Macau has released the concept proposal for its International Integrated Tourism and Cultural District, outlining plans to develop three major cultural venues across two strategic land parcels, one of the city’s most expansive cultural infrastructure initiatives to date.
The project includes the Macau National Museum of Culture, the Macau International Performing Arts Center, and the International Museum of Contemporary Art.
According to the proposal, the Macau National Museum of Culture is tentatively planned for the coastal area east of the Macau Tower, with a construction area of 80,000 to 100,000 square meters. Set to become the city’s largest museum, it will include core spaces for artifact storage, restoration, research, and flexible exhibitions, along with facilities for education, incubation, commercial services, public leisure, and administration. The museum aims to showcase representative artifacts of Sino-Western cultural exchange, Macau’s cultural heritage, and significant historical relics of Chinese civilization.
The Macau International Performing Arts Center is initially designated for the western side of New Urban Zone Area C, with a planned construction area of 55,000 to 65,000 square meters. It will serve as an international, integrated performance platform and provide creation, collaboration, and training space for performing arts institutions and artists.
On the eastern side of Area C, the International Museum of Contemporary Art is planned with a construction area of 35,000 to 45,000 square meters, focusing on art collection, research, exhibitions, and education. It will also support talent development and international art exchange, offering contemporary art exhibitions, immersive experiences, and commercial services.
The concept proposal identifies five potential sites suitable for large cultural facilities, including parcels D11 and D12 in New Urban Zone Area A, part of the former Taipa Ocean World plot, the former Macau Jockey Club land, the coastal area east of Macau Tower, and New Urban Zone Area C.
Based on construction scale and land conditions, the China Tourism Academy—under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s Data Center—concluded that a two-site combination would likely be required, as no single parcel other than the former Jockey Club land can accommodate all three venues.
After a comprehensive assessment, the proposal recommends pairing the coastal area east of the Macau Tower with New Urban Zone Area C. The two locations face each other across the channel, enabling unified regional planning and visual connectivity that enhances the district’s cultural landscape. Both areas already benefit from strong tourism resources and high visitor traffic, allowing the new venues to complement existing leisure spaces.
The coastal site offers convenient transport links and potential for new bus routes that could ease traffic pressure around Area C. Both sites pose minimal disruption to residential communities and support a mature model of shared spaces for locals and tourists.
The proposal emphasizes that the two-site approach would create a cohesive cultural district along the Macau Peninsula waterfront, contributing to an enhanced skyline and a stronger environment for cultural development.
It is also worth noting that in April this year, Macau Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai first revealed the idea of the International Integrated Tourism and Cultural District, with the project estimated to require an investment of MOP12 billion ($1.5 billion).
