Tourism office plans halal initiatives, GCC outreach, and cultural adjustments

By Abdullahi Yusuf

The Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) is intensifying efforts to attract Muslim travelers, with a particular focus on Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, according to its director, Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes.

Speaking at the announcement of the 13th Macau International Travel Expo (MITE), scheduled from April 25-27, Fernandes outlined the tourism office’s strategy to engage Islamic countries and expand Macau’s appeal as a destination.

Recent MGTO seminars in Dubai and Saudi Arabia highlighted the potential of these markets, she said, as reported by the Macau Daily Times.

Fernandes emphasized that making Macau more accommodating for Muslim visitors is key to the strategy.

This includes increasing halal food options and enhancing hotel facilities to meet “Muslim-friendly” standards.

The tourism office is also eyeing visitors from China’s western provinces, where Islamic traditions are deeply rooted.

MITE will feature dedicated promotions for halal food and workshops to guide hotels on achieving Muslim-friendly certifications.

Fernandes said the MGTO aims to restore and exceed pre-pandemic levels of international visitors.

“Our main goal is to at least reach 3 million international visitors annually,” she stated, adding, “For the future, we’re targeting even more than 3 million.”

To achieve this, MGTO plans to collaborate with airlines offering direct flights to Macau and leverage connectivity through Hong Kong and other cities in the Greater Bay Area.

“We understand there will still be a lot of work to do,” Fernandes remarked, underscoring the importance of partnerships and infrastructure development in achieving their goals.