Gov't expands tourism crisis management scope

Gov't expands tourism crisis management scope

In order to provide timely and effective assistance to both Macau residents travelling outbound and inbound visitors to the SAR in cases of emergency or distress, the government has expanded the competence and scope of its tourism crisis management agency, according to the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Chui Sai On during yesterday's presentation of the "Tourism Crisis Management Office."

"The Tourism Crisis Management Office has formulated a more comprehensive mechanism of strategy and coordination through which the office is able to respond to and handle tourism crisis in a systematic and effective manner, so as to minimize any negative effect caused to Macau residents and tourists by crisis", said Chui Sai On during his presentation speech.

Headed by the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, the Tourism Crisis Management Office consists of one coordinator, the director of Macau Government Tourist Office João Manuel Costa Antunes and 28 members from 25 government departments, public agencies and organisations, such as a representative from the Office of the Secretary for Security, a representative from the Unitary Police Services, a representative from the Health Bureau, among others.

The office is divided into seven expert groups responsible for official liaison, travel industry liaison, emergency support, operation and logistics, family liaison, media communication, administration and the secretariat.

It also provides a 24-hour hotline in Cantonese, Putonghua, Portuguese, English and Japanese, and any Macau resident travelling outside the territory or inbound visitor can call (853) 2833 3000 for enquiry or help.

Thus, if a Macau resident encounters a serious accident or disaster during his travel outside the territory, the office will take immediate and effective measures to offer assistance and cope with the situation and will also arrange the return of the affected person to Macau.

As for inbound visitors who are in distress, the office will also offer assistance and coordinate in sending the affected visitor back home.

"Since establishment, our office activated the crisis management mechanism at the end of November last year for the incident at the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport [when the Thai government declared its capital city in a state of emergency]. During that time, we received a total of 151 calls seeking assistance and we eventually managed to charter a plane and bring home 173 Macau residents who were stranded in Bangkok. Another five residents returned to Macau smoothly through other ways under the assistance of the Office’s Secretariat", added Chui Sai On.

Saturday, 04 April 2009
Macau Daily Times