Photo taken on Jan 18, 2023 shows an aerial view of the Grand Lisboa Casino complex (center) in Macao. (PHOTO / AFP)
The government of the Macao Special Administrative Region plans to give away 120,000 air tickets this year to attract visitors from the Chinese mainland, Taiwan and overseas regions.
Up till Feb 1, 2023, a travel discount program launched by the Macao tourism office in 2020 offered 377,000 discount air tickets to travelers, and numerous half-price hotel coupons
Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, director of the Macao Government Tourism Office, revealed the plan shortly after the central government announced full resumption of the Chinese mainland’s travel with the Hong Kong and Macao SARs from Monday. Group tours between the mainland and Hong Kong and Macao will resume at the same time.
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She estimated that on the first day of the travel resumption, many mainland tour groups will arrive in Macao.
Lei Wai-nong, secretary for economy and finance in Macao, said that the period from the Lantern Festival in February to the May Day holiday is a slow season for Macao’s tourism, and the resumption of tour groups from the mainland will stimulate tourism in the city.
He said Macao aims to attract about 40 million visitors this year, which is similar to the number in 2019. In addition to expanding mainland tourist sources, the city will introduce measures to attract more overseas visitors.
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The air ticket distribution operation is part of a travel discount program launched by the Macao tourism office in 2020. Up till Feb 1, 2023, the program offered 377,000 discount air tickets to travelers, and numerous half-price hotel coupons.