Senior executives representing the Macau Special Administrative Region were recently in Thailand to discuss efforts to jointly promote travel and tourism exchange between Macau and Thailand.

Mr Ho Veng On, Chief of Office of the Chief Executive of the Macau Special Administrative Region, paid a visit to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) head office on 2 May and was warmly welcomed by TAT Governor, Mrs Phornsiri Manoharn.

Examples of past tourism promotion efforts jointly undertaken by TAT and Macau to promote two-way travel include the 7th Macau Food Festival, The Asia & Thai Food Festival 2008. TAT was also involved in a Viva Macau joint promotion to organize a charter flight to Bangkok and Phuket during the recent Chinese New Year.

Air Asia currently offers direct flights linking both destinations. As of 1 March 2008, Thai Airways International (THAI), the national carrier, signed a code-sharing agreement with Air Macau, which facilitates travel beyond Bangkok to key destinations around Thailand. Bangkok Airways is scheduled to commence its Bangkok-Macau flights by towards the end of the year.

Macau authorities are keen to raise the visibility and awareness of the destination internationally and would like to see an increase in the length of stay of Thai visitors. Currently visitors from Thailand spend half a day sightseeing around Macau.

In 2007, Thailand welcomed 18,930 visitors from Thailand, a year-over-year increase of 23.24 per cent, while 37,031 Thai visitors travelled to Macau, representing a 45.54 growth over the previous year.