Government Tourism Office Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes Discusses Plans to Boost International Visitor Promotion

The Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) is gearing up to boost its promotion efforts in order to attract more international visitors to the region in the second half of the year. Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes announced that they will be collaborating with major international media groups such as the BBC and CNN to reach a wider audience.

Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, Macau saw a significant increase in international visitor arrivals in the first six months of 2024. With nearly 1.17 million international visitors, there was a year-on-year increase of 146.4%, bringing them closer to their goal of attracting 3 million international visitors for the year.

Senna Fernandes is optimistic about surpassing expectations, with the number of visitors in July already higher than June. She anticipates that with more events planned for the second half of the year, the total number of visitors by the end of the year could exceed 33 million.

Addressing questions about a potential “tourism tax”, Senna Fernandes made it clear that such a measure would not be beneficial for Macau’s image as a tourist city. She emphasized the importance of continuously improving tourism facilities and services to attract more visitors, rather than deterring them with additional costs.

As the government prepares to announce the details of their upcoming promotion program, all eyes are on Macau as they strive to make a strong comeback in the tourism industry. Stay tuned for more updates on how they plan to entice travelers from around the world to visit this vibrant destination.