The Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), in partnership with the Japan Association of Travel Agents, hosted 25 travel trade delegates from Tokyo and Osaka for a familiarisation trip to Macao from 5-8 December 2024. The visit aimed to deepen understanding of Macao's tourism offerings, foster business partnerships, and explore new opportunities tailored to Japanese visitors.
A key highlight of the trip was the MACAO．JAPAN (Tokyo & Osaka) Travel Mart on 6 December. The event saw around 70 professionals from Macao engage in discussions with the Japanese delegates, including representatives from travel agencies, airlines, hotels, and other tourism sectors. These conversations focused on enhancing travel products and services for the Japanese market.
Delegates toured key attractions across Macao, Taipa, and Coloane, including the UNESCO-listed Historic Centre of Macao, the Macao Grand Prix Museum, and MinM Plaza. The itinerary also featured local culinary experiences, offering a firsthand look at Macao’s "tourism+" concept, which combines traditional attractions with innovative new experiences. This initiative is expected to inspire the creation of new tourism products for Japanese visitors.
Japan continues to be one of the top ten source markets for Macao, with daily flight services connecting Tokyo and Osaka to the destination. Since the lifting of border restrictions in 2023, the MGTO has been actively promoting Macao to Japanese tourists, using initiatives like this familiarisation trip to strengthen business relationships and increase awareness of the destination.