Macau, China, 31 Dec – The government of Macau Wednesday announced that it has decided to extend the "Plan to Support Macau Tourism Industry" to the end of March 2010, in a bid to stimulate local leisure tourism, business tourism and the aviation industry.
The overall budget of the "Plan to Support the Macau Tourism Industry" from January to March 31, 2010 is 126.4 million patacas (US$ 16 million), the Tourist Office said.
It also said that the program was aimed at maintaining the momentum and competitive edge Macau has been building as an international destination.
The Government Tourist Office initiated the "Plan to Support Macau Tourism Industry" on May 18 this year to the end of the year committing a total of 172.4 million patacas (US$ 21.55 million).
According to the new arrangement, all of the programs under the plan will be extended from Dec. 31, 2009 to March 31, 2010 with another 126.4 million patacas (US$ 16 million), the Tourist Office said.
Under the plan, the Macau government has allocated a sum of 6.8 million patacas (US$ 860,759) to fund 30,000 guiding services in local tourism market, and 21.83 million patacas (2.76 million) to support business tourism, including 31 meetings and conventions, 19 exhibitions and 26 incentive travel events, according to the Tourist Office.
The government also allocated 20.75 million patacas (US$ 2.6 million) to the aviation sector and 2.26 million (US$ 282,500) for training initiatives organized by travel trade associations for tourism employees to enhance the service quality of the industry through the plan.
(MacauNews)
