In line with the moderately diversified economic development of the Special Administrative Region, and the construction of “One centre, One platform, and One base” in Macao, Macao Polytechnic University and Association of Macao Tourist Agents held the launching ceremony of the “Education + Tourism” project on 19 June to promote the construction of a demonstration base for education, cultural tourism for Macao’s World Centre of Tourism and Leisure. Macao Polytechnic University and Association of Macao Tourist Agents will jointly develop education services and tourism to meet the needs of Southeast Asia, the country and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area for international and national examinations and certification services, and assist the work of the Examination and Certification Centre of Macao.

The launching ceremony of “Education +Tourism” by Macao Polytechnic University and Association of Macao Tourist Agents was held at Macao Polytechnic University in the morning of 19 June. The ceremony was officiated by the Macao Legislative Council member and the Chairman of Association of Macao Tourist Agents Dr. Cheung Kin Chung, Chairman of the Board of Supervisor Tsui Wai Man, Vice President Gloria Helda De Assis, and Vice Chairman Tang Ka Man, Rector of Macao Polytechnic University Professor Im Sio Kei, Director David Sansom and Deputy Director Lily Lim of the MPU-Bell Centre of English, and Director of Centre for Continuing Education Dr. Kan Ho Yin, with participants including representatives from more than 40 Macao travel agencies and the tourism industry, the heads of various MPU departments and trainers.

At the launching ceremony, Prof. Im Sio Kei said in his speech that in order to be in line with the SAR government’s policy implementation, MPU will continue to expand international and national examination and certification services, and build an examination and certification centre in Macao, and promote moderately diversified development in Macao. We look forward to working hand in hand with Association of Tourist Agents and the industry to leverage cross-domain linkage on “Education + Tourism”, attracting more students and tourists to take part in various professional examinations and training courses, expanding diversified sources for markets of tourist and further enhance the comprehensive competitiveness for Macao’s tourism and leisure industry.

Cheung Kin Chung noted that this “Education + Tourism” cooperative project is a significant milestone that will vigorously promote Macao’s construction of an “exchange and cooperation base that features Chinese culture as the mainstream with multiple coexisting cultures”. Drawing on MPU resources such as reputable research competence, excellent faculty and teaching facilities, the brand of “Education + Tourism” will be jointly constructed. The Tourism industry of Macao should continuously move ahead by strengthening the quality within and establishing the image without, promoting  “Education + Tourism” and other high-quality tourism projects in various fields, in support of the building of Macao’s education and cultural tourism demonstration base and the construction of world tourism leisure centre.

The “Cooperation Framework Agreement for Promoting Education and Cultural Tourism Demonstration Base for Macao’s World Centre for Tourism and Leisure” developed by Macao Polytechnic University, Association of Macao Tourist Agents and Macau Hoteliers & Innkeepers Association strengthens cooperation in the fields of smart tourism, education and training, study tours, technological innovation, talent cultivation and other areas to support the Macao SAR government’s governance, expanding the “Education + Tourism” brand activities in Macao, and promoting Macao’s “1+4” moderately diversified development.

Cheung Kin Chung, Chairman of the Association of Macao Tourist Agents, and Im Sio Kei, Rector of Macao Polytechnic University delivered speeches

Representatives from more than 40 Macao travel agencies and the tourism industry attended the launch of the “Education + Tourism” ceremony