Government to splash out MOP23 million on CNY parade

By
Newsdesk

The Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) is to spend some MOP23 million (US$2.88 million) to hold a parade celebrating the Chinese New Year (CNY) on the third day (February 21) and the tenth day (February 28) of CNY, Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes announced on Friday.
The budget of the parade – titled ‘Parade for the Celebration of the Year of Ram’ – represents an increase of 5 million patacas over that of last year for the event. 
Ms. Senna Fernandes explained that the hike in the budget is because the government has invited famous artists from Hong Kong to perform, and the scale of the event is larger. Nevertheless, she said she believes the event would not run over budget.
Meanwhile, she predicted that the CNY parade will attract 10 to 15 per cent more spectators than the 68,000 who watched last year.
A total of 1,288 performers from 25 local groups, as well as 9 groups outside the city, from Mainland China, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan and Portugal, will participate in the two-day parade, featuring 14 floats.
The parade will begin from Macau Science Centre at 8:00 pm, winding up at Sai Van Lake Square at 11:00 pm, followed by a fireworks show, according to MGTO.
Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Alexis Tam Chon Weng will be heading for Siem Reap in Cambodia from February 3-5 to attend the first World Conference on Tourism and Culture, in conjunction with MGTO officials headed by Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes. The event, organised by the World Tourism Organisation and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), will receive ministers, official delegates and company representatives from nearly 40 countries who are gathering to discuss cultural preservation, cultural travel and urban regeneration through cultural tourism.