Macao seeks to become regional recreation hub

MACAO - Riding high on its efforts to achieve the goals and undertakings of the Beijing-led Belt and Road Initiative, Macao is looking to reinforce regional collaboration in its quest for a leading role as a recreation and entertainment center in the Pearl River Delta region and along the Belt and Road routes.


The city underscored this vision when the sixth session of the Global Tourism Economy Forum (GTEF) kicked off in Macao on Monday.

Hosted by Macao’s Secretariat for Social Affairs and Culture, the two-day event is set to promote international dialogue on the theme “Regional Collaboration Toward a Better Future”, while intensifying links with Central and Eastern European countries.

In his opening address, former Macao chief executive Edmund Ho Hau-wah, who is now vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, said in a world reshaped by cutting-edge technology and diverse cultures, economies have become inextricably interwoven. This calls for trans-regional and transnational cooperation across a wider range of areas.

Collaboration drives the vision of the world’s second-largest economy to revive its ancient trade route, said Alexis Tam Chon-weng, secretary for social affairs and culture of the Macao Special Administrative Region Government.

“The forum echoes Macao’s determination to play a bigger role as the country’s connector with the rest of the world and make a bigger difference in the regional collaboration landscape,” said Tam, who is also the executive chairman for GTEF.

“Macao is betting big on sharpening its edge as the world-renowned recreation and entertainment center, as well as the trade and economic cooperation platform between the Chinese mainland and Portuguese-speaking countries,” he noted.

Taleb Rifai, who is in the final year of a second four-year term as the secretary-general of the World Tourism Organization, says Macao has what it takes to be a major driving force for a higher level of regional cooperation under the Belt and Road push.

The forum is billed as one of the leading annual events in the global tourism calendar and the single most representative non-governmental tourism platform in China.

It has attracted more than 7,000 participants from 63 countries and regions, welcomed 54 provincial and municipal delegations from the Chinese mainland, and invited 300 of the world’s most influential business leaders, decision-makers and academics to share their insights since its inception in 2012.

In conjunction with this year’s GTEF, China Daily will host a panel discussion for the sixth year running. It will bring together distinguished academics, policy makers and industry heavyweights to share their insights on how the grand plan of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area could benefit from a higher level of regional cooperation.

The dialogue, entitled “The Greater Bay Area - Visionary Collaboration in the Making”, will be held today (Tuesday) at Macau Tower.

sophia@chinadailyhk.com