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The Tourism & MICE Industry Workshops for Portuguese Speaking Countries" sponsored by the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macau) hosted by the School of Continuing Studies, City University of Macau opened on June 4. Luminaries at the opening ceremony included the Secretary-General of the Permanent Secretariat for the Sino-Portugal Forum, Mr. Chang, He Xi. Also in attendance were Vice Minister of the Economic Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in Macau, Mr. Hu Jing Yan, Ministerial Assistant of the Economic Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government, Mr. Gao Shang De, Commissioner of Foreign Ministry in Macau, Ms. Li Rong, Consul General of Angola to Macau, Mr. Pedro da Silva Feijo Sorbian, Vice Secretary-General of the Permanent Secretariat for the Sino-Portugal Forum, Mr. Marcello, Director of Tourism Bureau, Ms.Man Yee Wah, Executive Committee of IPIM, Dr. Echo Chan, Rector of City University of Macau, Mr. Yan Zexian, and Vice Rector of City U, Prof. Aliana Leong Man Wai, The Tourism & MICE Industry Workshops for Portuguese Speaking Countries is the third workshop organized by the Forum in response to the requirement of Portuguese-speaking countries. The Workshop will run from June 4th to the 17th, opening in Macau with other activities in Guangzhou Nansha. Among the 28 workshop participants are professionals and technical personnel from the government, tourism and MICE industry of seven Portuguese-speaking countries, such as Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal and East Timor, as well as professionals from Mainland China and Macau. Vice Secretary-General of the Permanent Secretariat for the Sino-Portugal Forum, Ms. Rita Santos in her speech, stated that the aim of the workshop is not just to promote the tourism and MICE development of Macau, but also an avenue to hear ideas from all sides, as well as strengthen the economic and cultural cooperation between the Chinese Mainland and Portuguese-speaking countries. Prof. Yan Zexian, Rector of City U, said that tourism and MICE are sunrise industries. Being the backbone of the social and economic development in Macau, both industries are proofs of the appropriately diversified economic structure of Macau and the building of the world tourism and leisure center. The future direction of ongoing efforts are focused on how to optimize the development modes of tourism and MICE industry while ensuring the development speed and extent of MICE in the global scale. The platform of Macau is to strengthen the industrial interaction between Portuguese-speaking countries and Mainland China, as well as play its regional advantages to the maximum for the enhancement of the service and human resource qualities of tourism and MICE industry. For the remaining days of the workshop, the trainees will participate in a series of thematic training and exchange visits. The vice Secretary-General of the permanent Secretariat for the Sino-Portugal Forum, Ms. Rita Santos will trace the role of Macau as a platform for China and Portuguese-speaking countries. The following seminars will be given by scholars and experts from the School of Continuing Studies, City U, Tourism and MICE industries, and closely related government departments. Topics of discussions include: A Brief Introduction to the Development of Macau Tourism and MICE Industry and the Business Environment, Construction of the Protection System for MICE Service, The Interactive Mechanism of Macau MICE and Tourism Industry, Interactive Development of Hengqin Development and Macau MICE Business and Leisure Tourism, The Macau Professional Associations and SMEs How to Create and Grasp the Opportunities and Challenges for MICE and Tourism, Measures of MICE Industry driving the Economic Diversification of Macau – based on MIF and other brands of MICE, The Incentives of Mainland China for Macau MICE and Tourism, and The Tourism Integration of Macau and Mainland China, among others. The trainees will also take part in the "The Fourth International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum", visit the Economic Services Bureau and Tourism Bureau of Macau, and explore Macau’s major MICE service facilities. The Tourism Bureau will arrange for the trainees to visit tourism facilities and major world heritage sites in Macao Peninsula, Coloane, Taipa and Cotai. In addition, the trainees will proceed to Guangzhou Nansha for a three-day expedition. The trainees will have an exchange of ideas with the Guangzhou Municipal Bureau of Tourism, Guangzhou Convention and Exhibition Association, Nansha Economic and Technological Development Association, and also visit the Nansha Economic and Technological Development Zone. In his speech delivered at the opening program, Mr. Chang Hexi stated that both China and Portuguese-speaking countries have unique tourism resources, allowing their tourism and MICE industry great development potentials and investment opportunities, particularly Macau. With its uniquely integrated Eastern and Western culture, Macau has the ideal background for excellent business leisure tourism and MICE. Mr. Chang further said that relying on the unique advantages of good business and the bilingual environment of Chinese and Portuguese, Macau plays an irreplaceable role as a bridge and link for the economic and trade cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries. |
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