The “2016 Annual Work Meeting of Joint Working Committee on Tourism to Support Macao's Aspirations to Build a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure" was held in Zhuhai, Guangdong this morning (24 February). The meeting was attended by officials from the entities concerned, including China National Tourism Administration (CNTA), the Secretariat for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao Special Administrative Region Government, Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao Special Administrative Region, Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), Tourism Administration of Guangdong Province and the People’s Government of Zhuhai Municipality. The meeting discussed numerous issues on the agenda regarding measures to foster Macao’s development into a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure in light of the latest prospect. The meeting parties also confirmed the tasks in 2016 and signed the meeting memorandum.
Vice Chairman of CNTA, Du Jiang, and the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao SAR Government, Alexis Tam, both delivered a speech during the annual work meeting as the Conveners of the “Joint Working Committee on Tourism to Support Macao's Aspirations to Build a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure" (“Joint Working Committee on Tourism”). Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR, Yao Jian, addressed the meeting as well. Following the remarks, Head of the Department of Affairs on Tourism of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan of CNTA, Liu Kezhi, and MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, both the Secretary General of the Joint Working Committee on Tourism, presented current trends in tourism and elaborated on the directions of tourism planning involving Macao in the 13th Five-Year Plan and the Belt and Road Initiative, as well as the overall planning on Macao tourism development and regional cooperation in tourism.
Major members of the Joint Working Committee on Tourism and the officials from the Mainland and Macao discussed various issues and reached a consensus during the work meeting. The agenda include new means and paths to deepen regional tourism integration and cooperation between Macao and the Mainland in 2016, application of diverse platforms to foster development and joint promotion of new tour routes and products. The meeting parties also shared the Mainland’s and Macao’s latest tourism trends, and exchanged ideas to strengthen cooperation on tourism industry management.
The Convener of the Joint Working Committee on Tourism and CNTA Vice Chairman, Du Jiang, expressed congratulations on the success of the meeting and stated clear requirements for the Joint Committee’s tasks to carry out in 2016. He pointed out the necessity to take a broader perspective on the latest prospect faced by Macao along its path to develop into a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure. Mainland tourism industry, in its prime at present, will generate a new momentum for Macao tourism industry to go forward. The 13th Five-Year Plan, Belt and Road Initiative, free trade zones and CEPA are among the national strategies which have rolled out incredible advantages and golden opportunities in history for Macao’s transformation into a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure. The Joint Committee is required to fully recognize that its annual tasks to foster Macao’s development into a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure help to fulfill and realize the Country’s macroscopic strategies for tourism industry development in the new era at practical level. In order to do so, the Committee has to incorporate the strategies into its annual task accomplishment and give full play to the function of its system. More than that, the Committee serves to enhance communication and coordination for stronger team efforts and greater influence of its system.
The Convener of the Joint Working Committee on Tourism and the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao SAR Government, Alexis Tam, remarked that the proposals in the 13th Five-Year Plan indicate the Country’s continuous support to Macao’s positioning as a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure, and its development into a world-famous and modern tourist destination that meets global standards. The SAR Government understood that building the city into a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure is a huge project at many levels, which not only involves collaboration among departments with different functions in the SAR Government but also requires concerted efforts and support of all local residents. The SAR Government will put stronger efforts in coordination, and strive to deepen and widen the level of cooperation across various entities, fields and levels regarding urban transportation, accommodation, hospitality and manpower in tourism industry as well as promotion of tourism awareness among other aspects. By making such endeavors, the SAR Government is dedicated to transforming Macao not only into a great city to live and work in, but also into a fascinating destination to visit and explore on foot with vibrant choices of fun and entertainment.
Secretary Tam believes that the work meeting will further enhance cooperation between CNTA and MGTO, and will certainly make a positive influence on the SAR Government’s formulation and implementation of work planning for the future. Last but not least, Secretary Tam expressed gratitude to CNTA for its long-term support to the SAR Government’s work in tourism which has created favorable conditions for Macao’s development into a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure.
Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR, Yao Jian, expressed that the Central Government highly regards and supports Macao’s development into a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure. Once again, the proposals in the 13th Five-Year Plan clearly suggest supporting Macao’s development into a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure and a service platform for business cooperation between China and Portugal, as well as adequate diversification and sustainable development of Macao’s economy. He pointed out that despite the complex and ever-changing prospect of the global economy, the tourism industry in China and across the world is trending upward against the economic downturn. The positive trends have created important opportunities and given confidence for Macao to uplift the local economy and unleash its competitive advantages as a tourism destination. Over the years, the SAR Government has taken active measures to build the city into a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure with a harvest of achievements. In 2015, the SAR Government established the Committee for Development of the World Centre of Tourism and Leisure, chaired by the Chief Executive of the Macao SAR, and announced a groundwork proposal for the Macao SAR’s five-year development plan. The plan has laid a key foundation for Macao to enhance its top-down design, coordination, planning and systematic implementation of tasks to build the city into a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure.
After the Conveners made concluding remarks, the two Secretaries General of the Joint Working Committee on Tourism signed the meeting memorandum.
Officials and guests who attended the meeting include: Director of Asia Tourism Exchange Center, Li Jianping; Deputy Head of the Department of Affairs on Tourism of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan of CNTA, Ren Jiayan; Deputy Heads of Economic Department of Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR, Kou Ming and Zhu Hong; Tourism Administration of Guangdong Province Director General, Zeng Yingru, and Deputy Director General, Mei Qijie; Vice Mayor of Zhuhai Municipal People’s Government, Long Guangyan; Director of Zhuhai Culture Sports and Tourism Bureau, Wang Lingping; Director of the Management Committee of Hengqin New Area, Niu Jing among others. Coming from Macao, Chief of Office of the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao SAR Government, Ip Peng Kin, MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Advisors of Office of the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Charles Lam and Stella Leong, MGTO Deputy Director Cecilia Tse, among others.
