MACAU - Game for more

TTGasia, Sep 29 - Oct 5, 2006 / No.1497

MACAU has hit the jackpot in its destination marketing in Singapore, helped along by air access improvements with the advent of low-cost flights.

In 2005, it welcomed 82,298 visitors from Singapore, representing a dizzying growth of 79.9 per cent over 2004. And for the Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO), this sterling performance continues.

Its Singapore office general manager, Mr Asad Shiraz, said: “In the first seven months of 2006, 61,772 visitors from Singapore arrived in Macau and double-digit growth of 48.5 per cent has been achieved.”

Up until two years ago, any talk of such growth would have been met with scepticism as airline services by Singapore Airlines, SilkAir and Air Macau were withdrawn after failing to achieve reasonable returns. Macau’s destination marketing was infrequent and less visible compared to popular destinations such as Australia, Malaysia and India.

The entry of Tiger Airways on the Singapore-Macau route in March 2005, initially with a thrice-weekly service which has since grown to a daily service, was timed with visibly increased promotional activities by the MGTO in Singapore. Travel agents were beginning to offer attractively priced packages aimed at the heartlanders living in the housing estates and Chinatown.

Macau has confidently begun to stride forward as a standalone destination with possible extensions to Hong Kong and Zhuhai.

Last year, a consortium of five tour operators launched a series of FIT packages featuring stays in three- and four-star hotels.

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