinese territory. Macao is also renowned for its luxury accommodations (with 24 five-star hotels being recognised by Forbes 2025 Star Awards), world-class shopping including cultural shopping regions and healthcare services. At the recently concluded event in Dubai, MGTO also introduced its Travel Stimulation Programs to encourage niche travel, including incentive trips, weddings, student groups, and sports tourism.| EASY CONNECTIVITY On the South coast of China, Macao lies across the Pearl River Delta from Hong Kong. “We are so conveniently located next to Hong Kong, with a bridge connecting the two cities in less than an hour. “The convenience of travel between Macao and other destinations cannot be emphasised enough - it’s very easy for Middle Eastern tourists to explore multiple locations in one trip. Travellers can also connect via high-speed trains to Shenzhen, Guangzhou and other cities in the Guangdong province, offering multiple itinerary options,” concludes Cheng. MGTO will be participating at ATM this year with partners including MGM, Sands Resorts Macao, Wynn Resorts Macau, Kwoon Chung (Macao) Travel Agency Ltd, Juventude International Travel.Ltd and Tourcon Technology Services. * Find Macao Government Tourism Office on stand AS8252