For three days, three halls at the Venetian Macao's Cotai Expo thrummed with energy, cultural performances, mascot appearances and even roaming robots vying for attention.

That was the scene at the 14th Macao International Travel (Industry) Expo (MITE), the city's flagship travel trade show organised by the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) from 10-12 April.

Under the theme "Global Convergence, Future Horizons," over 700 exhibitors from 59 countries and regions, including national tourism boards, local and international brands, and industry trendsetters, converged across 30,000 sqm of exhibition space.

The event showcased the way forward in innovation, diversification and collaboration, putting Macao's tourism offerings on clear display alongside visions of the future of travel across the Greater Bay Area and beyond.

The future on display

eVTOL aircraft tapped to one day shuttle passengers on aerial city tours or serve as an air taxi. Photo Credit: MGTO

Innovation took centre stage at this year’s MITE with the debut of the Tourism Technology Exhibition Hall. Here, exhibitors showcased cutting-edge solutions designed to redefine how travel could be done. Robot dogs and humanoid machines paraded down aisles, waving paws and arms at anyone who crossed their path – a signal that intelligent tourism services are moving from concept to reality.

Another technology standout was the Low-Altitude Economy Pavilion, which introduced emerging developments in urban air mobility and low-altitude tourism. A highlight was a pilotless electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft that could potentially shuttle passengers on aerial city tours or serve as an air taxi.

These are in alignment with Macao’s recently launched citywide data-driven tourism initiative, as the city bets on tech-powered discovery tools for tourists.

Advancements in health and wellness tourism were also prominently featured at a pavilion by the Islands Healthcare Complex – Macao Medical Center of Peking Union Medical College Hospital, displaying high-end healthcare technology, including advanced skin and body composition analysers, and other smart healthcare devices.

Diversity on display

At the revamped Silk Road – Halal Products Pavilion, the showcase hosted dedicated networking sessions on Muslim-friendly tourism, showing the city’s efforts in steadily strengthening its offerings for Muslim travellers.

Related: Macao’s Muslim-friendly tourism: What travellers need to know

Macao’s hotel industry also put up a strong showing, with integrated resorts and hotels showcasing their signature attractions. At The Londoner Macao booth, staff dressed in the King’s Guard regalia of red tunic and bearskin hat manned a basketball hoop that represented NBA’s flagship store at the hotel.

Meanwhile, Wynn Palace captivated visitors with visual projections from The Odyssey of Jingdezhen Porcelain, its immersive exhibition tracing the rich history of Chinese ceramics.

Alongside industry-focused activities, the event also offered access to travel deals, and over 130 themed sessions such as various destination presentations, industry forums, workshops and performances.