August 7, 2019 – In support of the Macau SAR Government’s talent development policies, Galaxy Entertainment Group (GEG) has been running a range of training programs to cultivate local talent to sustain social development. Today, in the Grand Ballroom of Ritz-Carlton, Macau, GEG held the “Celebration of the 20^th Anniversary of the Macau SAR Government – Director Dialogue with GEG YAP”, in conjunction with the Macau Management Association (MMA). Ms. Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Director of the Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO), shared and exchanged views with some 80 participants from the current and previous Youth Achievement Program (YAP) on the range of opportunities and challenges in the tourism industry since the establishment of the Macau SAR. Also attending the event were Mr. Philip Cheng, Director of GEG; Mr. Tommy Lau, Council Chairman of MMA; Mr. Paul Tse, Vice President of MMA; Mr. Raymond Bao, Council Vice Chairman and Honorary Treasurer of MMA; Mr. Alex Mok, Council Vice Chairman of MMA; and Mr. Buddy Lam, Senior Vice President of Public Relations of GEG. 

The session began with Director Senna Fernandes providing an overview to Macau’s tourism sector, and elaborating on the Macau Tourism Industry Development Master Plan, the celebratory activities for the 20^th anniversary of the establishment of the Macau SAR, and the 40^th anniversary of the establishment of the Sino-Portuguese diplomatic relationships. She also shared her views on opportunities presented by the growth of the tourism industry. Her talk was followed by a candid dialogue with YAP participants, who sent questions to the Director instantly via an interactive online Q&A system. Participants raised questions regarding the future of the tourism industry in Macau and the Greater Bay Area.

Director Senna Fernandes expressed that insights from the younger generation will contribute to innovative developments in the tourism industry. She encouraged participants intended to pursue a career in the sector to equip themselves with skills necessary to capitalize on opportunities that the Greater Bay Area development brings. She added that the “Director Dialogue with GEG YAP” activity is an invaluable platform for participants to keep abreast of the current state and future prospects of the Macau tourism industry.

Mr. Philip Cheng, Director of GEG, said that the opportunity to engage in a face-to-face exchange with Director Senna Fernandes was an invaluable experience for participants to gain deeper insights into the city and the sector. In his address, Cheng said that, “Macau entered into a new phase of growth that was ushered in by the implementation of various national policies. We need to further develop talent to sustain growth and maximize opportunities in the SAR and the Greater Bay Area. Committed to enabling young people to become pillars of society, GEG has been actively supporting talent development initiatives. With over 2,600 participants, the Youth Achievement Program, co-launched by GEG and the MMA eight years ago, is one of GEG’s flagship brand programs. Now in its eighth year, the program saw its alumni serving as mentors for the participants in the current running.” Mr. Tommy Lau, Council Chairman of MMA, said, “MMA and GEG share the common goal of nurturing young talent and continuously enhances the Youth Achievement Program by introducing new elements each year, which has been integral to the program being popular and well-recognized in the local community.”

For eight consecutive years, GEG and the MMA have been co-organizing the YAP, which aims to encourage young people to understand themselves, contribute to the betterment of local communities, and achieve their potential. In the latest edition of the program, study trips to cities in the GHKM Greater Bay Area’s “two-hour living circle”, as well as seminars on trends in the Macau SAR’s development in finance, such as blockchain, financial technologies and big data, were arranged to keep participants abreast of the current situation in Mainland and Macau. As with previous years, GEG will sponsor an Asian City Study Tour for the winning team. The tour this year will take participants to Shanghai – a convergence point of the Belt and Road Initiative – and Hangzhou – the center of the Hangzhou Bay economic rim development plan. Through the field trips and exchanges with experts, GEG aims to enable YAP participants to develop rewarding careers in the context of regional and national development by gaining a firm grasp of development trends.