Taking its first steps to overcome the coronavirus-induced tourism
slump, the SAR government has allocated MOP$280 million (US$35 million)
in subsidies and incentives to assist local travel operators while
enticing residents to explore more of their home city.
A total of 15 itineraries across two categories - community or
leisure - are available on the newly launched e-platform dedicated to
the Macao Ready Go! project. The tours cover various heritage sites and
integrated resort (IR) attractions in the destination, including popular
spots such as St Augustine’s Church, Dom Pedro V Theatre, Mandarin’s
House and A-Ma Temple, plus scenic lookouts – like the roof terrace of
the Colégio Mateus Ricci, overlooking the Ruin’s of St. Paul’s, another
icon of Macau.
Under this scheme, each Macau resident will receive a subsidy of
MOP$560 (US$70), which can be used to join the 15 itineraries. Conducted
in Cantonese, these tours can accept between 10 and 20 people for each
two-hour session, and are expected to run until 30 September 2020.
Macao Ready Go! has so far received positive response from the
domestic market, with over 3,100 locals signed up directly through
travel agents when the scheme was launched on 17 June last week.
Some 148 travel agents and 750 tour guides are set to benefit from
this scheme, while positive impacts also expected to trickle down to
suppliers such as drivers, guides, insurance providers, and external
caterers.
In a show of its commitment towards business recovery in the
post-pandemic norm, the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) has
stepped up its engagement with operators on the importance of
sanitisation efforts, and “tour guides have or will receive specific
training with regards to the current situation prior to the commencement
of tours”, a spokesperson shared.
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Galaxy Macau’s Grand Resort Deck is one of the included attractions offered by the IR, as part of the Macao Ready Go!, scheme.
Numerous travel industry players in Macau have joined the scheme,
including all six IR operators in the destination, wooing the local
market with their offers of attractively priced room packages or
upgrades, often paired with complimentary dining or spa vouchers.
“Macao Ready Go provides a platform for Sands Resorts Macao to
promote our accommodation, dining, entertainment and other offers. This
includes a new recreation promotion, with spa and pool discounts for
Macao residents,” said a Sands China spokesperson.
The IR had recently soft-opened the highly anticipated teamLab
SuperNature Macao, an immersive interactive world of 3D artwork
experiences located within the 5,000sqm Venetian Macao’s Cotai Expo.
Others, like Sociedade de Jogos de Macau (SJM), is targeting families
with its ‘Grand Lisboa Hotel x Macau Jockey Club’ tour, which includes
visit to both properties and hotel dining vouchers.
Meanwhile, safety and sanitisation practices remain top of mind for all participating travel trade.
“SJM fully supports and strictly adheres to all the measures taken by
the government, and maintains close communication with the relevant
government departments,” a spokesperson told Travel Weekly Asia.