STORY: A city in motion: Macao's journey to economic diversification
SHOOTING TIME: Dec. 10, 2024
DATELINE: Dec. 14, 2024
LENGTH: 00:03:06
LOCATION: MACAO, China
CATEGORY: ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the 71st Macao Grand Prix
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): MA QINGHUA, Chinese motorsports racing driver
3. various of views in Macao
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): AO IEONG U, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture
5. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): LUIS GOMES, Head of Macao's Sports Bureau
6. various of performing arts in Macao
7. SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): LIU CHANGMEI, President of the Macao Urban Culture Promotion Association
8. SOUNDBITE 5 (Chinese): WU ZHILIANG, President of the Federation of Associations of Cultural Sectors of Macao
9. various of performing arts in Macao
10. various of views in Macao

STORYLINE:

Over the years, the Macao Administrative Region (SAR) has embraced a strategy to appropriately diversify its economy, moving beyond its historic reliance on the gaming industry.

In November, the 71st Macao Grand Prix roared into action, attracting world-class racers to this small coastal city of just 33 square kilometers.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): MA QINGHUA, Chinese motorsports racing driver
"I believe the Macao Grand Prix is one of the biggest racing events in China. Every year, it serves as a grand gathering for racing fans and motorsports enthusiasts at the end of the year."

The SAR government's commitment to building a "city of sports" has led to many high-profile events, such as the ITTF Men's and Women's World Cup, the Macao International Marathon, and the International Dragon Boat Races.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): AO IEONG U, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture
"In 2019, we had seven of such events annually, but this year, the number of such international events has increased to 24. We are confident that even more of such events will be held in Macao next year."

SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): LUIS GOMES, Head of Macao's Sports Bureau
"We hope that by hosting sports events, we can leverage Macao's unique cultural, tourism, and historical heritage, along with the positioning provided by our country, as comprehensive advantages to attract more visitors to Macao."

Macao's efforts to become a "city of performing arts" add another feather to its diversification cap.

Since 2023, the Galaxy Arena and several performance venues under Galaxy Entertainment have hosted over 180 entertainment shows and five sports events, attracting over a million spectators worldwide.

SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): LIU CHANGMEI, President of the Macao Urban Culture Promotion Association
I think when people walk down the street, they can really feel what Macao's arts and culture are like, what the city's culture is like, and what the people are like. To me, that's the essence of the "City of Performing Arts."

SOUNDBITE 5 (Chinese): WU ZHILIANG, President of the Federation of Associations of Cultural Sectors of Macao
"In the past, no one would have thought of coming to Macao for a concert, but now, everyone's coming. To put it simply, take the Macao International Music Festival, for example. It used to be free to attend, but now, tickets for popular shows are hard to get."

According to data from the SAR government, various arts and cultural events in 2023 recorded nearly 20 million participants.

Concerts and other events hosted by integrated resort and leisure enterprises attracted an audience of 1 million, generating approximately MOP 1.1 billion (140 million U.S. dollars) in ticket sales.

Meanwhile, the city's unique blend of ancient and modern elements is attracting an increasing number of tourists.

From the ancient A-Ma Temple to the modern Taipa, by the light rapid transit and then to the tranquil Coloane for a stroll, tourists can travel through time and space.

As of Dec. 7, 2024, Macao welcomed over 32.5 million visitors, expecting to hit 33 million by year's end.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Macao, China.
(XHTV)