Sponsored content
Macao : building a MICE hub on the south coast of China
I n southern China , Macao is making moves to establish itself as a new hub for conferences and exhibitions . Just 62 miles from Hong Kong , the region has historically found its identity as a resort and casino capital , outstripping Las Vegas in gambling revenue by over seven times .
Now , with new partnerships connecting Macao to mainland China via Hengqin , plans are underway to push Macao forward as a leading name for business events in Asia . The modern metropolis is well-positioned to make the transition – with the 338m-tall Macao Tower , home to a convention and entertainment centre , Macao has vast corporate capacity for its small size as a region . Its hotel infrastructure is vast , built to receive large numbers of casinoseeking tourists .
Spending by foreign travellers in Macao is currently dominated by Chinese mainlanders , but as the industry grows it will open up to new international markets , offering more services in English as well as Portuguese .
One of Macao ’ s main attractions is accessibility – Macao has its own international airport and can also be reached via transfer from Hong Kong International Airport by bus or ferry . Visitors in Macao can take advantage of fast transport links to see more iconic locations in south China – Hong Kong , Shenzhen and Zhongshan , to name a few . The Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link , a
24km bridge over the Pearl River Delta , was just completed on 30 June this year . The $ 6.7bn sea-link has drastically boosted transport between China ’ s bay area cities .
Two visa policies make Macao stand out against nearby destinations . The first is a 72- hour visa-free movement pass for foreigners from 53 countries . The second is a 144-hour ‘ convenient visa ’ that allows foreigners to travel within the whole of Guangdong province for six days – and it doesn ’ t require an application .
The region also has a history of hosting long-standing trade show events . The Global Gaming Expo Asia returned to Macao this year , after years of being held in Singapore . Between 4 and 6 June , the event welcomed 100 exhibitors and 8,000 visitors at five-star hotel The Venetian .
Gaming wasn ’ t the only industry to host a major event in Macao this year . Early March saw Macao host the 2024 UFI Asia Pacific Conference . Senior management across the exhibition industry met with the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute to discuss future projects . UFI CEO Kai Hattendorf said the conference had achieved ideal results . Two professional training schemes will be launched in the city , laying the foundation for UFI to promote Macao as a global training hub .
The two-day conference brought together 300 industry leaders from mainland China , Europe and south
‘ More than 200 conventions and exhibitions were successfully held in Macao from January to April 2024 ’
Asia to meet with Hong Kong and Macao representatives . Delegates were able to visit local communities and learn about some of the incentive activities on offer .
Another major event in Macao this March was the 2024 Macao International Environmental Cooperation Forum and Exhibition ( MIECF ). The UFI-accredited exhibition was hosted by the government at one of the region ’ s most luxurious hotels , The Venetian . Organisers delivered over 420 business matching sessions over the three-day event .
The event saw agreements signed on 40 projects , with nine enterprises opening businesses in Macao during the exhibition . Visitors also had the opportunity to attend four separate multi-venue events , attracting around 120 participants . Attendees from Brazil , Cape Verde , Portugal and many other countries visited Hengqin and Zhuhai – taking advantage of the Guangdong 144- hour visa-free policy for foreign tour groups .
Exhibition area up 20 % and 50 % more international exhibitors Entering its 16th year , MIECF increased its exhibition area by 20 % for 2024 , up from last year ’ s 12,000sqm , and the main pavilions hosted over 560 exhibition booths . There were more than 400 exhibitors , with the foreign contingent growing by 55 %. International buyers from over 30 countries and regions participated in procurement meetings in Macao .
New products were released in five exhibition areas of MIECF ’ s green business platform . The fields involved were carbon neutrality technology , energy management , water resource management , green transport , eco-city integration and green buildings . The ‘ Green Smart Industries Exhibition Area ’ helped enterprises connect with green technologies and supply chains .
32 Issue 4 2024 www . exhibitionworld . co . uk