MACAO, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- The tourism office of China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) on Thursday published the final version of the blueprint for tourism development in the next 15 years, consisting of key objectives, strategies and action plans for short and long term implementation.
Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes told a press conference that the Belt and Road Initiative and Macao's vision to build itself into a world tourism and leisure center have opened up a new horizon of possibilities for the tourism industry in the SAR.
In 2015, MGTO began studying and formulating a Macao Tourism Industry Development Master Plan to make systematic plans on building and managing the tourism economy. In the preparatory process, the office has conducted a range of studies such as international forums, questionnaire surveys, site visits, interviews and benchmark analyses.
The master plan proposes eight key objectives, 33 strategies and 91 action plans for short-, medium- and long-term implementation. The key objectives include Diversify Tourism Products and Experiences, Rebrand as a Multi-day Destination, and Manage Tourism Carrying Capacity.
The master plan also suggests that with those measures, Macao can enjoy the new opportunities by leveraging its extensive experience engaging in international tourism organizations, unique cultures and historical legacy, and become a core tourism city of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
Following the release of the master plan, the SAR government will establish a cross-departmental coordination group, led by the secretary for social affairs and culture who will lead collaboration across departments and oversee the implementation progress of the action plans.
