Local travel agents will be able to collect a subsidy of up to MOP 250 per night per tourist under a new Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) scheme which will come into force next year.
The My Treat for You, Joyful Macao Tour subsidy plan aims to encourage local travel agencies to strengthen the promotion of Macao’s distinct tourism routes in mainland China market next year, aiming to attract more tourists to visit Macao in the form of tour groups, in order to expand the city’s tourism base, boost Macao’s economic recovery and sustain the development of quality tourism.
The subsidy plan is now accepting applications from licensed travel agencies.
If a group of at least 10 non-local residents is organised by an approved outbound travel agency in mainland China to visit Macao next year, the agency can apply for the subsidy, although there are a number of exacting specifications.
Tour groups must come from Guangdong, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Fujian or Shanghai, and the whole group must depart from the same place. Each tour group must be received by local travel agents who are responsible for arranging the tour itinerary and lodging in licensed hotels.
A tourist coach must be used to pick up the tour group, which must be led by a local licensed tour guide. No goods can be sold to the tourists by the travel agency nor can the itinerary include “enforced shopping” at designated places during the tour.
Subsidised travel agencies are required to submit the relevant information three days before the tour group arrives in Macao, and submit supporting documents within seven days of the tour group’s departure from the city.
Each subsidy for the package tour will be calculated according to the number of people in the group, the departure point of the package tour and the number of hotel nights in Macao.
The subsidy will be MOP 150 for one night for each traveller from Guangdong, and MOP 300 for two consecutive nights or more, while a subsidy of MOP 250 for one night and MOP 400 for two consecutive nights or more will be paid per tourist from cities outside Guangdong. Tours for children under two years of age based on the date of departure are not subsidised.
Potential applicants are eligible to be shortlisted to participate in the subsidy plan and submit their applications. The selection criteria include listing the total number of mainland China tour groups received in 2018 and 2019, submitting their 2023 proposals complete with their marketing plan, tour planning details, a list of mainland China tour agencies that they cooperate with, and the measures to respond to an outbreak of Covid-19 during the tourists’ visit to Macao.
Local travel agents who are interested in participating in the plan are required to submit their documents for assessment on or before 1 pm on 23 December, The Macau Post Daily reported.