In June 2015, the Macao SAR Government and CNTA signed the “Agreement between Macao and the Mainland about Establishment of a Joint Working Committee on Tourism to Support Macao's Aspirations to Build a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure”. Since establishment, the Joint Working Committee on Tourism unfolded a range of tasks, including invitations made to superiors, experts and scholars from the Mainland and Macao to participate in an expert seminar for discussions on the issue about how to foster Macao’s development into a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure under the latest prospect. The Committee also arranged a delegation of Taiwanese media and travel agency executives to inspect multi-destination tour routes in Macao and Zhuhai, to enhance regional cooperation in tourism. In addition, the Committee supported Macao to host the Global Tourism Economy Forum and Macao International Travel (Industry) Expo, as part of its strenuous endeavor to foster Macao’s development into a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure.
“促进澳门世界旅游休闲中心建设联合工作委员会2016年度工作会议”今早（24日）在广东省珠海市召开，国家旅游局、澳门特别行政区政府社会文化司、中央人民政府驻澳门特别行政区联络办公室、澳门特别行政区政府旅游局、广东省旅游局及珠海市政府等相关单位负责人出席。会议就新形势下推进澳门世界旅游休闲中心建设涉及的多个议题进行讨论，定下2016年度工作任务并签署会议纪要。
“促进澳门世界旅游休闲中心建设联合工作委员会”（简称：旅游联合工作委员会）的两位召集人，国家旅游局副局长杜江及澳门特别行政区政府社会文化司司长谭俊荣，以及中央人民政府驻澳门特别行政区联络办公室副主任姚坚于年度工作会议上致辞。旅游联合工作委员会的两位秘书长，国家旅游局港澳台旅游事务司司长刘克智及澳门特别行政区政府旅游局局长文绮华在会上分别作情况介绍，阐述“十三五＂和“一带一路＂旅游规划涉及澳门的相关内容，以及澳门旅游业发展总体规划和区域旅游合作。
旅游联合工作委员会的主要成员及来自内地与澳门的领导在工作会议上就多个议题作讨论并达成共识。当中的议题包括：于今年深化内地与澳门区域旅游一体化合作的新方法和新路径、利用多元平台推进新线路产品的开发和联合推广，以及针对内地与澳门旅游交流新形势，进一步加强旅游行业管理合作等。
旅游联合工作委员会召集人、国家旅游局副局长杜江对会议取得圆满成功表示祝贺，同时对落实联委会年度工作任务提出了明确要求。他指出，要从更为宏观的角度认识澳门世界旅游休闲中心建设面临的新形势。当前，内地旅游业处于黄金发展期，将为澳门旅游业发展提供新动力。“十三五＂规划、“一带一路＂、自贸区和CEPA等国家战略优势叠加，为推进澳门世界旅游休闲中心建设带来了难得的历史机遇。要充分认识到，联委会年度工作任务是新时期旅游业发展宏观战略在促进澳门世界旅游休闲中心建设具体层面的体现和要求，要结合新时期旅游业发展战略顺势推进落实联委会年度工作任务。要充分发挥联委会机制作用，加强沟通协调，形成工作合力，提升联委会机制影响力。
旅游联合工作委员会召集人、澳门特别行政区政府社会文化司司长谭俊荣发言时表示国家“十三五”规划的建议，表明继续支持澳门世界旅游休闲中心的定位，以及把澳门建成一个具有世界高知名度、符合世界现代化标准的旅游城市。建设世界旅游休闲中心是一个多层次、而且相当浩大的工程，除了涉及特区政府不同职能范畴的协作，也需要特区广大市民的努力和支持。特区政府将加大统筹力度，对市内交通、住宿、旅客接待、旅游业人力资源，以至旅游认知推动等方面，加大跨部门、跨领域、跨层面的合作深度和广度，全力把澳门打造成一个宜居、宜业、宜行、宜游、宜乐的旅游城市。
谭俊荣认为是次工作会议将进一步加强国家旅游局及澳门特区政府旅游局之间的合作，也一定能为特区政府制订和推动未来的工作规划带来积极作用。最后，谭俊荣感谢国家旅游局长期对澳门特区政府旅游工作的支持，为构建澳门成为“世界旅游休闲中心”创造更有利的条件。
中央人民政府驻澳门特别行政区联络办公室副主任姚坚表示，中央一直高度重视和大力支持澳门世界旅游休闲中心建设。国家“十三五＂规划纲要建议再次明确提出，支持澳门建设世界旅游休闲中心、中葡商务合作服务平台，促进澳门经济适度多元可持续发展。他指出，当前全球经济形势复杂多变，但世界和中国旅游业逆势增长，为澳门发挥自身旅游业优势、提振本地经济带来了重要的机遇和信心。多年来，特区政府积极施政，努力推动“一个中心”的建设，成效显着。特别是2015年，特区政府成立了由行政长官担任主席的“建设澳门世界旅游休闲中心委员会”，公布了澳门特区五年发展规划基础方案，这为澳门加强顶层设计、统筹规划、系统开展“一个中心”建设奠定了重要基础。
召集人作总结发言后，旅游联合工作委员会的两位秘书长签署会议纪要。
参与研讨会的领导和嘉宾还包括：亚洲旅游交流中心主任李建平、国家旅游局港澳台旅游事务司副司长任佳燕、中央人民政府驻澳门特别行政区联络办公室经济部副部长寇明及朱宏、广东省旅游局局长曾颖如、副局长梅其洁、珠海市人民政府副市长龙广艳、珠海市文化体育旅游局局长王玲萍及横琴新区管委会主任牛敬等。澳门方面包括：澳门特别行政区政府社会文化司司长办公室主任叶炳权、澳门特别行政区政府旅游局局长文绮华、社会文化司司长办公室顾问林晓白、梁咏娴，以及旅游局副局长谢庆茜等。
去年六月，澳门特别行政区政府与国家旅游局签署了“内地与澳门关于建立促进澳门世界旅游休闲中心建设联合工作委员会的协议”，随后展开了一系列的工作，包括邀请来自内地及澳门的领导、专家和学者就“如何在新形势下促进澳门世界旅游休闲中心建设”的议题举行专家研讨会、组织台湾旅行社高层及媒体到澳门及珠海考察“一程多站”路线，促进区域旅游合作；同时亦支持澳门举办“世界旅游经济论坛”及“澳门国际旅游（产业）博览会”，积极推进澳门世界旅游休闲中心的建设。
