2013-03-19 — /travelprnews.com/ — Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) announced today in a special promotional event in Moscow the opening of its representative office in Russia, taking advantage of the peak period of travel shows in the country, where Macau is also joining hands with Hong Kong to promote the two cities as one destination, to develop the great potential of the Russian tourism market.
MGTO director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes is at the Russian capital to officiate the opening of the new representative office at a launching lunch held today at Lotte Hotel Moscow, to Russian travel trade and media.
“We are very excited to open a representative office here in Moscow following a few years conducting seasonal promotions to test the market. Russia is one of the most sought-after markets in the world in terms of tourism potential and for Macau the Russian market is the fastest growing emerging market,” Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes said at the function.
The new MGTO representative office in Moscow was announced today taking advantage of the high season of tourism trade fairs taking place at the Russian capital. Moscow hosted the Luxury Travel Mart, held March 14, followed by Intourmarket International Travel Fair (ITM), organized between March 16 and 19, and the Moscow International Travel and Tourism Exhibition (MITT), running March 20 to 23, with MGTO participating in all three events to promote Macau.
MGTO director, along with a group of Macau travel trade, representing two local travel agencies and two hotels, is participating at MITT, which is considered the main international travel show held annually in Russia. Macau booth at MITT invites trade visitors and consumers to Experience Macau, network and learn more about the city’s tourism and entertainment infrastructures, heritage and culture, festivals and events. On the day of MITT opening, tomorrow (20), MGTO is going to host a dinner for Russian travel agencies and other travel trade directors and managers to meet and exchange with the Macau delegation.
On March 21, MGTO is also organizing a joint event with Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) to promote the two neighbor cities as one destination for Russian travelers. MGTO director, along with HKTB deputy-executive director Daisy Lui will host a cocktail-presentation of the two destinations for Russian media and travel trade.
Following several years organizing regular promotions in Russia, MGTO opened a representative office in the country, which started operations in January this year. With a mutual visa free policy in force between Macau and Russia since October 2012, along with continuing increase of visitors from the country to Macau, as well as to Hong Kong, MGTO decided to open a representative office in Russia looking forward to diversify visitor source market to the city.
Russia is one of the most sought-after markets in the world in terms of its tourism potential and is the fastest growing emerging market for Macau. Visitor arrivals from Russia have been increasing annually since 2004. Last year Macau welcomed 26,844 Russian visitors, marking a year-on-year growth of 62.6 per cent.