Macau to stage 3rd World Heritage Travel Expo

MANILA, Philippines - World Heritage Sites are now top tourist attractions worldwide, and the annual growth rate of World Heritage tours is estimated to be three to five percent higher than that of regular travel destinations.

The UN World Heritage Center and UN World Tourism Organization strongly promote World Heritage tours to increase awareness on the protection and conservation of these important sites.   

In line with this global trend, the Third International Tourism and World Heritage Travel Expo has adopted the theme “Conservation, Development, Promotion and Communication.” It will take place on Sept. 16-18 at The Venetian Macao, the first fully integrated world-class resort in Asia. 

Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) director Joao Manuel Costa Antunes said the event will be an effective platform to consolidate collaboration and communication among different countries, and a viable forum to discuss strategies of World Heritage conservation, management and sustainable development. 

Country delegations are encouraged to join the expo, which is expected to attract participants from Southeast Asia, south China and the Pearl River Delta region. 

The event will also be an excellent opportunity for the Philippines to showcase its World Heritage Sites, including the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park in Palawan and Baroque churches such as the Church of San Agustin in Paoay, Ilocos Norte and the Church of Santo Tomas de Villanueva in Miag-ao, Iloilo. 

Expo highlights include the Most Watched World Heritage Site Awards 2010, the World Heritage School Day 2010, the 6th World Heritage Forum showcasing best practices in conservation, which the Philippines can learn from and contribute to, and the Tourism Investment Fair of World Heritage Tourism Destinations for which participating countries who would like to hold trade talks should apply at least three months before the expo date, to enable the committee to organize investors and developers to attend the event.  

Macau is fast becoming the most attractive MICE destination in Asia with its long list of World Heritage sites, delectable cuisine that caters to everyone, bargain shopping, world-class entertainment and, now, a wide selection of state-of-the-art MICE facilities.

The World Heritage Travel Expo will be held concurrently with the Third International Leisure Travel, Tourism Commodities and Gift Trade Fair, and the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Travel Mart, offering suppliers and buyers global trading opportunities. 

Visit http://www.worldheritagetravelexpo.com for more information on the Third International Tourism and World Heritage Travel Expo in Macau, or www.macautourism.gov.mo for information on forthcoming MICE events scheduled in the next two months: the 21st Wedding, Banquet, Beauty and Jewelry Expo (March 13-14), the International Association of Professional Congress Organizers Macau Regional Seminar (March 15-17), the 2010 International Forum of Chinese and Western Medicine on Cancer Treatment (March 27-29), the fourth Baby and Child Products Expo (March 27-28), the 2010 Macau International Environmental Cooperation Forum and Exhibition (April 8-10), the APAC Investments Summit 2010 (April 21-23), and the Intel Solutions Summit 2010 (April 27-30). More events have been lined up for the rest of the year.