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MGM hosts Fam-trip for Japanese travel trade industry to boost Macau’s international tourism

MGM organized a five-day familiarization trip for Japanese travel trade representatives from Tokyo, held between October 14 and 18, in support of the Macao SAR Government’s initiative to expand the international tourist market.

During the trip, the representatives visited MGM’s two properties MGM MACAU and MGM COTAI, convention and entertainment facilities, as well as the world heritage sites in Macau, immersing themselves in Macau’s unique blend of Eastern and Western cultural heritage and rich tourism offerings. Through the familiarization trip, MGM aims to promote the city’s “Tourism+” appeal to Japanese travelers and potential MICE groups.

MGM had already organized two familiarization trips during March and September for the travel trade industry from Seoul and Busan, South Korea. This Japanese delegation consisted of 16 representatives from Tokyo’s MICE, airline, and media sectors.

On October 15, MGM hosted a welcome dinner for the delegation at MGM COTAI, to which more than 20 industry peers and association representatives from Hong Kong and Macau were invited.

Distinguished guests at the dinner were Betty Fok, Head of the Destination Marketing Department of the Macao Government Tourism Office; Steve Chan, Senior Manager of the Promotional Activities and Development of Conventions and Exhibitions Department of the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute; Vic Lam, Chief of the Division of Tourism, MICE and Commerce of the Economic Development Bureau of Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin; Kevin Wong, Assistant to Vice President, Commercial cum Regional General Manager – Greater Bay Area of Air Macau Company Limited; and the MGM’s management.

MGM hosts Fam-trip for Japanese travel trade industry to boost Macau's International tourism (1)
Guests of Honor performed a toast at the welcome dinner.

To showcase Macau’s designation as the Creative City of Gastronomy, MGM arranged a welcome dinner with a lineup of five renowned MGM culinary heads, including Yang Dengquan, Executive Sous Chef who helms the Michelin Star and Black Pearl award-winning restaurant Five Foot RoadHoman Tsui, Executive Chef who leads the Black Pearl-winning restaurant Imperial CourtTam Yim Chan, Executive Chef of ChúnJoao Costa Casimiro, Chef de Cuisine of Rossio; and Bruno Le Francois, Executive Pastry Chef of MGM. The sumptuous 10-hands dinner highlighted the essence of Macanese and Chinese cuisines with east-meet-west elements.

MGM hosts Fam-trip for Japanese travel trade industry to boost Macau's International tourism (2)
The welcome dinner highlighted the essence of Macanese and Chinese cuisines with a lineup of five renowned MGM culinary heads.

Addressing the dinner, Dr. Iwan Dietschi, Senior Vice President of Hospitality of MGM, said, “Since last year, MGM has been proactively expanding our foreign tourist markets in line with the Macao SAR Government’s initiative. Japan has become the third largest among overseas tourist market for Macau and MGM is keen on further tapping into the Japanese market.”

“With Macau’s recent designation as the ‘Culture City of East Asia 2025’, we anticipate a stronger rapport and collaboration between Japan and Macau, in the context of deepening cultural and tourism exchange. To further build on the relationship between Japan and MGM, we are planning to organize more familiarization trips for the Japanese tourism industry.  It is also in our plans to establish sales points in Tokyo and other cities in Japan, to serve the increasing demands of Japanese travelers.”

One of the representatives of the Japanese MICE delegation, Mr. Okuno, said, “We are delighted to have been invited by MGM for this familiarization trip, which has given us a deeper understanding of Macau’s unique tourism strengths and positioning. With its rich cultural tourism resources, Macau holds a strong appeal for the Japanese. In addition, the collaboration between Macau and Hengqin in the MICE sector presents exciting new opportunities. I look forward to seeing closer cooperation between MICE representatives from Macau and Japan, as we explore future opportunities to drive the sector forward together.”

MGM hosts Fam-trip for Japanese travel trade industry to boost Macau's International tourism (3)
The delegation visited Macau’s heritage sites, as well as the cultural tourism offerings at the Barra District and Macao Grand Prix Museum.

MGM carefully crafted the itinerary for the Japanese delegation, which included visits to MGM’s hotels and convention facilities. In addition, MGM arranged the “Macau Cruise” for the delegation to traverse Barra and Coloane in comfort by sea. Along the way, they visited heritage sites such as the Ruins of St. Paul’s and A-Ma Temple, as well as the cultural tourism offerings at the Navy Yard in the revitalized Barra District.

AGBrief Editorial
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The AGBrief Editorial Team is a group of contributors living around the world that are connected to Asia Gaming Brief. They are active members in pursuing the sources of our news, making them reliable and accurate for our readers.

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